Notice of open competitions — EPSO/AD/192-197/10 — Lawyer-linguists (DA/DE/EN/LT/NL/RO)
Date: 2010-09-15
Institutions: European Personnel Selection Office
Subjects: EPSO, administrative competition, invitation to tender, translation








CA2010248EN.01000101.xml










15.9.2010   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


CA 248/1





NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITIONS
EPSO/AD/192-197/10
LAWYER-LINGUISTS (DA/DE/EN/LT/NL/RO)
(2010/C 248 A/01)


Are you interested in working for the European institutions?




Does your profile meet our criteria?




Why not apply?




Give yourself a chance to succeed.


The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising open competitions, based on qualifications and tests, to establish a reserve pool from which to recruit lawyer-linguists (1) (AD 7).

EPSO/AD/192/10 — DANISH-LANGUAGE (DA) LAWYER-LINGUISTS


EPSO/AD/193/10 — GERMAN-LANGUAGE (DE) LAWYER-LINGUISTS


EPSO/AD/194/10 — ENGLISH-LANGUAGE (EN) LAWYER-LINGUISTS


EPSO/AD/195/10 — LITHUANIAN-LANGUAGE (LT) LAWYER-LINGUISTS


EPSO/AD/196/10 — DUTCH-LANGUAGE (NL) LAWYER-LINGUISTS


EPSO/AD/197/10 — ROMANIAN-LANGUAGE (RO) LAWYER-LINGUISTS

The purpose of these competitions is to draw up reserve lists from which to fill vacant posts in the institutions of the European Union.


Before applying, you should read carefully the guide published in Official Journal C 184 A of 8 July 2010 and on the EPSO website.




This guide is an integral part of the competition notice and will help you to understand the rules governing the procedure and how to apply.


CONTENTS






I.



GENERAL BACKGROUND











II.



DUTIES











III.



CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION











IV.



ADMISSION AND SELECTION BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS











V.



COMPUTER-BASED PRELIMINARY TEST











VI.



OPEN COMPETITION











VII.



RESERVE LISTS











VIII.



HOW TO APPLY





I.   GENERAL BACKGROUND















1.



Number of successful candidates by competition and by channel






 



CJ Channel




EP/Council Channel






EPSO/AD/192/10 — DA:




8




2






EPSO/AD/193/10 — DE:




—




8






EPSO/AD/194/10 — EN:




10




8






EPSO/AD/195/10 — LT:




9




2






EPSO/AD/196/10 — NL:




9




2






EPSO/AD/197/10 — RO:




10




2












 2.



Remarks






With the exception of EPSO/AD/193/10, the competitions include two channels. You may apply for only one of the six competitions and only one channel.
You must make your choice when you apply online and you will not be able to change it after you have confirmed and validated your online application form.




II.   DUTIES






The European institutions recruit highly qualified lawyers, who must be able to translate often complex legal/legislative texts into the language of the competition from at least two other languages and check such texts. The work of a lawyer-linguist involves the use of standard IT and other office-technology tools.





‘Court of Justice’ channel




‘Parliament, Council’ channel





Translating legal texts (judgments of the Court of Justice and of the General Court and Civil Service Tribunal, opinions of the Advocates-General, written pleadings of the parties, etc.) into the language of the competition from at least two of the other official languages of the European Union and revising such texts; providing legal analysis in cooperation with the Registries and the other departments of the Court of Justice.


Follow-up of the legislative procedure and checking legislative texts in the language of the competition, which have already been translated and revised, for both linguistic and legal consistency with other language versions of the texts; checking the quality of the drafting and compliance with the formal rules on layout. Frequent contact with the various participants in the legislative procedure.
Occasionally translating short legal texts, particularly from English or French.




III.   CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION
, you must fulfil all the following general and specific conditions:















1.



General conditions














(a)


You must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union.










(b)


You must enjoy your full rights as a citizen.










(c)


You must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws on military service.










(d)


You must meet the character requirements for the duties involved.















2.



Specific conditions









2.1




Qualifications

See the Annexes





2.2




Knowledge of languages






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)
HU (Hungarian)
IT (Italian)
LT (Lithuanian)
LV (Latvian)
MT (Maltese)


NL (Dutch)
PL (Polish)
PT (Portuguese)
RO (Romanian)
SK (Slovak)
SL (Slovenian)
SV (Swedish)





Language 1




main language

perfect command of the competition language





Language 2




first source language (must be different from language 1)

thorough knowledge of language 2





Language 3




second source language (must be different from languages 1 and 2)

thorough knowledge of language 3
The knowledge and combination of languages required for each competition and channel are described in the Annexes.





