Trainee (Legal Department of EMA) - European Medicines Agency (Amsterdam)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Medicines Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Support three offices of the Legal Department: Pharma Law and Support to Core Business Office, Litigation Office, General Affairs and Anti-Fraud Office
• Provide legal assistance to the Agency and relevant network
• Support ongoing projects in general pharmaceutical legislation and access to documents requests
• Provide operational support for inquiries from the European Ombudsman and litigation activities
• Assist Legal Administrators in attending meetings, writing reports on legal matters, and researching case-law

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: University degree (minimum three years) in law, obtained between 30 September 2025 and 30 September 2026, or be a university student on Erasmus+ or similar programme, or a PhD student or Master's student with a previous fully finished degree in law
• Languages: English (C1), Official EU language (B2)
• Key skills: Knowledge of EU law/EU pharmaceutical law, Skills in writing official documents in English, Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, Working with others, Adaptability, Research and analytical skills, Learning and development
• Eligibility: Full rights as a citizen of a European Union Member State or Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Assessments (remote) from mid-October 2026 to mid-November 2026
• Decision and offers by end of December 2026

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 10 months (1 March 2027 – 31 December 2027).

Working arrangements: At the Agency's premises in Amsterdam with possibility for teleworking up to 40% of working time from The Netherlands and occasional teleworking from outside The Netherlands.

Hiring unit: Legal Department.

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Trainee (Legal Department of EMA) at EMA based in Amsterdam (Traineeship).

Type of position:Trainee

Job Type:30 September 2026 23:59 CEST

Selection procedure reference: EMA/TR/11532

Deadline for applications: 30 September 2026 23:59 CEST

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU), located in Amsterdam. It began operating in 1995. It is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU.

This traineeship opportunity is now open for applicationsuntil 30 September 2026 23:59 CEST, with an intake on 1 March 2027.

About the traineeship programme

The Agency is looking for motivated, qualified recent graduates or students on an Erasmus+ or other programme or PhD students or Master's students, who are interested in gaining experience and contribute to the Agency’swork for every patient in Europe. The purpose of a traineeship at the Agency is to perform tasks that are predominantly in the interest of the trainee’s training and principally serve to increase the trainee’s knowledge and to gain relevant experience.

Placement description

We are looking for a trainee in the Legal Department.

Specific objectives and projects

Involvement in a holistic approach to the activities of the Legal Department, supporting its three offices - Pharma Law and Support to Core Business Office’, Litigation Office, General Affairs and Anti-Fraud Office - in delivering legal assistance to the Agency and to the relevant network.

The selected trainee will provide support on some of the currently ongoing projects relevant to their experience, which could range from the general pharmaceutical legislation ("GPL") to the handling of requests for access to documents, while also providing operational support across different services, such as inquiries from the European Ombudsman and litigation activities. For the entire length of the traineeship, the selected trainee will be assisting Legal Administrators in various forms, such as attending relevant meetings together, writing reports on legal matters, researching relevant case-law, etc.

Learning outcomes

The trainee is expected to:

- Increase knowledge of the legal framework and provision of legal advice relevant to the Agency, as well as research methodologies in areas of law applicable to its operations.

- Develop understanding of the Agency's procedures and internal stakeholder communication within EMA's areas of competence.

- Contribute to the Agency's objectives by sharing their academic expertise and unique perspective.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration for this placement, you are required to:

1. enjoy full rights as a citizen of a European Union Member State or Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway; 2. possess a university degree (minimum of three years or more) in law, that must have been obtained between 30 September 2025 and 30 September 2026orbe a university student on an Erasmus + or a similar programmeor a PhD student or a Master's student with a previous fully finished degree in the areas mentioned before. 3. a thorough knowledge of English (at least level C1) and good knowledge of other official EU language (at least B2) of theCommon European Framework for Languages

For criteria 1 and 2, you will be required to provide proof in the application form and at the interview stage. Failing to present these documents may result in thedisqualification from the procedure.

Additional skills

- Knowledge of EU law/EU pharmaceutical law obtained in the course of university studies, traineeship, or working experience.

- Skills in writing official documents in English.​‌

Behavioural Competencies

You will demonstrate the following behavioural competencies:

- Communication skills - Interpersonal skills - Working with others - Adaptability - Research and analytical skills - Learning and development

Conditions of traineeship

The traineeship is offered for 10 months (1 March 2027 – 31 December 2027) and takes place at the Agency’s premises in Amsterdam with possibility for teleworking up to 40% of working time from The Netherlands and occasional teleworking from outside The Netherlands. Traineeships are offered for either full-time or part-time (80% or 50%) if combined with university studies.

The Agency pays a monthly stipend of €2,049.77 for a full-time traineeship (reduced accordingly for 80% or 50%) and a travel contribution upon joining the Agency.

Each trainee will have a mentor at the Agency who will guide the trainee through the programme.

The conditions of employment are stated in the Executive Decision on rules governing the traineeship programme at the EMA available here.

Expected selection timelines

Deadline for applications · 30 September 2026 23:59 CEST Assessments (remote) · From mid-October 2026 to mid-November 2026 Decision and offers · By end of December 2026 Placement start · 1 March 2027

Domenico Scarlattilaan 6 - 1083 HS Amsterdam - The Netherlands

Telephone +31 (0)88 781 6000 - [email protected]/1420229533/)

© European Medicines Agency, 2024. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 3 August 2026, 48 days ago.

The application deadline is 30 September 2026, 9 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 18 September 2026 (2 days ago).

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at EMA see the EMA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Amsterdam see our Amsterdam location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.