Our team and mission

The European Space Agency is an international organisation and the European gateway to space. Together with its Member States, the Agency expands the boundaries of discovery and exploration and provides space applications for the benefit of citizens on Earth.

The Legal Services Department provides the full range of legal services across ESA’s programmes and legal disciplines, such as public international law, European law and the national law of ESA’s Member States.

The Legal Services Department provides authoritative legal advice to the Director General, the Directorates, but also to Council and other organs of the Agency, to achieve the objectives set out in the ESA Convention. As such the Legal Services Department participates in the decision making among Member States, formulating legal opinions and bringing new ideas to formalise space policies and programmes in Europe.
You will be part of a team of highly motivated, skilled lawyers working in an inspirational, interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Law_at_ESA/ESA_Legal_Services_Department

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You will support the Institutional Law Division on legal matters relating to the governance and functioning of an international organisation. Topics may include:

• the institutional framework and decision-making procedures of the European Space Agency, including the work of its Council and subordinate bodies;
• the interpretation and application of the Agency’s internal rules, policies and legal instruments;
• legal questions concerning the status, privileges and immunities of an international organisation;
• the interaction between public international law, European Union law and the national laws of Member States;
• legal research, analysis and drafting in support of the Division’s advisory work.

Through these activities, you will gain practical knowledge of institutional law and strengthen your legal research, analytical and drafting skills.

As an intern, you will have the following tasks:

• carry out legal research and analysis on public international law, including European Union law, and the relevant national laws of the jurisdictions in which the Agency operates;
• prepare and contribute to the drafting, review and processing of a variety of legal instruments (agreements, memoranda, etc.) and other documents;
• monitor and review developments in international law, including the evolution of legal doctrine and its practical application in international organisations;
• contribute to the Department’s daily operations by supporting the work of legal officers.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

Knowledge and background in public international law, including European Union law, and the relevant national laws of the jurisdictions in which the Agency operates, demonstrated through both study and experience, are an asset.