Legal Officer - European Commission (FGIV, Brussels)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Commission 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:

• Handle complaints related to proposals, evaluation, grant preparation, and Commission Decisions against Executive Agencies' acts
• Provide legal advice on admissibility/eligibility of project proposals
• Support and advise the Legal Service on preparation of Research Framework Programme cases before the ECJ
• Provide legal advice on potential exclusion/non-exclusion situations and early detection cases
• Provide legal advice on Research Procurement
• Draft replies to European Ombudsman complaints
• Draft Commission decisions on legality review requests
• Centralize and draft replies to requests for access to documents

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Completed university studies in law (at least three years attested by a diploma)
• Experience: Experience in legal design and implementation of a Union spending programme; experience in treatment of horizontal legal questions in EU research and innovation policy; thorough knowledge of rules governing the legal framework of Union funded actions
• Languages: English (C1), French (B2)
• Key skills: People management, Analytical skills, Problem-solving, Drafting skills, Communication skills, Presentation skills, Motivation, Initiative, Flexibility
• Eligibility: Citizen of an EU Member State enjoying full rights as a citizen; fulfilled obligations concerning military service; physically fit to perform duties; appropriate character references; passed EPSO CAST in Function Group IV

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Selection unit chooses candidates from EPSO database
• Candidates invited to interview
• Selection panel assesses candidates
• Pre-recruitment medical check-up
• Documentary evidence verification

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 1 year, renewable one or more times up to a maximum duration of 6 years.

Working arrangements: Brussels.

Hiring unit: Unit RTD.H.1 - Common Legal Support Service, DG RTD.

Position details

Reference

EC/RTD/2026/515176

Directorate-General

RTD - Research and Innovation

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

15 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Legal Officer at European Commission based in Brussels at the FGIV grade level (Contract Agent). The vacancy reference is EC/RTD/2026/515176. It is hosted by RTD - Research and Innovation, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the Science And Research domain.

Legal officer

in DG RTD - European Commission

Job title: Legal officer

Domain: Science and Research

Where : Unit RTD.H.1 - Common Legal Support Service, Brussels

Function Group : FG IV

Contract Type : 3b

Express your interest until : 28.09.2026 - 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)

WE ARE

The Common Legal Support Service (CLSS) is part of Directorate RTD/H 'Common Implementation Centre' in the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. It drafts the Rules for Participation of the Framework Programmes and ensures their coherent interpretation for all implementing bodies. It acts as a liaison between the R&I DGs and the Legal Service and the Directorate-General for Budget (DG BUDG). It provides legal advice on the programme design and implementation, drafts legal acts, and provides support during inter-institutional procedures. It also drafts commission decisions and guidelines.

The CLSS offers legal advice and support covering the entire project life cycle and complaints. In addition, it provides legal advice on horizontal issues such as legal procedures, international cooperation, intellectual property rights, ethics and research integrity, and inter-institutional matters.

Within the CLSS, the 'Complaints and Litigation' sector covers a variety of issues:

- we support and advise the LS on the preparation of cases before the ECJ in Luxembourg. We also advise and assure consistency of the legal arguments related to Court cases under the responsibility of Commission Executive Agencies in the field of the Research Framework Programmes.

- we draft or provide the legal validation on replies to the European Ombudsman on complaints concerning DG RTD or other R&I family members.

- we draft and adopt Commission decisions on legality review requests ('article 22' appeals) concerning acts of executive agencies for the whole Horizon Europe Programme,

- we centralise and draft the replies to all requests for access to documents received by DG RTD

- we provide legal advice on specific legal questions relating to the launch, evaluation and grant finalisation of actions in the Research Framework Programmes; admissibility/eligibility of project proposals, procedures, experts and and Conflict of interest issues. (Reference: Call for interest EC/RTD/2026/ 515176 )

WE PROPOSE

An interesting and multi-faceted position as legal officer in the ‘Complaints and litigation’ sector of the Common Legal Support Service, a dynamic and friendly sector of 12 colleagues with a pleasant and collaborative work atmosphere.

The successful candidate will be able to get an overview of a broad range of files. The job also

involves contacts throughout many Commission departments due to the coordination role of the

Common Legal Support Service within the Research and Innovation Family which includes different

DGs, Executive Agencies and Joint Undertakings.

The functions and duties of the post include:

Handling of complaints related to proposals, evaluation, grant preparation, and Commission

Decisions against Executive Agencies’ acts (Articles 22 Reg. 58/2003).

Provision of legal advice on questions relating to Admissibility/eligibility of project

proposals, notably Eligibility in calls, Obvious clerical errors, Misrepresentation or failed

submission

Support and advice to the Legal Service on the preparation of Research Framework

Programme cases before the ECJ in Luxembourg

Provision of l egal advice on potential exclusion/non-exclusion situations, early detection

cases, notably support to Early Detection and Exclusion System (EDES) panel consultation,

coordination with DG BUDG and Legal Service

Provision of legal advice on Research Procurement.

