Vacancy Notice N° e23/2015
Assistant Lawyer – Switzerland (Grade B3)
Registry of the European Court of Human Rights
Junior Professionals Programme
Fixed-term contract
The Junior Professionals Programme: the Assistant Lawyers’ scheme
The Assistant Lawyers’ Scheme opens the doors of the European Court of Human Rights to legal professionals at the start of their career, giving them an opportunity to gain experience working within this European institution. They will benefit from regular working contact with experienced case lawyers, senior managers and the judges themselves. While dealing with individual applications originating from their own legal system and assisting senior colleagues in handling more complex applications, assistant lawyers benefit from the Registry’s in-house training programme and deepen their knowledge of the functioning of the European Court of Human Rights and the Convention case-law.
The Scheme serves the twofold objective of bringing new talent to the Registry and contributing to greater awareness and understanding of the Convention in the legal profession throughout Europe as assistant lawyers advance in their careers elsewhere. Employment under the scheme is therefore of limited duration.
Job mission
The principal duties of an assistant lawyer consist of assisting more senior members of staff in the preparation of correspondence with applicants and draft decisions in standard form cases.
Key Activities
Under the authority of the Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights and of a Head of a Division, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:
- examines and deals with applications in prima facie inadmissible cases and in cases which can be dealt with in a standard manner;
- drafts decisions, minutes, reports, notes and other documents;
- advises applicants, in correspondence or, if necessary, in interviews, on the conditions of admissibility of applications;
- attends the Court’s sessions and presents applications;
- assists one or more experienced case-lawyers, where necessary, in the preparation of Chamber cases for examination by the Court.
Please note that the incumbent may be required to perform other duties not listed in the vacancy notice.
Eligibility Requirements
Only applicants who best meet the following criteria will be considered for shortlisting.
- Qualifications:
o Higher education degree in law obtained in Switzerland, permitting access, either on the basis of qualifications or after passing a competitive examination, to the judicial administration or legal professions in Switzerland (at least Bachelor level);
o thorough knowledge of the Swiss legal system and ability to handle cases arising in other jurisdictions;
o knowledge of constitutional and of international law.
- Experience: After having obtained the relevant higher education degree in law, at least 6 months of professional experience acquired in the legal field (preferably in the judicial service) in Switzerland or in international Organisations;
- Language requirements:
o very good knowledge of one of the two official languages of the Council of Europe and ability to draft legal texts therein clearly and precisely, good knowledge of the other official language and of German.
- Nationality: open to nationals of Council of Europe member states.
- Age: under 35 years of age at the date of the deadline for applying.
Competencies
- Professional and technical competencies:
o ICT skills: ability to use current ICT tools;
o planning and work organisation.
- Interpersonal skills: team work and co-operation.
- Personal attitudes: initiative, sense of responsibility, concern for quality, efficiency and accuracy.
- Personal values: integrity, loyalty and conscience; discretion; independence and confidence; respect for diversity; commitment to the judicial independence of the Court.
Location : Strasbourg, France
Closing Date: 11 March 2015
Read more and apply here.
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