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Law
The following units are offering positions within the Young Professionals Programme 2026–2027. Explore the opportunities and select your preferred units during the application process:
Appeals Committee Secretariat
Mission & Impact
The Appeals Committee Secretariat provides legal and case management support to the Appeals Committee, a functionally independent advisory body allowing staff, former staff and their legal successors to appeal against employment-related decisions. The Secretariat also supports the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Appeals Committee to resolve disputes amicably by negotiation or mediation.
What will the Young Professional do?
• Provide administrative and case management support to the Secretariat, ensuring the timeliness and efficiency of the entire appeals procedure
• Assist case-lawyers in their legal tasks, including drafting procedural assessments and internal notes, attending deliberations and supporting amicable settlements
• Carry out case-law research and draft legal memos
Ideal educational background
Law
Must-have skills and requirements
Knowledge of one or (preferably more) of the following legal areas: employment law, international administrative law, EU law, data protection law, contract law, excellent knowledge of English, with the ability to write clearly and concisely, strong interest in legal research, an agile mindset, with the ability to quickly understand and deal with new legal topics, sound legal analysis skills, a proactive manner, exceptional organisational skills and commitment to achieving results within set deadlines, strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach.
Nice-to-have requirements
Knowledge of French and/or German, knowledge of European and international patent law, EPC and PCT procedures, experience using AI for legal research.
Chief Sustainability Office
Mission & Impact
Chief Sustainability Office coordinates the sustainability agenda (including D&I) of the EPO. Our tasks include projects supporting Social, Governance and Environmental Sustainability activities, including research and benchmark, ensuring the timely implementation of the yearly timeline and high quality of the deliverables.
What will the Young Professional do?
Contribute to projects supporting Social and Governance activities and to Environmental
Sustainability activities, including research, benchmark, ensuring the timely
implementation of the timeline and high quality of the deliverables
In addition, with us you will:
• Support the unit on all ESG strategy and UN SDGs related matters and provide progress briefs
• Monitor and research sustainability relevant themes on social, societal, and diversity and inclusion
• Contribute to preparation of different tasks including news items, enquiries, progress briefs, events such as Girls' Day
• Contribute to the preparation of all aspects of CSO meetings to ensure their quality, with a thorough analysis of the issues, briefing notes, and drafting related minutes and action points
• Interact and collaborate with internal stakeholders as guided by the CSO, aiming to establish meaningful networks to implement the ESG strategy
Ideal educational background
Preferably sustainability studies or law studies, business administration with focus on ESG.
Must-have skills and requirements
Passionate about UNSDG and ESG strategy, good communication skills, inquisitive mind, with ability to take initiatives, and team player, adaptability.
Nice-to-have requirements
Good drafting skills, familiarity with: AI-powered assistant (e.g. Copilot, Chatgpt), data handling, analysis or reporting tools (Excel, Power BI), preparation of presentations (Power point)
Collective Employment Law and Social Dialogue Advice
Mission & Impact
We are in charge of legal topics related to collective employment law and social dialogue – drafting policies, providing strategic and operational legal advice, and representing the Office in litigation. Our work is to ensure the legal robustness of decisions and regulations, foster constructive dialogue, and de-escalate disputes.
What will the Young Professional do?
• Carrying out legal research, including case law analysis of the administrative tribunal of the ILO
• Conducting preliminary work for submissions, such as mapping arguments, identifying legal issues, coordinating with relevant stakeholders, and gathering background information
• Drafting submissions in litigation files, legal advice, decisions, executive summaries, and letters
• Contributing to knowledge-sharing within the team, for instance, by preparing presentations
• Assisting with project work, such as designing and reviewing policies
Ideal educational background
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Law; coursework in employment law, administrative law, or public international law.
Must-have skills and requirements
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Law, legal research and analysis, with attention to legal precision and operational reality, ability to write clearly and concisely in English (at least at level C1), efficiency in carrying out the entrusted tasks while maintaining thoroughness and attention to detail, good analytical, communication and drafting skills, good problem-solving abilities, proactively addressing challenges and finding effective solutions, strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within a team and work autonomously when required, capacity to adapt quickly to new topics and tasks
Nice-to-have requirements
Practical legal experience from e.g. internships or moot courts, coursework or thesis in international civil service law or employment law, knowledge of French or German.