WE LOOK FOR

The ideal candidate should have completed university studies in law and experience in the legal design and implementation of a Union spending programme. She/he should also possess an experience in the treatment of horizontal legal questions in the area of EU research and innovation policy as well as a thorough knowledge of the rules governing the legal framework of Union funded actions.

Well-developed people management, analytical, problem-solving and drafting skills as well as motivation, initiative and flexibility are desirable. Good communication and presentation skills are essential as well as a very good command of English (oral and written) and ideally also French are required; other languages are definitely an asset.

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

With a view to guaranteeing equal access to all, the Commission recruits from an open database of spontaneous applications. The present call for interests aims at helping the recruiters to identify potentially interested candidates within this database.

In practice, to express your interest, please follow the subsequent two steps: (Reference: Call for interest EC/RTD/2026/ 515176 )

1. If you are not registered yet in the open EPSO database, please do so at the following address: CAST Permanent . Please select under selection procedures for contract agent the

CAST permanent profile that best suits your education and experience.

2. You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order: 1. your CV 2. completed application form. Please send these documents by the publication deadline to RTD-H1-CA-

[email protected] by the publication deadline indicating the call for interest

reference EC/2026/RTD/ 515176 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. (Reference: Call for interest EC/RTD/2026/ 515176 )

ANNEX

1. Selection

 Am I eligible to apply?

You must meet the following eligibility criteria when you validate your application :

Our rules provide that you can only be recruited as a contract agent at the European Commission if you:

General criteria:

- Are a citizen of a Member State of the EU and enjoy full rights as a citizen;

- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service;

- Are physically fit to perform the duties linked to the position;

- Produce the appropriate character references as to suitability for the performance of the duties.

- Have passed an EPSO CAST in the relevant Function Group for this position. At the stage of the application, it is sufficient to be registered in the EPSO CAST data base.

Qualifications:

(a) Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma.

Only qualifications issued or recognised as equivalent by EU Member State authorities (e.g. by the Ministry of Education) will be accepted.

Languages:

- have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1) of one of the 24 official languages of the EU 2

- AND have a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2) 3 of a second official language of the EU, to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.

2 The official languages of the European Union are: BG (Bulgarian), CS (Czech), DA (Danish), DE (German), EL (Greek), EN (English), ES (Spanish), ET (Estonian), FI (Finnish), FR (French), GA (Irish), HR (Croatian), HU (Hungarian), IT (Italian), LT (Lithuanian), LV (Latvian), MT (Maltese), NL (Dutch), PL (Polish), PT (Portuguese), RO (Romanian), SK (Slovak), SL (Slovenian), SV (Swedish). 3For details on language levels, please see the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/resources/european-language-levels-cefr).

(Reference: Call for interest EC/RTD/2026/ 515176 )

 What about the selection steps?

The selecting unit chooses from the EPSO database 4 candidates with the appropriate profile and

invites them to an interview. For the interview a selection panel is set-up to assess the best candidates. Due to the large volume of applications that we may receive only candidates selected for the interview will be notified.

For operational reasons and in order to complete the selection procedure as quickly as possible in the interest of the candidates and of the institution, the selection procedure will be carried out in English and possibly in a second official language.

2. Recruitment

The candidate selected for recruitment will be requested to provide documentary evidence in support of the statements made in the database and, where relevant, the call for interest.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a mandatory pre-recruitment medical check-up carried out by the Commission.

 Type of contract and working conditions

The place of employment will be in Brussels

The successful candidate will be engaged as a contract agent under Article 3(b) of the

Conditions of Employment of Other Servants , in function group FG IV. General information on

Contract Agents can be found at this link .

The grade or proposed grade range, as well as the step in that grade, will be defined on the basis of the candidates’ previous professional experience, in accordance with Commission Decision

C(2017)6760 laying down the criteria applicable to classification in step on engagement.

The duration of the first contract will be 1 year. Subject to the interest of the service, the contract may be renewed one or more times up to a maximum duration of 6 years.

The duration of the renewal(s) will be defined according to the General Implementing Rules in force at that moment (currently, Commission Decision C(2017)6760 on policies for the engagement and

use of contract agents).

4Therefore, candidates who did not pass already a CAST on the level Function Group IV, should register their profile at this address :https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/Cast-Permanent

Contract agents recruited in Function Group IV have to successfully complete a 9-month probationary period.

The pay of staff members consists of a basic salary supplemented with specific allowances,

including, where applicable, expatriation and family allowances.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at FGIV runs from €4,449 (step 1) to €5,034 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €53,388 to €60,408 before tax and allowances. Steps increase automatically every two years; the figures here are taken from the salary grid in the EU Staff Regulations.

Eligible staff posted away from their country of nationality also receive an expatriation allowance worth 16% of basic salary (around €712 per month at step 1 of FGIV) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Brussels. For a worked example see our correction coefficients guide and the EU salaries overview.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 11 September 2026, 4 days ago.

The application deadline is 28 September 2026, 12 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 15 September 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at FGIV see our FGIV grade page; for headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at European Commission see the European Commission institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Brussels see our Brussels location page; for related vacancies in the Science And Research field browse our Science And Research domain 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.