Note




Please note that items (e) and (f) to test your general competencies will be held at the assessment centre in English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE); the language chosen must be different from your main language (language 1).





IV.   ADMISSION AND SELECTION BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS
1.   Admission to the competition
The information given in your online application will be checked against the general and specific conditions to identify those applicants who satisfy the conditions for admission to the competition.
2.   Selection based on qualifications

If the number of candidates admitted is more than 20 times the indicated number of successful candidates per competition, and per channel of each competition, the selection board will make a selection based on candidates' qualifications after having established the criteria to be applied. The selection will be based on the information given by the candidates in their online application forms.
The selection board will choose, from the candidates who satisfy the conditions for admission to the competition, those who possess the qualifications (especially diplomas and professional experience) that are most relevant in terms of quality and level to the nature of the duties described in the competition notice (see the selection criteria in the Annex). The marking scheme applied for this purpose is as follows:






(a)


each selection criterion is weighted between 1 and 3, according to how important the selection board considers it to be;










(b)


the selection board will give a mark of between 0 and 4 for each criterion, depending on the candidate's qualifications.




The selection board will then draw up a list of the candidates (2) in the order of the marks awarded. The candidates who obtain the highest (3) marks in the selection based on qualifications will be invited to take the preliminary test. The number of candidates invited to take that test will not exceed 20 times the number of successful candidates indicated in this competition notice and will be published on EPSO's website (www.eu-careers.eu).


If the number of candidates admitted is less than (maximum) 20 times the indicated number of successful candidates, a selection based on qualifications will not be required and the selection board will invite all the candidates who satisfy the conditions for admission to take the preliminary test.


3.   Verification of information given by candidates
Following the assessment centre session, the information given by candidates in their online applications will be verified against the general conditions by EPSO, and against the specific conditions and (if applicable) the criteria for selection based on qualifications by the selection board. If verification shows that the information given is not borne out by the appropriate supporting documents, the candidates concerned will be disqualified from the competition.
Applications will be verified, in descending order of merit, for candidates with pass marks who obtained the best aggregate marks in the preliminary test and the tests held at the assessment centre (see Sections V and VI). Verification will continue until the threshold number of candidates who can be placed on the reserve list and who actually fulfil all the conditions for admission is reached. The supporting documents of candidates below this threshold will not be examined.
V.   COMPUTER-BASED PRELIMINARY TEST







‘Court of Justice’ channel




‘Parliament, Council’ channel





Translation into the competition language (language 1), , of a legal text in language 2.


Translation into the competition language (language 1), , of a legal text in language 2.




This test will be marked out of 80 (pass mark: 40).
Time allowed: approximately two hours.




The marks obtained in this test will count towards the final result together with the marks obtained in the tests held at the assessment centre.




VI.   OPEN COMPETITION













1.



You will be invited to attend an assessment centre session






if you are among the candidates having obtained the pass mark and one of the highest marks (4) in the computer-based preliminary test.











2.



Assessment centre






You will be assessed, normally in Luxembourg, during a one and a half-day session:







A.




on your reasoning skills by means of:






(a)


a verbal reasoning test;










(b)


a numerical reasoning test;










(c)


an abstract reasoning test.




You will sit these tests in language 1;











B.




on your specific competencies







(d)


translation into the language of the competition (language 1), , of a legal text in language 3;




and











C.




on the following general competencies:







—


Analysis and problem solving










—


Communication










—


Delivering quality and results










—


Learning and development










—


Prioritising and organising










—


Resilience










—


Working with others










—


Leadership








The definition of these competencies can be found in point 1.2 of the guide to open competitions.
The above competencies are tested by means of:






(e)


a structured interview (in English, French or German; the language chosen must be different from language 1);










(f)


a group exercise (in English, French or German; the language chosen must be different from language 1);










(g)


a second interview to assess your general knowledge and language skills in the field of national law; oral presentation (language 1).















3.



Marking













A.




Reasoning skills








(a)


Verbal


marked out of 20




(b)


Numerical


marked out of 10




(c)


Abstract


marked out of 10




Tests (a), (b), and (c) are not eliminatory, and the marks will be added to those obtained in the other tests held at the assessment centre.