Employment Law Secretariat
Mission & Impact
The Principal Directorate Employment Law and Social Dialogue Advice reports directly to the President, providing advice on interpreting, applying and drafting provisions related to conditions of employment and social dialogue matters. It also oversees the management review procedure and represents the EPO in litigation before the Appeals Committee and the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization.
Within the Employment Law Secretariat we have oversight over the management review procedure, which seeks to resolve employment law disputes at a pre-litigation stage where possible. We register all incoming requests, liaise with and advise reviewing units regarding the Office's response, encourage de-escalation where appropriate, and prepare robust draft reviewed decisions. We also prepare regular overviews concerning employment law matters and contribute to the Presidential Activities Report and Social Report.
What will the Young Professional do?
• Analyse and register new management review requests
• Liaise with reviewing departments to determine relevant facts and perform legal research
• Draft legal documents (including MR decisions)
• Maintain and analyse statistical data and trends regarding employment law issues
• Prepare 'lessons learned' material and contribute to knowledge sharing
Ideal educational background
Bachelor or Master’s degree in law, with data science skills a strong plus.
Must-have skills and requirements
Interest for employment law, administrative law or public international law, very good knowledge of English (C1) allowing the candidate to write concisely and clearly, proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel), good efficiency and organisational skills, good problem-solving abilities, with a proactive mindset to address challenges and find effective solutions, strong analytical skills, ideally including good numeracy, strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within a team and work autonomously when required.
Nice-to-have requirements
Data analysis / visualisation skills, knowledge of French or German
Institutional and Contract Law
Mission & Impact
The Directorate Institutional and Contract Law deals with institutional issues related to the EPO's status as an international organisation, including its privileges and immunities, seat agreements, and interactions with other international organisations, and provides legal support to the Administrative Council and its subsidiary bodies. The directorate is also charged with safeguarding and defending the legal interests and assets of the Office in contracts, litigation, and other matters, and assists the different administrative and corporate services of the Office in fulfilling their functions and in implementing their strategic projects.
What will the Young Professional do?
In the area of Institutional Law, the YPP will be involved in supporting the Department in
general legal affairs, and in particular supporting the continuous modernisation of the EPO's
external governance. In addition, you will:
• Be actively included in providing legal support
• Contribute to the development of the EPO's legal framework
• Draft legal opinions and conduct legal analyses
• Conduct research for advice to senior management on new policies and projects
• On the Contract Law side, you will support the lawyers in delivering legal advice concerning contractual matters, as well as international and national law and the legal framework of the EPO. This will involve e.g.: contributing and give support to the EPO IP strategy, assisting the lawyers in legal court/arbitration proceedings and claims management
• You will consequently practice and develop the following skills: knowledge and practice in international law, as well as public and private national law within a multilingual environment, drafting legal opinions, contracts, legislative documents, briefs and various legal correspondence, legal research, in the form of a complete and structured file, legal communication skills required within a large international organisation with multi-disciplinary project teams
Ideal educational background
Legal education, interest / major in international (public or private) law and/or contract law or litigation, very good command of English, other EPO languages (in particular, German due to the high number of German language legal documents) are an asset
Must-have skills and requirements
Structured analytical thinking, ability to work effectively under pressure and to strict deadlines
Nice-to-have requirements
Experience with or demonstrated interest in policy, international law, or international relations, previous internships or work experience in private law firms, companies or administrations
IP Lab - Patent Law Harmonisation
Mission & Impact
Our directorate provides legal and policy advice in all matters related to the strategic and policy aspects of the European and international patent system. Covering a significant amount of the strategic projects under the SP2028 (accession of new contracting states, validation and convergence of practice, micro-entity support), we monitor trends and international developments, propose policy solutions and help positioning the EPO at the forefront of innovation.
What will the Young Professional do?
