João Vacas is graduate in law and postgraduate in Political and International Sciences from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon and postgraduate in Political Science and International Relations from the Institute for Political Studies of the Portuguese Catholic University (IEP-UCP). 

Master in International Politics by CERIS - Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales & Stratégiques de Bruxelles in partnership with the Collège d'Etudes Interdisciplinaires of Paris-Sud 11 University, he is a doctoral candidate in Political Science at IEP-UCP. 

João Vacas was a lawyer, a consultant on intelectual property and European affairs and a legal and political advisor and head of cabinet of Members of the European Parliament. 

He served in the Portuguese Permanent Representation to the European Union as Technical Advisor for labour and employment, education, youth and sport.  

João Vacas co-coordinated the first Advanced Course in European studies organized by the Portuguese Military University Institute in partnership with the IEP-UCP.

Currently works as Of Counsel to the law firm Abreu Advogados, mainly on European affairs, institutional relations, research and training, being a member of the board of directors of Abreu Advogados’ Knowledge Institute.