ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme of the International Court of Justice offers an opportunity for law students and young lawyers to work with the International court’s judges.
The programme aims to improve participants’ understanding of public international law in practice and the Court’s procedures by directly involving them in the activities of the Court.
Judicial Fellows work full-time under the supervision of a Member of the Court, alongside the Member’s primary legal assistant. This article shows how you can apply for this opportunity.
ICJ Judicial Fellowship Summary
- Host: International Court of Justice (ICJ)
- Category: Training | Fellowships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Full Sponsorship | Mentorship | Trust Award
- No IELTS Required
- Deadline: February 5, 2024
ICJ Judicial Fellowship Details:
The ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme, formerly known as the University Traineeship Programme, was established in 1999 to enable recent law graduates to gain professional experience by working for the International Court of Justice.
Fellows can expect to conduct research and draft memorandums on questions of law or fact relating to cases pending before the Court, attend hearings and sittings, and perform any other duties that may be assigned to them by their respective judges.
The duration of the fellowship is approximately ten months, from early September to June of the following year. The Court generally selects 15 participants nominated by universities across the world.
Eligibility Requirements for ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme
To be considered for the ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme, you must:
- To be eligible, candidates should be 31 years old or younger at the start of their fellowship. This requirement may be waived only in special circumstances.
- Candidates must demonstrate excellent results in their legal studies, and an interest in public international law through their studies, publications and/or work experience.
- Candidates must have an excellent command, both written and orally, of at least one of the two official languages of the Court (English and French); a working knowledge of the other language is considered an asset.
Benefits of the ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme 2024
- Judicial Fellows work on a full-time basis under the supervision of a Member of the Court, alongside the Member’s primary legal assistant.
- Fellows can expect to conduct research and draft memorandums on questions of law or fact relating to cases pending before the Court, attend hearings and sittings, and perform any other duties that may be assigned to them by their respective judges.
- Trust fund awards are exclusively intended to benefit candidates nominated by universities based in developing countries, which do not have the means to provide financial sponsorship.
- Salary for the ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme is not disclosed but expected to be covered by the sponsors
Required Documents for ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme
To apply, candidates must be ready to submit the following documents
- Official letter of nomination from the university
- ICJ personal history form
- Letters of reference
- Official academic record
- Writing sample
- Candidate profile summary table
How to Apply for the ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme (Step by Step)
The 2024 ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme expects universities to nominate candidates.
The Court does not accept applications from individuals. While it is possible to nominate a single candidate, the Court encourages universities to propose more than one nominee.
The deadline for the submission of applications is 5 February 2024. All applications must be completed by this deadline. The Court expects to make its final decision on the selection of candidates by April 2024.