Lawyer in the Internal Appeals Committee, European Patent Office, EPO

Further details

The Internal Appeals Committee (IAC) is part of the legal system put in place by the EPO for its staff in case of employment-law disputes. In formal proceedings, it investigates appeals from EPO staff or pensioners against administrative decisions adversely affecting them, and gives a reasoned opinion on the case.

In its legal and administrative work, the IAC is supported by a secretariat currently composed of seven staff members (six lawyers and one administrative employee) supervised by the IAC chairman.

Main duties

1. Examining the facts and submissions presented, and studying the legal position in the light of the relevant provisions (Service Regulations, Pensions Scheme Regulations, health-insurance contract, etc.)
2. Drafting documents for the IAC members' discussions
3. Drafting IAC decisions and opinions
4. Correspondence with those involved in appeal proceedings, especially when legal input is required
5. Legal studies on questions of international civil-service law; analysing judgments by national and international courts with relevance for the EPO
6. Taking part in IAC oral proceedings (minute-writing)
7. Helping to update and maintain the database of IAC opinions (writing abstracts)

Web address for further details

http://www.epo.org/about-us/jobs/vacancies.html