Legal Officer (current FRA staff CA 3a)

Function group/grade FG IV
Type of contract Contractual agent
Ref. FRA-IM-CA-LO-FGIV-2025
Deadline for applications 19/01/2026 13:00
Place of employment Vienna, AUSTRIA
Contract duration as per current contract
Monthly basic salary as per current contract

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is organising a selection procedure to draw up a reserve list for the profile of Legal Officer (function group FGIV). The selection procedure is published internally. An external selection procedure is published in parallel (FRA-CA-LO-FGIV-2025).

Background

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) provides independent, evidence-based advice to policy-makers, to help ensure full respect for fundamental rights across the EU, for everyone. To this end, the Agency collects and analyses information and data on a range of fundamental rights issues, provides assistance and expertise to EU institutions and to EU Member States’ governments, raises rights awareness, communicates its findings and strengthens cooperation and ties between fundamental rights actors.

 

Administration Unit

The Administration Unit is responsible for supporting the operational work of the Agency, enhancing its ability to function as a best practice, knowledge-based, lean and service-oriented public body. It provides core support services to the Agency, including in the areas of finance, human resources, legal, IT and facilities. The Legal Officer will be part of the Human Resources & Legal Sector, which is composed of both legal and HR professionals.

Duties

The Legal Officer will:

  • Provide legal review and advice on procurement and contract-related matters, reviewing legal aspects of tender documentation and contracts;
  • Draft and review agreements with third parties, for example cooperation agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, grant agreements, lease agreements and service level agreements;
  • Assist the Data Protection Officer in preparing, updating and maintaining data protection records and notices, giving legal advice on data protection issues and handling request from data subjects in compliance with Regulation 2018/1725;
  • Give timely and pragmatic legal support to ensure compliance with the applicable legal frameworks in relation to other administrative matters, in particular the EU Staff Regulations and CEOS;
  • Support the management of requests for public access to documents under Regulation 1049/2001;
  • Draft and deliver legal review of decisions to be adopted by the Director, Executive Board and Management Board, and brief decision-makers on the legal risks and requirements of such decisions;
  • Provide support in litigation and pre-litigation, advise on possible legal risks and contribute to finding sound solutions to avoid (pre-)litigation;
  • Follow the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union in areas linked to administrative law relevant to the agency and report on key developments;
  • Liaise with counterparts at other institutions/agencies on matters related to the field of expertise.

Duties applicable to all staff:

  • Perform any other related duties assigned by the manager.

Eligibility requirements

Candidates who do not meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria by the deadline for submission of applications will be marked ineligible and their application will not be considered further:

  • Be a member of the contract staff of FRA who, on the closing date for the submission of applications and on the day of filling the vacant post, are engaged within the Agency in the function group corresponding to the published function group;
  • Have successfully completed the probationary period provided for in Article 84 of the CEOS, in the relevant function group.
  • A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years in law, attested by a diploma (LL.B. or equivalent qualifying degree in law - a Bachelor’s degree (BA, BSc etc.) in another subject major containing some law courses is not sufficient).

Selection criteria

In order to select the best-qualified candidates for the test and interview phase, FRA will assess the following essential and advantageous criteria.

Please note that all essential criteria are mandatory. If a candidate scores zero on any individual essential criterion, their application will not be assessed further.

The following criteria will be considered as essential:

  • At least 2 years of proven experience in administrative law;
  • At least 2 years of experience providing legal advice on at least one of the following matters:
    • The interpretation and implementation of the EU Financial Regulations; or
    • The interpretation and implementation of Regulation 2018/1725;
  • A proven track record of providing legal advice to management and decision-makers to guide decision-making;
  • Experience drafting legal agreements and decisions in English, the working language of FRA.

The following criteria will be considered as advantageous:

  • Professional experience in (pre-)litigation, including representation before the General Court of the European Union and/or the Court of Justice of the European Union;
  • Knowledge of and/or experience providing legal advice on the ethical use of artificial intelligence;
  • Knowledge of German (B2 or above), as review of contracts and agreements with local contactors and liaison with host state authorities may be required and the language of communication and documentation is often German.

In addition to the essential and advantageous criteria, candidates invited to the interview and test phase will also be assessed behavioural competencies relevant for the position. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate:

  • A high degree of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive matters;
  • Written and oral communication skills in English, including the ability to put forward options and arguments in a clear and comprehensive way;
  • Strong analytical and reasoning skills, with an ability to weigh options and find pragmatic and compliant solutions that enable the agency to take desired actions in a legally sound manner;
  • Adaptability and the capacity to work under pressure of statutory deadlines and urgent business needs.

Selection criteria

In order to select the best-qualified candidates for the test and interview phase, FRA will assess the following essential and advantageous criteria.

Please note that all essential criteria are mandatory. If a candidate scores zero on any individual essential criterion, their application will not be assessed further.

The following criteria will be considered as essential:

  • At least 2 years of proven experience in administrative law;
  • At least 2 years of experience providing legal advice on at least one of the following matters:
    • The interpretation and implementation of the EU Financial Regulations; or
    • The interpretation and implementation of Regulation 2018/1725;
  • A proven track record of providing legal advice to management and decision-makers to guide decision-making;
  • Experience drafting legal agreements and decisions in English, the working language of FRA.