B.




Specific competencies

Marked out of 80
Pass mark: 40











C.




General competencies

Marked out of 80 for all competencies (10 per competency)
Pass mark: 3 per competency and an aggregate of 40 for all 8 general competencies.








VII.   RESERVE LISTS













1.



Candidates placed on the reserve lists






The selection board will place you on the reserve list (5) (see the number of successful candidates, Section I.1) if you are among the candidates who satisfy all the conditions set out in Section IV.











2.



Classification






The lists will be drawn up by competition and by channel, and names will be listed in alphabetical order within each channel.




VIII.   HOW TO APPLY













1.



Online application






You must apply online following the procedure indicated on the EPSO website.

Closing date: 14 October 2010 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time











2.



Submission of application files






If you are among the candidates invited to the assessment centre, you will be asked 
at a later stage
 to submit a full application file (signed copy of your online application form and supporting documents).


Closing date:
 You will be informed of the closing date via your EPSO account.


Details:
 See point 2.2 of the guide to open competitions.






(1)  Any reference in this notice to a person of the male sex should be deemed also to constitute a reference to a person of the female sex.

(2)  Candidates who are not invited to the assessment centre can obtain a copy of the selection board's evaluation sheet regarding their qualifications by submitting a request within 10 calendar days of being notified of the results.

(3)  Where a number of candidates tie for the last available place, they will all be invited to sit the computer-based preliminary test.

(4)  The number of candidates invited to the assessment centre session will be approximately four times the number of successful candidates (by competition and by channel for each competition) indicated in this competition notice and will be published on EPSO's website (www.eu-careers.eu). Where a number of candidates tie for the last available place, they will all be invited to the assessment centre session.

(5)  Where a number of candidates tie for the last available place, they will all be placed on the reserve list.


ANNEX I
EPSO/AD/192/10
DANISH-LANGUAGE (DA) LAWYER-LINGUISTS (AD 7)
1.   Qualifications
You must have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a degree in Danish law.

(Juridisk kandidateksamen (cand.jur.) eller erhvervsøkonomisk-erhvervsjuridisk kandidateksamen (cand.merc.jur)).

To determine whether a candidate has reached a level corresponding to completed university studies, the selection board will take into account the rules in force at the time when the degree was awarded.
2.   Knowledge of languages







‘Court of Justice’ channel




‘Parliament, Council’ channel











(a)


language 1
perfect command of Danish












(a)


language 1
perfect command of Danish














(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of English, French, German, Italian or Spanish












(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of English or French














(c)


language 3 (must be different from languages 1 and 2)
thorough knowledge of one of the 23 official languages of the European Union












(c)


language 3 (must be different from language 2)
thorough knowledge of English, French or German









Language 2 or language 3 must be French




Language 2 or language 3 must be English





3.   Selection based on qualifications

For the selection based on qualifications, the following may be taken into consideration by the selection board:


‘Court of Justice’ channel







—


Proven experience in the field of legal translation










—


Professional experience in drafting legal texts










—


Relevance of the candidate's linguistic profile in relation to the language coverage requirements of the competition










—


Knowledge of additional official languages of the European Union (possibly attested by a certificate)





‘Parliament, Council’ channel







—


Legislative drafting experience in a national administration










—


Experience in drafting of judgments in a national court










—


Legal work experience:






—


in a law firm










—


as an in-house lawyer in a company










—


in a national administration or an international organisation














—


Experience in the transposition and implementation of EU law










—


Post-graduate studies in a relevant legal field










—


Formal linguistic qualifications










—


Translation and/or revision experience







ANNEX II
EPSO/AD/193/10
GERMAN-LANGUAGE (DE) LAWYER-LINGUISTS (AD 7)
1.   Qualifications
You must have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a degree in German law or in Austrian law.

(Juristische Ausbildung, die im deutschen Recht mit der Ersten Juristischen Staatsprüfung und im österreichischen Recht mit dem Magister der Rechtswissenschaften abgeschlossen wurde).

To determine whether a candidate has reached a level corresponding to completed university studies, the selection board will take into account the rules in force at the time when the degree was awarded.
2.   Knowledge of languages

‘Parliament, Council’ channel







(a)



language 1

perfect command of German










(b)



language 2

thorough knowledge of English or French










(c)



language 3 (must be different from language 2)

thorough knowledge of English or French.




