The Programme was established in 1999 to enable recent law graduates to gain professional experience working at the ICJ. The Fellowship Programme aims to improve participants' understanding of public international law and the Court's procedures by actively involving them in the Court's work and allowing them to develop their experience under the supervision of a judge.

Judicial Fellows work full-time under the supervision of a member of the Court and alongside the judge's chief legal assistant. Judicial Fellows may wait, attend the Court's public hearings, research and write memoranda on legal issues or factual aspects of cases pending before the Court, and perform other duties assigned by their judge. The duration of the fellowship is approximately ten months, from the beginning of September until June of the following year.

The Tribunal normally accepts up to 15 participants a year from various universities around the world.

Judicial Scholarship Programme Trust Fund

According to resolution 75/129, a trust fund for the Judicial Scholarship Programme was set up by the UN Secretary-General in April 2021.

The Trust Fund will award scholarships to successful candidates who are nationals of developing countries from universities based in developing countries, thus improving and guaranteeing the geographical and linguistic diversity of the Programme's participants.

Eligible universities in developing countries interested in applying for funding through the trust fund to sponsor their nominees can do so by clicking on the link below to start the application process.

Submission of applications and selection of candidates

While it is possible to nominate a single candidate, the Court encourages universities to propose more than one nominee. Universities are strongly encouraged to limit nominations to candidates who have demonstrated excellent results in their legal studies and who have shown an interest in public international law through their studies, publications and/or work experience. The official languages of the Court are English and French, and participants must have excellent reading, writing and oral skills in at least one of them. A working knowledge of the second official language is an advantage.

To be eligible, candidates must be 31 years old or younger at the time of starting the programme. This requirement may be waived in special circumstances. When making its selection, the Court looks for candidates of different nationalities.

The Court does not accept applications from private individuals.

The Court

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was created in June 1945 by the UN Charter and began its work in April 1946. The seat of the Court is the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six main organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United States of America).

The Court's role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by states and to give advisory opinions on legal issues submitted to it by authorised United Nations bodies and specialised agencies. The Court is made up of 15 judges, elected for nine-year terms by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.

Description of the Ideal Candidate
To be eligible, candidates must be 31 years old or younger when the programme starts. This requirement may be waived in special circumstances. When making its selection, the Court looks for candidates of different nationalities.

The Programme is highly selective. The Court accepts up to 15 participants per year - no more than one from each university it nominates. The Court looks in particular for candidates who have excellent results in their law studies, and who have studied, published or worked in international law. Candidates will normally be in the early stages of their legal careers (for example, within three years of graduation). Some have practical experience in private or public practice, including work at another court or international organisation, and/or postgraduate studies in international law. The Court looks for diversity of nationality when making the selection.

The official languages of the Court are English and French, and participants must have excellent reading, writing and speaking skills in at least one of these languages. A working knowledge of the second official language will be an advantage.

Cost/funding for participants
Each nominating university must accept responsibility for providing the bursary, health insurance and travelling costs to its candidate, if selected. Whilst the Court has no requirements on the amount of the bursary nor does it seek information on this, the bursary must be sufficient to provide a minimum standard of accommodation and subsistence in The Hague and must be set at a level that ensures that the successful candidate can fully benefit from their experience at the Court without the burden of financial hardship. The fellowship is not a self-financing internship and candidates without adequate financial support through their sponsoring university will not be eligible. The Court will facilitate the obtaining of visas, if necessary, and provide work facilities, but does not provide financial support.

More information here.