Call for applications for the 2025-2026: International Court of Justice Judicial Fellowship Programme (open to al universities worldwide)
Judicial Fellowship Programme – International Court of Justice (ICJ)
The Judicial Fellowship Programme of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), established in 1999 and previously known as the University Traineeship Programme, is designed to provide recent law graduates with an opportunity to gain professional experience by working directly with the Court. This programme helps participants deepen their understanding of public international law in practice and the Court’s procedures by involving them in its work.
Programme Overview
Fellows work full-time under the supervision of an ICJ Member, alongside their primary legal assistant. Responsibilities include conducting legal research, drafting memoranda on legal or factual issues related to cases before the Court, attending hearings and sittings, and assisting with other tasks assigned by the respective judge.
The fellowship runs for approximately ten months, from early September to June of the following year. Each year, the Court typically selects 15 participants nominated by universities worldwide.
Trust Fund for Developing Country Nationals
In accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 75/129, a trust fund for the Judicial Fellowship Programme was created in April 2021. This trust fund supports fellowship awards for candidates from developing countries, especially those who recently graduated from universities in these nations. The aim is to ensure the programme reflects greater geographical and linguistic diversity.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the programme, candidates must:
- Be 31 years old or younger at the start of the fellowship (this may be waived under special circumstances).
- Have outstanding academic performance in legal studies, with an interest in public international law through studies, publications, or work experience.
- Have excellent written and spoken command of at least one of the official languages of the Court (English or French). A working knowledge of the other language is considered an asset.
- Be nominated by a university (the Court only accepts nominations from universities, not individual applications). While universities can nominate a single candidate, they are encouraged to nominate multiple candidates.
2025-2026 Fellowship Programme: Call for Applications
The ICJ is now accepting nominations from universities worldwide for the 2025-2026 edition of the Judicial Fellowship Programme. The deadline for universities to submit nominations is 5 February 2025. The Court expects to finalize its selection by April 2025, with selected candidates notified via their nominating universities.
How to Nominate Candidates
To nominate a candidate, universities must complete an online pre-screening questionnaire and designate a focal point to handle the submission process. The focal point will receive a confirmation email containing detailed instructions for submitting the following documents for each nominated candidate:
- Official letter of nomination from the university.
- ICJ personal history form.
- Letters of reference.
- Official academic records.
- Writing sample.
- Candidate profile summary table.
All documents must be submitted via the university’s focal point. For any questions regarding required documents, universities should consult the FAQ page for the Judicial Fellowship Programme and Trust Fund.