3.   Selection based on qualifications

For the selection based on qualifications, the following may be taken into consideration by the selection board:







—


Legislative drafting experience in a national administration










—


Experience in drafting of judgments in a national court










—


Legal work experience:






—


in a law firm










—


as an in-house lawyer in a company










—


in a national administration or an international organisation














—


Experience in the transposition and implementation of EU law










—


Post-graduate studies in a relevant legal field










—


Formal linguistic qualifications










—


Translation and/or revision experience







ANNEX III
EPSO/AD/194/10
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE (EN) LAWYER-LINGUISTS (AD 7)
1.   Qualifications

You must hold a degree in law, or its equivalent, awarded in the United Kingdom or Ireland or have qualified as a barrister, advocate or solicitor in the United Kingdom or Ireland.


Candidates who followed a three-year degree course must also have obtained at least one year's appropriate professional experience.

To determine whether a candidate has reached a level corresponding to completed university studies, the selection board will take into account the rules in force at the time when the degree was awarded.
2.   Knowledge of languages







‘Court of Justice’ channel




‘Parliament, Council’ channel











(a)


language 1
perfect command of English












(a)


language 1
perfect command of English














(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of French












(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of French














(a)


language 3
thorough knowledge of one of the following official languages:






 


(BG) Bulgarian, (ES) Spanish, (CS) Czech, (DA) Danish, (DE) German, (ET) Estonian, (EL) Greek, (IT) Italian, (LV) Latvian, (LT) Lithuanian, (HU) Hungarian, (NL) Dutch, (PL) Polish, (PT) Portuguese, (RO) Romanian, (SK) Slovak, (SL) Slovenian, (FI) Finnish or (SV) Swedish
















(a)


language 3
thorough knowledge of one of the following official languages:






 


(BG) Bulgarian, (ES) Spanish, (CS) Czech, (DA) Danish, (DE) German, (ET) Estonian, (EL) Greek, (GA) Irish, (IT) Italian, (LV) Latvian, (LT) Lithuanian, (HU) Hungarian, (MT) Maltese, (NL) Dutch, (PL) Polish, (PT) Portuguese, (RO) Romanian, (SK) Slovak, (SL) Slovenian, (FI) Finnish or (SV) Swedish












3.   Selection based on qualifications

For the selection based on qualifications, the following may be taken into consideration by the selection board:


‘Court of Justice’ channel







—


Proven experience in the field of legal translation










—


Professional experience in drafting legal texts










—


Relevance of the candidate's linguistic profile in relation to the language coverage requirements of the competition










—


Knowledge of additional official languages of the European Union (possibly attested by a certificate)





‘Parliament, Council’ channel







—


Legislative drafting experience in a national administration










—


Experience in drafting of judgments in a national court










—


Legal work experience:






—


in a law firm










—


as an in-house lawyer in a company










—


in a national administration or an international organisation














—


Experience in the transposition and implementation of EU law










—


Post-graduate studies in a relevant legal field










—


Formal linguistic qualifications










—


Translation and/or revision experience







ANNEX IV
EPSO/AD/195/10
LITHUANIAN-LANGUAGE (LT) LAWYER-LINGUISTS (AD 7)
1.   Qualifications
You must have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a degree or master's degree in Lithuanian law or an equivalent degree certifying your qualification as a lawyer.

(Kandidatai turi turėti universitetinį išsilavinimą Lietuvos teisės srityje, patvirtintą teisės bakalauro ar teisės magistro diplomu arba juos atitinkančiu diplomu, suteikiančiu teisininko kvalifikaciją).

To determine whether a candidate has reached a level corresponding to completed university studies, the selection board will take into account the rules in force at the time when the degree was awarded.
2.   Knowledge of languages







‘Court of Justice’ channel




‘Parliament, Council’ channel











(a)


language 1
perfect command of Lithuanian












(a)


language 1
perfect command of Lithuanian














(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of English, French, German, Italian or Spanish












(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of English or French














(c)


language 3 (must be different from languages 1 and 2)
thorough knowledge of one of the 23 official languages of the European Union












(c)


language 3 (must be different from language 2)
thorough knowledge of English, French or German









Language 2 or language 3 must be French




Language 2 or language 3 must be English





3.   Selection based on qualifications

For the selection based on qualifications, the following may be taken into consideration by the selection board:


