Are you a recent university graduate or a budding legal professional seeking enriching opportunities? Consider embarking on an internship journey at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the principal judicial institution of the European Union. At CJEU, interns play a pivotal role in upholding Union law and ensuring justice for over 450 million citizens. This article delves into the various internship programs offered by CJEU, shedding light on the application process, rewards, and the invaluable experiences shared by former interns.
“The internship at the Court of Justice of the European Union was my first and very enriching experience of working in a multilingual environment. At the Slovak section of legal translations, I had the opportunity to meet many inspiring people. At the same time, my horizons have significantly expanded when deciding on the next steps in my career.” – Pavel Berec
“Thanks to the internship at the Court of Justice, I gained valuable experience and knowledge about legal translation and practical experience with EU law in important areas. I was particularly interested in translation technologies, which opened up a new area of interest and motivation for further work in this area.” – Martin Katchala
“The internship opened the door for me to better understand the functioning of the Court of Justice and enriched me by being able to integrate into an international multicultural environment.” – Michal Kolena
“Thanks to the internship at the Court of Justice, I had the opportunity to learn more about the work of the institution that ensures justice for 450 million citizens. This internship was a decisive period in the direction of my further career.” – Naďa Daurel
Internships for Young Graduates
The internship program at CJEU aims to provide comprehensive training to interns, integrating them into the institution’s activities. Each year, approximately 200 paid internships are offered, ranging from 3 to 5 months. These internships can take place either within the offices of CJEU members (Judges and Advocates-General) or in various departments within the institution.
Interns are expected to maintain confidentiality regarding all internal documents and information learned during their internship. This commitment is reinforced through a solemn oath taken by interns at the beginning of their tenure.
Internships in Cabinets and Service Departments
Internships in cabinets are tailored for law graduates with a focus on Union law. Interns assist in various tasks related to court cases, contributing to the work of a specific cabinet.
Alternatively, interns placed in service departments gain insights into the specific tasks performed within these departments. They actively participate in fulfilling assigned tasks under the guidance of experienced officials.
Internships in Interpreting Services
For graduates in conference interpreting,
CJEU offers internships primarily focused on enhancing interpretation skills, particularly in the legal domain. These internships last ten to twelve weeks and require proficiency in at least two passive languages, with a mandatory requirement of passive knowledge of French.
Application Process and Remuneration
Eligible candidates must be nationals of EU member states, hold a university degree in law, political science, economics, or related fields, and possess strong language skills. The internship remuneration amounts to €1,493 net per month, with additional travel allowances provided for interns residing more than 200 km away from CJEU headquarters.
Applications are accepted via the EU CV Online application platform and must include a detailed curriculum vitae along with relevant academic certificates. Internship periods vary depending on the department, with application deadlines corresponding to specific timeframes.
Internships for National Judges
CJEU also offers internship opportunities for national judges through the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN). These internships, lasting 6 to 10 months, provide judges with practical experience in CJEU cabinets or service departments. National judges are required to maintain confidentiality and are remunerated through EJTN funds.
Internships for national judges
The Court of Justice recruits national judges as part of the exchange program organized by the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN), a maximum of 15 judges per year.
Internships for national judges are carried out in the cabinets of the members of the Court of Justice and the General Court or at the Research and Documentation Directorate (DRD). They last 6 or 10 months. National judges are expected to carry out the same tasks as – given the context of the traineeship – the clerks in the cabinets or the administrators at the DRD headquarters.
The national judge is obliged to maintain confidentiality during and after the traineeship with regard to all facts and internal documents that he has learned about. He undertakes not to publish or allow to be published anything related to the internship.
Acceptance conditions