Legal Trainee (Rechtsreferendar Wahlstation)

Your role

The Legal Services Team is responsible for safeguarding and promoting ECMWF’s legal interests and advising the organisation on all legal implications of its various activities and proposed actions, as well as providing guidance on all legal issues to key-decision makers as required.

It provides advice and guidance to ensure that ECMWF meets its obligations under its Convention, regulations, Council decisions, and international law whilst ensuring the legal framework adequately supports the organisation in achieving its mission.

The Legal Services Team comprises the Head of Legal Services (General Counsel), a Senior Legal Officer and a Legal Officer. It is envisaged that the legal trainees will support all team members, as required, in various ways: research in all areas pertaining to the work of an inter-governmental organisation, contract template review as well as negotiations etc.

The Legal Trainee reports to the Head of Legal Services (General Counsel), who is a fully qualified German lawyer (Volljurist). 

Team working and working collaboratively is essential in this role within a small, effective legal team, which is based at two different sites (UK and Germany). Ideally, the candidate will bring complementary skills, experience and areas of expertise to the legal function. While the position is based in Bonn, a visit to the UK site can be considered.

Your work with us will include:

• Legal Research in the areas of public international law, including international civil service law; German and English B2B contract law or other areas of law
• Drafting of legal memos and present research results
• Support of contract negotiations with service providers or public entities (such as e.g. the European Commission, German Federal Ministries or other inter-governmental organizations) to resolve matters surrounding IPR, climate science and technology, cloud computing, High Performance Computing, EU funding, non-disclosure agreements etc.
• Perform other tasks, as required 

About ECMWF

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an independent international organisation supported by 23 European Member States and 12 cooperating states. It is the world leader in global medium-range forecasts, monthly forecasts and seasonal forecasts. Its products are provided to the European national weather services.

ECMWF functions as a 24/7 research and operational centre. The success of our activities relies on the talent of our scientists, strong partnerships with our Member and Co-operating States and the international scientific community, some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and the use of innovative technologies and machine learning.

ECMWF has strong partnership with the European Union and has been an entrusted entity for the Copernicus Climate Change and the Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the EU Space Programme and contributes to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. The collaboration includes High Performance Computing and enables ECMWF to provide data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring.

The ECMWF site in Bonn was opened in 2021 and hosts ECMWF's EU activities. Find out more here: www.ecmwf.int/

What we're looking for

• Excellent verbal, written communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with individuals from all levels, backgrounds and cultures
• Solution-oriented
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Excellent attention to detail
• Willingness to explore and ability to grasp complex unknown factual circumstances and legal frameworks

Education

• Successful completion of First German State Exam (1. Juristische Staatsprüfung) with a final grade „Satisfactory” (Befriedigend) or above.

Experience, skills and competencies

• Additional qualifications in relevant areas and particularly in European Union law or public international law would be an advantage.
• Previous work experience, internship in or exposure to the work of an internationally operating law firm, a corporation, a non-governmental or inter-governmental organization would be an advantage.
• Experience in working or living in an English-speaking environment would be an advantage.
• Knowledge and skills (including language)
• Good legal drafting and research skills.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and SharePoint, with considerable experience of working with Microsoft Word.
• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English.

Other information

Grade remuneration: None. Legal Trainees will be employed and remunerated in line with the provisions for 'Rechtsreferendare' in the context of their law studies.

Starting date: Flexible. Generally March-June and September-November would be preferred entry months.

Length of contract: It is expected that Legal Trainees join ECMWF on a full-time basis for the full duration of the elective module of their traineeship (Wahlstation) i.e. for the duration expected as part of their studies, usually 3 months though we are open and can accept assignments of up to 6 months. 

Location: Bonn, Germany. The position will be based at ECMWF’s duty station in Bonn, Germany with possible duty travel to ECMWF offices in Reading, UK, and Bologna, Italy As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows employees to mix office work and teleworking.

How to apply

Please apply by completing the online application form available at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs. To contact the ECMWF Recruitment Team, please email jobs@ecmwf.int. Refer to the ECMWF Privacy Statement. For details of how we will handle your personal data for this purpose, see: https://www.ecmwf.int/en/privacy.

Applications are invited from law graduates completing their legal studies in Germany and who would like to complete their 'Referendariat' with a 'Wahlstation' at ECMWF.

At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion. 

Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Co-operating States, as well as from all EU Member States. ECMWF Member and Co-operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom. 

In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy.  

Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.