Traineeships at the CJEU

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.

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
• 1 October to the end of February

Traineeships in the services

Service traineeships in the Court’s administrative departments are open to graduates of any field of study – in some departments, a degree in a specific field, namely law, may be required.

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 Buildings and Security 
4. Directorate for Multilingualism (legal translation and interpretation)
5. Library Directorate
6. Research and Documentation Directorate
7. Projects and Terminological Coordination Unit
8. Protocol and Visits Directorate
9. Information Technology Directorate
10. Communication Directorate
11. Legal Adviser on Administrative Matters
12. Registry of the Court of Justice of the European Union 
13. 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

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.

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.

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 any field of study – however, for the Members’ Chambers, a degree in law, political science, economics or a related field is required
• have a thorough knowledge of an official EU language and a good knowledge of another EU language. A good knowledge of French or English is required.
• have not already held a post or undertaken a traineeship – either paid or unpaid – lasting more than six weeks in an EU institution or body

Will I receive a grant?

Trainees receive a grant equivalent to 75% of the minimum social wage for a skilled worker in Luxembourg – amounting to a grant of approximately €2 400 per month. This grant is not subject to the tax regime applicable to EU officials and other agents.

Under certain conditions, trainees will receive a one-time travel allowance, currently set at €150.