Traineeships

Introduction

The Court’s traineeship programme will provide you with valuable skills, hands-on experience, and the chance to contribute to the activities of the EU’s main judicial institution. As a trainee, you will join a dynamic, multilingual environment, connecting with like-minded peers who uphold the EU’s fundamental values of democracy, rule of law and human rights.

“My traineeship at the Court of Justice of the European Union has truly been an enriching one. It has given me the opportunity to add a practical dimension to the theory-based knowledge of EU law gained during my studies. In this vein, working in the Press and Information Unit of the Communication Directorate has been instrumental in affording me a holistic, high-level overview of how a case proceeds through the Court – from pleading and deliberation to judgment and translation, all the way to how the final ruling is received by the media and the citizens of Europe. Working with talented and passionate colleagues, who have created such a supportive learning environment for the trainees, has been a particular privilege. The skills and experience I have gained during my time here will no doubt benefit me for years to come, and so I would absolutely recommend this traineeship to everyone!”

Olivia Moore

“I found the Traineeship at the Court to be a great post-grad experience. After graduating, I wanted to start working in the world of law, but I also wanted to travel. The Traineeship allowed me to meet both of these needs. I had been told so often about how quiet Luxembourg is, so I was worried about not having much of a social life while working in the Court. Thankfully, there is a great social aspect to the Traineeship with trips abroad and weekly after-work socials. If you are applying for the Traineeship, don’t be afraid to reach out to past trainees you may know – everyone in the Court was so welcoming and more than happy to answer any questions I had.”

Sorchadh Higgins

Traineeships for young graduates

Young graduates will gain insight into the Court’s functions and carry out tasks to assist in the Court’s work.

There are a limited number of traineeships available, approximately 200 per year.

They can take place either in the Members’ Chambers – with Judges or Advocates General – or in the Court’s administrative services.

Types of traineeships

Traineeships in the Members’ Chambers

Law graduates, particularly those with training in EU law, can apply for chamber traineeships with Judges and Advocates General – in either the Court of Justice or the General Court.

As part of their duties, trainees participate in the Chamber’s work by carrying out various tasks relating to cases assigned to the Judge or Advocate General and which have not yet reached the deliberation stage in the proceedings.

Chamber traineeships usually last between three and five months. There are two sessions every year.

• 1 March to 31 July
• 16 September to 15 February

Traineeships in the services

Service traineeships in the Court’s administrative departments are open to graduates of various fields, including law, politics, and economics.

As part of their duties, trainees learn about the specific tasks performed in each department and can gain practical experience under the supervision of experienced officials.

The services that accept trainees are the

1. Directorate for Human Resources
2. Directorate for the Budget and Financial Affairs
3. Directorate for Multilingualism (legal translation and interpretation)
4. Library Directorate
5. Research and Documentation Directorate
6. Projects and Terminological Coordination Unit
7. Protocol and Visits Directorate
8. Information Technology Directorate
9. Communication Directorate
10. Legal Adviser on Administrative Matters
11. Registry of the General Court of the European Union

Service traineeships usually last five months. There are two sessions every year.

• 1 March to 31 July
• 1 October to the end of February

Traineeships in interpretation

Young graduates of conference interpreting can apply for traineeships in the Interpretation Department.

As part of their duties, trainee interpreters will refine their interpreting skills, particularly of legal content, under the supervision of experienced interpreters. This includes preparing files, terminology research and practical exercises in a “silent booth”.

In order to apply, you must have at least two passive languages or a second active language. You must also be able to read French.

Interpretation traineeships last between 10 and 12 weeks, and applicant selection takes place once a year covering the entire judicial year.

Key information

Am I eligible to apply?

In order to apply, you must

• be a national of an EU Member State (exceptions may apply in duly justified cases)
• have a university degree or diploma in law, political science or economics or in a related field (exceptions may apply)
• have a thorough knowledge of an official EU language and a good knowledge of another EU language. A good knowledge of French is desirable.
• have not already undertaken a traineeship – either paid or unpaid – in an EU institution or body

Will I receive a grant?

Trainees receive a grant of €1 618 net per month. This grant is not subject to the tax regime applicable to EU officials and other agents.

Trainees whose place of residence is located 200 km or more from the Court of Justice will receive a one-time travel allowance of €150.

This remuneration does not apply to any traineeships carried out in the Members’ Chambers outside of the two fixed periods under a professional training course for which trainees also receive a grant, an allowance or remuneration from another source.

How do I apply?

You can submit your application via EU CV Online.

• For traineeships taking place during the period between 1 March and 31 July, apply between 1 July and 15 September the year before.
• For traineeships taking place during the period between 16 September and 15 February (Chamber traineeships) or between 1 October and the end of February (service traineeships), apply between 1 February and 15 April of the same year.
• For interpretation traineeships taking place during the entire judicial year, apply between 1 July and 15 September each year.

You may be asked to submit copies of diplomas and/or certificates upon request as part of the pre-selection procedure.

The Court’s human resources department will contact successful applicants.

Please note that admission to a traineeship does not grant the trainee the status of EU official or servant. It also does not give the trainee any right or entitlement to recruitment.

Inclusivity programme for persons with disabilities

The Court supports equal opportunities and equal treatment of candidates. It actively encourages candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds to apply for a traineeship if they fulfil the eligibility criteria.

The Court has a specific programme to ensure access to traineeships for persons with disabilities. This programme offers 2 traineeships per traineeship period.

These traineeships last for three to five months and take place either in the Members’ Chambers or in the administrative services.

How to apply

Candidates will be asked to apply for a specific field from the following:

• Legal affairs
• Administration
• Communications
• IT
• Legal translation
• Legal research

The application is done via EU CV Online.

When applying candidates will be asked to supply documentation specifying the level of their disability. This is to ensure that our medical service can evaluate any accommodating measures that need to be taken.

Grant

Trainees in this programme receive 150% of the grant (and one-time travel allowance) normally awarded to trainees.

Traineeships for national judges

National judges can take part in an exchange programme organised by the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN).

Trainee judges can work in the Members’ Chambers (Judges and Advocates General) in the Court of Justice or the General Court, or in the Research and Documentation Directorate (DRD).

As part of their duties, trainee judges act as legal secretaries or DRD administrators, depending on where they are assigned.

There are a limited number of traineeships available, with up to 15 judges accepted annually. The traineeships last for between 6 and 12 months.

Key information

Am I eligible to apply?

In order to apply, you must

• have held judicial office – as a judge or prosecutor – in an EU Member State for at least one year
• be familiar with EU law
• have perfect knowledge of an official EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of French, in order to be able to support the Members in the handling of case files and the drafting of decisions

Will I be paid?

Trainee judges do not receive any payment or compensation from the Court. Instead, they receive a daily allowance funded by the EJTN.

How do I apply?

Applications must be submitted to the EJTN. You can find more information about the traineeships on the EJTN website.

Duty of discretion

All trainees are subject to a duty of discretion – both during and after their traineeship – regarding all internal Court matters and documents.

Trainees must seek approval from the relevant Member or head of department before publishing anything related to the traineeship. Before beginning their traineeship, they must also sign a solemn undertaking pledging to uphold this duty.