“I joined the English translation unit at the Court of Justice after completing a degree in French and Czech, followed by a law conversion course and then the LPC. I was keen to use my language skills and was interested in legal drafting, so the job appealed to me from the outset.

However, while legal writing skills are an important part of our work, the role of a lawyer-linguist involves much more than translation. We are called on to liaise with members of the Judges’ chambers on the precise meaning and nuances to be given to a finished translation and in my time here I have been involved in terminology work, mentoring and recruitment. I have followed a wide range of training courses, covering the latest information technology tools, European and comparative law and personal development. We are also encouraged to acquire additional languages, in my case Spanish and Polish.

In my view, a career as an EU lawyer-linguist is stimulating and rewarding for anyone who enjoys word-play and problem solving. It is also fascinating to work at the forefront of the latest developments in EU law.”

“People sometimes give Luxembourg a bad reputation when it comes to nightlife. These people have obviously never experienced the eve preceding the Grand Duchy’s national day (23 June). Hundreds of thousands flock the capital’s picturesque medieval streets to watch the magnificent light and firework display, no expense spared of course! Every street has a DJ or a band playing and all the bars are open until dawn! My tip, grab a bottle of excellent Luxembourgish sparkling wine and head down to the valley of the Pétrusse to get an unobstructed view of the fireworks. Then wander through the medieval Grund quarter and enjoy the music and dancing.”

“Brussels is a very green city and in order to enjoy it to the full, once or twice a year with family and friends we hop on our bikes and cycle the promenade verte. This 60km bike itinerary loops around the city and takes you through many of its communes on paths that pass, for the most part, through its green spaces. It’s always a fun and relaxing experience to cycle through the great trees of the Sonian forest, the landscaped 19th century park of Woluwe and the green fields and ponds of Anderlecht. At around five hours long, cycling at a leisurely pace there’s always time to stop for an ice-cream or a beer on the way.”