Working in Legal Area in EU Commission

belinda502

Does anyone has any knowledge of what working in the EU Commission is like in terms of salary and conditions of employment ? There are legal jobs on the Europa website currently.

skyhighflyer

Conditions and pay in the EU Institutions are excellent. The entry level for a grad with no professional experience is AD5, and pays about €46k per year, for a 39 hour week. You move up the ladder about every three to four years on average, if you're good then quicker than that.

You are also entitled to an expatriation allowance and if you have kids they'll get the best education in Brussels schools, as well as education and maintenance allowance until they're 26. They're also very generous with language courses and education grants for continuing professional development.

Unsurprisingly competition is intense. The last competition for legal grads at AD5 level attracted over 10,000 applicants for ~500 places, and it's getting even more competitive with the new EUR-12 block, for which specific competitions are being organised. The process also takes about a year to complete, and if even if you're successful there's no guarantee of a place as you're placed on a reserve list from which recruits are picked to fill vacancies as they arise. Irish applicants are generally quite successful in finding places.


If you're talking about the current vacancy at AD7 for Irish speaking lawyers, the job of Irish lawyer-linguist pays about €60k a year straight off with a 4 year law degree, no experience required. If I were fluent, I'd be applying right now. You'll also need proficiency in another EU language, as well as English (linguist positions need three languages, so if you have irish, English and reasonable French or Spanish you're good to go.


To work in any of the EU Institutions you need to be proficient in either English, French or German and have a reasonable standard in another EU language (this includes Irish).

belinda502

Thanks for the very comprehensive reply. Don't suppose you know anything about the assessment process itself?

skyhighflyer

Usually the same format is followed for any competition. There are three steps, but steps one and two are usually done at the same time for logistical reasons.

After registering your interest on the Europa site, you're informed as to when the pre-selection tests are on and where they're to be held. These are held at various centres in each Member State at pretty much the same time. Dublin is Cumberland House, I think.

The pre-selection tests are usually multiple choice questions related to the relevant competition. Some are computerised, some aren't, same questions either way. These questions are in your second language.

The second part is usually in your first language and involves written answers on a number of topics. These are your usual exam form essay questions, similar to a law exam. These take place after your pre-selection tests but are only marked if you make the grade at pre-selection level.

My advice would be to be up to date with hot EU topics, avoid saying ANYTHING that could possibly be construed as offensive to another member state and have a very good knowledge of your chosen area.

For the pre selection MCQs get online and buy a book from a Brussels bookseller with MCQs from past papers in your second language.

If these go ok, you're invited to submit the 'full application' package, with copies of degrees, transcripts, passport, etc. You're doing well if you get this far. If you get called to Brussels for final interview, you'll be in a room with a number of interviewers, most of whom won't say anything. You'll do most of it in English, and you'll be asked to speak in your second language for a few minutes. The standard is about first year college level. It can be a bit unnerving as the non english speakers will be hooked up to earphones so they know what you're saying.:cool:

If you're successful you're put on a reserve list in order of merit for vacancies to be filled as they arise. They're valid for a year or so but are almost always extended as long as there are people on the list who are still pending appointment.

Best of luck if you're thinking of going for it.

belinda502

Thanks for another comprehensive reply! Happy New Year!

Tom Young

A few friends of mine have worked for the Commission in legal roles and also been on the EU's Leonardo intern project in Brussels. Its really great for the CV and Brussles is a fun town with relatively cheap rental accommodation. DG's Justice and Competition would be obvious choices but assignement anywhere would be valuable. Good luck with it.

CantGetNoSleep

Tom Young wrote: »

A few friends of mine have worked for the Commission in legal roles and also been on the EU's Leonardo intern project in Brussels. Its really great for the CV and Brussles is a fun town with relatively cheap rental accommodation. DG's Justice and Competition would be obvious choices but assignement anywhere would be valuable. Good luck with it.

Where would I find details of internships?

CantGetNoSleep

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mheyeykfsngb/rss2/

Tom Young

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Where would I find details of internships?

Here http://ec.europa.eu/stages/index_en.htm