The International Court of Justice is offering a unique opportunity for recent law graduates worldwide to participate in its 2024-2025 Judicial Fellowship Programme. This programme, formerly known as the University Traineeship Programme, is designed to provide participants with professional experience by allowing them to work for the International Court of Justice.
The Judicial Fellowship Programme aims to enhance participants’ understanding of public international law and the Court’s procedures by actively involving them in the Court’s activities. Fellows work full-time under the guidance of a Member of the Court, alongside the Member’s primary legal assistant.
Several fellowships are available, and applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered:
- Candidates should be 31 years old or younger at the start of their fellowship, although this requirement may be waived in special circumstances.
- Candidates must have demonstrated excellent results in their legal studies, and show an interest in public international law through their studies, publications, and work experience.
- Candidates must possess an excellent command of at least one of the two official languages of the Court (English and French), both written and oral. A working knowledge of the other language is considered an asset.
To apply, a university must complete an online pre-screening questionnaire and designate an authorized focal point for submitting all application materials. The following six documents must be submitted via the email address of the university’s authorized focal point:
- Official letter of nomination from the university
- ICJ personal history form
- Letters of reference
- Official academic records
- Writing sample
- Candidate profile summary table
The application deadline for the Judicial Fellowship Programme for Law Graduates is February 2023. For further details on how to apply, visit the official website. This is an excellent opportunity for law graduates to gain practical experience and enhance their understanding of public international law.