The following criteria will be considered as advantageous:

  • Professional experience in (pre-)litigation, including representation before the General Court of the European Union and/or the Court of Justice of the European Union;
  • Knowledge of and/or experience providing legal advice on the ethical use of artificial intelligence;
  • Knowledge of German (B2 or above), as review of contracts and agreements with local contactors and liaison with host state authorities may be required and the language of communication and documentation is often German.

In addition to the essential and advantageous criteria, candidates invited to the interview and test phase will also be assessed behavioural competencies relevant for the position. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate:

  • A high degree of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive matters;
  • Written and oral communication skills in English, including the ability to put forward options and arguments in a clear and comprehensive way;
  • Strong analytical and reasoning skills, with an ability to weigh options and find pragmatic and compliant solutions that enable the agency to take desired actions in a legally sound manner;
  • Adaptability and the capacity to work under pressure of statutory deadlines and urgent business needs.

Engagement and conditions of employment

The selected member(s) shall be assigned to the new post without impact on their current contract of employment with the agency.   

Submission of applications and deadline

Candidates are requested to submit their application electronically through the Agency’s website: fra.europa.eu. Only online completed applications submitted in English via the e-recruitment system will be accepted.

Applications must be sent no later than 19/01/2026 13:00 (CET).

Information concerning the status of the selection procedure can be found at http://fra.europa.eu/en/about-fra/recruitment/vacancies .

In case you experience technical problems during your application please contact, recruitment@fra.europa.eu.

Please note that due to the large number of applications we receive, the system may face problems in processing data when reaching the deadline for submission of applications. We therefore advise to apply well ahead of the deadline.

Selection procedure

A Selection Committee is nominated by the Appointing Authority.

Eligibility of candidates will be assessed according to compliance with all formal requirements by the closing date for the submission of applications, as specified in the vacancy (see section Eligibility Criteria).

Only the applications of eligible candidates will be evaluated in accordance with the selection criteria as specified in the publication notice (see section Selection Criteria). The Agency will invite for an interview and test the top candidates among those who have obtained at least 60%.

The selection procedure will be composed of an interview and a written test, which will be held in English. They will take place either in Vienna (Austria), the place of employment where the Agency has its seat, or online. The shortlisted candidates will receive further detailed information in due time.

Successful candidates will be included on a reserve list drawn up by the Selection Committee and adopted by the Appointing Authority of FRA. This reserve list will be valid from the date of its establishment (in year ‘N’) until 31 December of year ‘N+2’. Its validity may be extended. The reserve list may be used for future recruitment, should vacancies arise. Candidates should note that inclusion on a reserve list does not guarantee recruitment.

On the basis of the adopted reserve list, the Appointing Authority of FRA may offer a contract of engagement.

Candidates placed on the reserve list will be requested to submit a non-certified copy of their diploma(s) and evidence of their professional experience, clearly indicating the length and nature of their experience and whether full time or part time work. Prior to contract signature, the successful candidate/s will be requested to provide FRA with copies of all relevant documents proving the eligibility requirements.

Please note that the Selection Committee’s work and deliberations are strictly confidential and that any contact with its members is strictly forbidden.

Due to the large volume of applications, the Agency regrets that only candidates selected for the interviews will be contacted. Applicants are invited to follow the recruitment process on the FRA website. 

Equal opportunities

FRA is an equal opportunities employer and ensures that its recruitment procedures do not discriminate on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, gender identity or sexual orientation. 

FRA encourages candidates with disabilities to apply. If you consider yourself to have a physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disability, please indicate any adjustments or arrangements needed, relating to your disability, to recruitment@fra.europa.eu, so FRA can ensure your full and equal participation in the interview.

Data protection

Personal data shall be processed solely for the purpose of the selection procedure.

Please note that FRA will not return applications to candidates. The personal information FRA requests from applicants will be processed in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data. This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data.

Should the candidate have any query concerning the processing of their personal data, they shall address them to: recruitment@fra.europa.eu .

For further information with regard to the processing of personal data, please see FRA’s Privacy Statement published on the vacancies page.

Appeal procedures

If a candidate considers that they have been adversely affected by a particular decision, they can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of Officials and Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Union, at recruitment@fra.europa.eu

The complaint must be lodged within 3 months. The time limit for initiating this type of procedure starts to run from the time the completion of the selection procedure is published here.

Should the complaint be rejected, pursuant to Article 270 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, a candidate may request judicial review of the act. The appeal must be lodged within 3 months from the date of notification to the following address:

Court of Justice of the European Union

Rue du Fort Niedergrünewald

L-2925 Luxembourg

Luxembourg

It is also possible to lodge a complaint to the European Ombudsman pursuant to Article 228(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in accordance with the statute of the Ombudsman and the implementing provisions adopted by the Ombudsman. Before the Ombudsman can accept a complaint, it is necessary that the complaint is first addressed to the Agency. Any complaint to the Ombudsman (http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu) must be made within two years of receiving the Agency’s final position on the matter.

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