‘Court of Justice’ channel







—


Proven experience in the field of legal translation










—


Professional experience in drafting legal texts










—


Relevance of the candidate's linguistic profile in relation to the language coverage requirements of the competition










—


Knowledge of additional official languages of the European Union (possibly attested by a certificate)





‘Parliament, Council’ channel







—


Legislative drafting experience in a national administration










—


Experience in drafting of judgments in a national court










—


Legal work experience:






—


in a law firm










—


as an in-house lawyer in a company










—


in a national administration or an international organisation














—


Experience in the transposition and implementation of EU law










—


Post-graduate studies in a relevant legal field










—


Formal linguistic qualifications










—


Translation and/or revision experience







ANNEX V
EPSO/AD/196/10
DUTCH-LANGUAGE (NL) LAWYER-LINGUISTS (AD 7)
1.   Qualifications
You must have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a degree in Dutch law or in Belgian law awarded by a Dutch-language university.

(Voltooide juridische studie, afgesloten met een diploma Nederlands recht (doctorandus of master) of Belgisch recht (licentiaat of master), afgegeven door een Nederlandstalige rechtenfaculteit).

To determine whether a candidate has reached a level corresponding to completed university studies, the selection board will take into account the rules in force at the time when the degree was awarded.
2.   Knowledge of languages







‘Court of Justice’ channel




‘Parliament, Council’ channel











(a)


language 1
perfect command of Dutch












(a)


language 1
perfect command of Dutch














(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of French












(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of English or French














(c)


language 3 (must be different from languages 1 and 2)
thorough knowledge of one of the 23 official languages of the European Union












(c)


language 3 (must be different from language 2)
thorough knowledge of English, French or German








 



Language 2 or language 3 must be English





3.   Selection based on qualifications

For the selection based on qualifications, the following may be taken into consideration by the selection board:


‘Court of Justice’ channel







—


Proven experience in the field of legal translation










—


Professional experience in drafting legal texts










—


Relevance of the candidate's linguistic profile in relation to the language coverage requirements of the competition










—


Knowledge of additional official languages of the European Union (possibly attested by a certificate)





‘Parliament, Council’ channel







—


Legislative drafting experience in a national administration










—


Experience in drafting of judgments in a national court










—


Legal work experience:






—


in a law firm










—


as an in-house lawyer in a company










—


in a national administration or an international organisation














—


Experience in the transposition and implementation of EU law










—


Post-graduate studies in a relevant legal field










—


Formal linguistic qualifications










—


Translation and/or revision experience







ANNEX VI
EPSO/AD/197/10
ROMANIAN-LANGUAGE (RO) LAWYER-LINGUISTS (AD 7)
1.   Qualifications
You must have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least four years' duration attested by a degree in Romanian law (diplomă de licență).

(Un nivel de studii care să corespundă unui ciclu complet de studii universitare atestat printr-o diplomă în dreptul român de cel puțin patru ani).

To determine whether a candidate has reached a level corresponding to completed university studies, the selection board will take into account the rules in force at the time when the degree was awarded.
2.   Knowledge of languages







‘Court of Justice’ channel




‘Parliament, Council’ channel











(a)


language 1
perfect command of Romanian












(a)


language 1
perfect command of Romanian














(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of French












(b)


language 2
thorough knowledge of English or French














(c)


language 3 (must be different from language 1 and 2)
thorough knowledge of one of the 23 official languages of the European Union












(c)


language 3 (must be different from language 2)
thorough knowledge of English, French or German








 



Language 2 or language 3 must be English





3.   Selection based on qualifications

For the selection based on qualifications, the following may be taken into consideration by the selection board:


‘Court of Justice’ channel







—


Proven experience in the field of legal translation










—


Professional experience in drafting legal texts










—


Relevance of the candidate's linguistic profile in relation to the language coverage requirements of the competition










—


Knowledge of additional official languages of the European Union (possibly attested by a certificate)





‘Parliament, Council’ channel







—


Legislative drafting experience in a national administration










—


Experience in drafting of judgments in a national court










—


Legal work experience:






—


in a law firm










—


as an in-house lawyer in a company










—


in a national administration or an international organisation














—


Experience in the transposition and implementation of EU law










—


Post-graduate studies in a relevant legal field










—


Formal linguistic qualifications










—


Translation and/or revision experience