Lawyer in Institutional Law and Litigation

Lawyer in Institutional Law and Litigation
Job group 4
Grade G7-G10

Directorate Institutional Law and Litigation
EPO Munich (DE) 

The European Patent Office (EPO) - the second-largest public institution in Europe, with 7 000 staff members and a self-financed annual budget of EUR 2bn - is looking for a lawyer to work in its Directorate Institutional Law and Litigation (D 5.3.1). 

D 5.3.1 forms part of the Principal Directorate Legal Services (PD 5.3), the central legal service of the European Patent Office (EPO) for non-patent law questions. D 5.3.1 has two departments, “Institutional Law and Litigation” and “General Law and Contract Law” providing legal advice on amending EPO internal regulations, institutional and procedural reforms, applying the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities (PPI), drawing up legal texts and resolving legal disputes. They also provide legal advice on contract matters, also in relation to technical and other co-operation with member and non-member states and the European Union. 

The successful candidate will join the department “Institutional Law and Litigation” currently comprising three lawyers next to one assistant. 

Main duties

• Providing legal advice to departments Office-wide on non-contract matters, especially involving the PPI and seat agreements (including immunity issues); helping to draw up or revise the EPO’s international agreements; conducting comparative studies
• Advising on amending EPO internal regulations (e.g. Financial Regulations, implementing rules, RFPSS Regulations)
• Drafting legislative proposals and supporting implementation
• Dealing with legal issues relating to safeguarding and enforcing the status of the EPO
• Providing legal advice concerning the legal framework of the EPO, including that arising from policies and relating to ancillary bodies, institutional matters; taking part in project groups
• Providing legal advice in (international) contractual matters, including the advice on procurement matters, drafting of contracts and participating in or leading contract negotiations
• Advising on contract matters in technical and other co-operation with member and non-member states and the European Union
• Supporting the update of Legal Services’ documentation on international law, privileges and immunities, and the law governing international organisations
• Taking part in legal proceedings, in or out of court
• Providing support to maintaining contacts with other international organisations
• Formal checking (contrôles juridiques) of legal texts (legislation, memoranda, agreements, CA documents)
• Other tasks as required

Ideal candidate profile

• Fully qualified lawyer with relevant professional experience in job-related legal fields
• Advanced legal research, analysis and drafting skills
• Ability to present clear, concise and persuasive arguments
• Well-organised, systematic and results-oriented approach
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to strict deadlines
• Very good oral and written communication skills
• Good negotiating skills
• Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team
• Very good working knowledge of English and German, and at least a solid passive knowledge of French
• Familiarity with electronic working tools, especially with MS Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), standard e mail and calendar systems, and internet use.

The ideal candidate will also have experience of

• institutional and international law, in particular the law of international organisations
• working in an international environment.

Minimum qualifications

• Diploma of completed university studies at Master’s level or - in exceptional cases - equivalent professional experience
• Excellent knowledge of one official language (English, French or German) and ability to understand the other two
• Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation.

Salary and benefits
The EPO offers competitive salaries, an excellent social package, and varied work in a modern international environment. The net (basic) monthly salary* for this vacancy ranges from EUR 5 223 to 7 396, depending on experience. In addition, depending on their personal circumstances, EPO staff may be entitled to relocation benefits and various allowances (e.g. household, dependant's, childcare, education, expatriation, installation, rent and language allowance). 
* after deduction of EPO internal tax and before deduction of staff contributions to the social-security and pension schemes. 

Duration of the contract
The contract will be for the duration of three years, extendable by two further years.

Recruitment process
At the end of our selection process, we may place suitable candidates on a reserve list for a limited period of time. Being on a reserve list does not guarantee a job offer or imply any entitlement to employment at the EPO. You will be considered automatically for vacancies in your field. No action is required on your part unless we contact you. 

Procedure and timeframe
The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of qualifications and experience, supplemented as appropriate by interviews, tests and / or a personality questionnaire. 
It is intended to hold the interviews in calendar week 25 in Munich. 

Please apply online, using the online application form, reference number EUR/5992, via the link.

Application until: 12 June 2016

www.epo.org/jobs

Keywords: Jobvacancy, Full-time, Legal, Munich.