Legal Assistant

Reference: 2026/193 HQ (AST) Legal Assistant RM.01 Division

Institution: European External Action Service (EEAS)

Unit: "Legal Coordination and Ethics" Sector in the Coordination Division

Directorate-General or Department: Directorate General for Resource Management

WE ARE:

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service. Since 2011, the EEAS carries out the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) to promote peace, prosperity, security, and the interests of the EU across the globe. It brings together European civil servants, diplomats from EU Member States, national experts and local staff worldwide.

The EEAS supports the High Representative in the exercise of her mandate to steer the Union’s CFSP, including the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), to represent the EU on issues relating to the CFSP and to chair the Foreign Affairs Council. It also supports her as Vice-President of the Commission with regard to her responsibilities within the Commission, including the coordination of other aspects of the EU’s external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with the EU Member States, the General Secretariat of the Council, the services of the Commission and the Secretariat General of the European Parliament.

The EEAS Headquarters (HQ) are in Brussels. It is also responsible for the management of the network of 145 Union Delegations and Offices worldwide. These Diplomatic Representations play a vital role in representing the EU in the country where they are based, in promoting the values and interests of the EU, and in building networks and partnerships. They are responsible for all policy areas of the relationship between the EU and the host country/organisation.

The Division RM.01 (‘Coordination’) is directly attached to the Director-General for Resource Management, coordinating various administrative policies and ensuring that the Directorate-General’s relevant decisions, rules and procedures are compliant with the applicable legal framework. It is also responsible for the implementation of Annex X to the EU Staff Regulations on rights and obligations for all staff working in Delegations.

Within this Division, the ‘Legal Coordination and Ethics’ Sector covers legal issues relating to a wide area of the EEAS’ administrative activities, especially on the implementation of the EU Staff Regulations (SR) and Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) in HQ and in Delegations.

WE PROPOSE:

A position of Legal Assistant in the ‘Legal Coordination and Ethics’ Sector of the Division RM.01, providing legal, administrative and organisational support to the Head of Division, the Deputy Head of Division responsible for legal matters and to the members of the Sector

POST AVAILABLE:

Immediately

REQUIRED PROFILE AND MAIN TASKS:

A dynamic, proactive and highly motivated colleague with very good communication and organisational skills and with a developed sense of service, enjoying handling variety in a fast paced-paced environment, with a team spirit and the ability to handle complex legal issues in the field of EU administrative and civil service law.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Head of Division responsible for legal matters, he/she will be entrusted with the following main tasks:

Administrative and organisational support

• Monitor the administrative procedures falling within the Sector’s remit (in particular Articles 90(1), 90(2) and 24 procedures)and carry out related monitoring tasks (e.g. updating the Excel log tables, ensuring that Ares transmissions are correctly received, sent and registered, managing the functional mailboxes relating to these procedures, organising the shared drive of the Sector and saving relevant documents therein, etc.);

Legal support

• Handle administrative cases, in particular requests under Article 90(1) of the SR, complaints under Article 90(2) of the SR and/or requests for assistance under Article 24 of the SR, ensure the drafting of legally sound decisions of the Appointing Authority, compliance with statutory deadlines, and follow-up of related correspondence;
• Take part in relevant meetings, assembling background information and documents, preparing reports, service positions, contributions and replies;
• Contribute to the drafting of internal administrative rules and legal acts (internal rules, implementing rules, contracts and other legal instruments) within the remits of the Division;
• Provide legal advice in areas within the remits of the Division;
• Draft written communications to relevant actors in HQ and Delegations on legal obligations and procedures.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• have excellent organisational skills and a good command of the Office package (in particu