Traineeship - Legal HR

Deadline for application: 15 May 2026. We are looking for a trainee to support the work of the Legal-HR team, within the General Counsel Department. You will report to the Principal Legal Counsel, Legal-HR and contribute to a broad range of tasks related to international civil service law. 

PURPOSE OF THE TRAINEESHIP 

• Support ongoing projects and initiatives related to international civil service law 

• Conduct research such as case law or regulatory framework, and benchmark on peer institutions 

• Contribute to policy development in relation to rules applicable to staff 

• Assist in the preparation of synthetic legal notes and summaries 

• Support the day-to-day activities of the Legal-HR team 

KEY BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE 

• A candidate for, or recent graduate (within one year of graduation) of, a master’s degree in public international law, international organisations’ law or a related field 

• Knowledge of international civil service law, with a strong willingness to further develop practical expertise in the field 

• Demonstrated interest in intergovernmental administration 

• Ability to analyse and synthetise factual and legal material 

• Ability to support the drafting of policy documents and legal submissions in the context of staff internal appeals and litigation 

• Good IT literacy, with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and interest in AI 

• Fluency in English, both oral and written   

KEY COMPETENCIES 

• Analytical and research skills, with attention to detail 

• Ability to organise information and manage multiple tasks in a structured manner 

• Sense of confidentiality and discretion when handling information 

• Teamwork and collaboration in a multicultural environment 

• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to new topics and processes specific to an international organisation 

• Proactive, autonomous and reliable working style 

APPLICATION PROCESS AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION 

• Deadline for application: 15 May 2026 

• Expected start date: as soon as possible 

• Expected duration:  six months with a possible extension for another six months  

• Competitive allowance granted  

The ESM strives to provide equal opportunity to all candidates irrespective of their gender, nationality, age, race, culture, education, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or disability. To further enhance the diversity of our workforce, we particularly encourage women to apply.