• Monitoring and evaluating patent law related developments of the EPC contracting states and the EU’s IP-related initiatives
• Contributing to the EPO’s position on procedural and substantive patent law harmonisation and development of common practices
• Contributing to the drafting and negotiations of patent law related agreements with EPC contracting states and third countries
• Supporting negotiations with potential new member states
• Supporting negotiations on new validation agreements and monitoring correct implementation and entry into force
• Supporting the chairs of the dedicated working groups of the convergence of practice programme in the establishment of draft proposals and the organisation of the meetings
• Drafting of legal opinions
Ideal educational background
University degree in law, preferably at Master level, with profound knowledge of IP law, especially patent law
Must-have skills and requirements
Good analytical skills, good written and verbal communication skills, proficiency in legal research and drafting, ability to adapt messages to the audience, strong interest in policy work and sense for political dynamics, ability to work proactively, effectively and accurately to strict deadlines and manage a significant amount of parallel projects and, ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Nice-to-have requirements
Practical experience in the patent fields;, practical experience in policy work,experience in working in multinational and interdisciplinary teams.
IP Lab - Patent Law Policy
Mission & Impact
Our directorate provides legal and policy advice in all matters related to the strategic and policy aspects of the European and international patent system. Covering a significant amount of the strategic projects under the SP2028 (accession of new contracting states, validation and convergence of practice, micro-entity support), we monitor trends and international developments, propose policy solutions and help positioning the EPO at the forefront of innovation.
What will the Young Professional do?
• Monitoring patent law related trends in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), new genomic techniques or quantum computing and analysing possible implications on the patent system
• Contributing to the EPO’s work towards a sustainable and socially responsible patent system, by working on the IP Labs’ activities on climate change, green patents, and patents and health
• Monitoring and evaluating patent law related developments of the EPC contracting states and the EU’s IP-related initiatives, e.g. regarding SCPs
• Monitoring developments of the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court
• Fostering cooperation with member states, e.g. via Search cooperation
• Supporting the yearly update of the brochure on national law relating to the EPC
• Drafting of legal opinions
Ideal educational background
University degree in law, preferably at Master level, with profound knowledge of IP law, especially patent law
Must-have skills and requirements
Strong knowledge of IP law, specifically patent law, with a solid understanding of the EPC and the EPO’s mission, excellent command of English, and the ability to work effectively in a legal, international environment.
Nice-to-have requirements
Good analytical skills, good written and verbal communication skills, proficiency in legal research and drafting, ability to adapt messages to the audience, strong interest in policy work and sense for political dynamics, ability to work proactively, effectively and accurately to strict deadlines and manage a significant amount of parallel projects, ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, knowledge of French or German.
Patent Law and Processes
Mission & Impact
We support EPO policy and operations by developing, strengthening and promoting the European Patent Convention and the patent system in general. We provide legal and procedural advice in EP and PCT proceedings and co-operate with internal and external groups in projects related to patent law.
What will the Young Professional do?
• Draft legal opinions on patent law related matters
• Draft communications and decisions in individual cases
• Conduct legal research and comparative legal studies on specific topics
• Monitor relevant case law
• Support legal members in examination and opposition proceedings
Ideal educational background
Completed or close to completed Master’s degree in law, preferably in intellectual property law.
Must-have skills and requirements
Drafting and communication skills in English, interest in legal research; team-oriented mindset, proactive, cooperative attitude, strong eager to learn something new in a dynamic team of lawyers, examiners and paralegals.
Nice-to-have requirements
Intellectual property law coursework or thesis; experience with legal research, good knowledge of German.
Procedural Guidance and Registers
Mission & Impact
We support EPO policy and operations by developing, strengthening and promoting the European Patent Convention and the patent system in general. We provide legal and procedural advice in EP and PCT proceedings and co-operate with internal and external groups in projects related to patent law.
What will the Young Professional do?
• Draft legal opinions, communications and decisions for the Unitary Patent Division and Legal Division
• Contribute to the yearly revision cycle of the Guidelines (incl. those for the Unitary Patent)
• Conduct legal research and comparative legal studies on specific topics
• Answer individual user enquiries (“tickets”) on legal and procedural questions
• Prepare outreach activities for the Unitary Patent Division
• Monitor relevant case law
Ideal educational background
Completed or close to completed Master’s degree in law, preferably in intellectual property law
Must-have skills and requirements
Solid drafting and communication skills in English, strong interest in legal research, team-oriented mindset, proactive, cooperative and mindful attitude, strong desire to learn something new in a dynamic team of lawyers, examiners and paralegals, the ambition to bring topics to a successful close, understanding dialogue as an integral part of daily work, presentation skills.
Nice-to-have requirements
Intellectual property law coursework or thesis, experience with legal research, good knowledge of German.