Key Areas
AA - Academic Activities
Academic
Activities are a tool for providing legal information and assist the development of the legal profession in Europe. Through the Academic Activities
ELSA makes a direct contribution to legal education.
AA = Absolutely Academic
ELSA has during the years developed a considerable number of different projects. Publications such as ELSA Selected Papers on European Law (SPEL) and ELSA Guide to Legal Studies in Europe (GLSE) are an important part of ELSA's activities. The GLSE is also a part of the Studies Abroad Programme, which has as objective to encourage students to study in foreign countries. Furthermore, there are competitions such as Moot Court Competitions and Essay Competitions, and events organised with professional life in mind within the Lawyers at Work events.
AA = Absolutely Amazing
In order to enable individuals to make use of the widespread ELSA network to obtain scientific legal information that may not be available in their own countries ELSA focuses on legal research. This research can be done with the help of the Legal Research Groups and the ELSA Law Web.
Moot Courts
Every year several national moot court competitions are organised by national ELSA Groups. Competitions taking place at local level are even more numerous. Furthermore, ELSA International arranges an international ELSA moot court competition.
More information
Lawyers at Work Events
ELSA is organising Lawyers at Work (LAW) events at each level of the organisation. The events are a good complement to the theoretical education of law students. Furthermore, it gives students and young lawyers an impression of how the various jobs of a lawyer can look like. The professionals taking part in Lawyers at Work events range from classical legal professions to much less considered options.
Aim
The aim of organising Lawyers at Work events is to provide students and young graduates with the opportunity to understand the different career opportunities that are open to law students at the end of their studies. LAW events are thus creating a direct link between students and the professional world, which is of benefits to both parties.
Benefits
Lawyers at Work events contribute to the legal education of students and young lawyers. The participants of such an event have the possibility to interact and receive career information from experts in the various professions related to law or which are open to law graduates even if they are not directly law related careers. Lack of information on the existing opportunities is often the main obstacle to finding a job.
Professionals are usually eager to participate in LAW events since these events give them a possibility to present their company. Furthermore, by dedicating time to young people they are investing in the future of the company.
Legal Research Groups
ELSA assists law students and young lawyers in performing legal research in various areas of law. Research is what being a legal professional is all about. Regardless of which field of law one has chosen to specialise in, no lawyer can succeed in his or her career without constant research. Regulations increase and change, there are more and more cases to be taken into consideration, in beginners' eyes the jungle of legal norms can seem to be scary and unpredictable.
It is highly beneficial to learn the crucial skills of legal research while studying since these skills will become helpful in the future life of any law student. Universities do not always give students the necessary practice in carrying out a research. This is why ELSA has established a field of activity in legal research. This provides students with opportunities to improve their academic skills, as well as increase their knowledge and know-how.
The core of the activities within Legal Research in ELSA, are the Legal Research Groups. ELSA offers students the chance to form Legal Research Groups, which work independently but report about their work to ELSA. The group carries out the research according to the plan and timeframe it has set for itself.
The other part of Legal Research in ELSA is the ELSA Law Web, which is a practical tool for anyone looking for information on other countries' laws and legal systems. ELSA Law Web is a collection of law-related links with short descriptions, which are easily searchable.
Please contact the Vice President Seminars & Conferences
AA = Absolutely Academic
ELSA has during the years developed a considerable number of different projects. Publications such as ELSA Selected Papers on European Law (SPEL) and ELSA Guide to Legal Studies in Europe (GLSE) are an important part of ELSA's activities. The GLSE is also a part of the Studies Abroad Programme, which has as objective to encourage students to study in foreign countries. Furthermore, there are competitions such as Moot Court Competitions and Essay Competitions, and events organised with professional life in mind within the Lawyers at Work events.
AA = Absolutely Amazing
In order to enable individuals to make use of the widespread ELSA network to obtain scientific legal information that may not be available in their own countries ELSA focuses on legal research. This research can be done with the help of the Legal Research Groups and the ELSA Law Web.
Moot Courts
Every year several national moot court competitions are organised by national ELSA Groups. Competitions taking place at local level are even more numerous. Furthermore, ELSA International arranges an international ELSA moot court competition.
More information
Lawyers at Work Events
ELSA is organising Lawyers at Work (LAW) events at each level of the organisation. The events are a good complement to the theoretical education of law students. Furthermore, it gives students and young lawyers an impression of how the various jobs of a lawyer can look like. The professionals taking part in Lawyers at Work events range from classical legal professions to much less considered options.
Aim
The aim of organising Lawyers at Work events is to provide students and young graduates with the opportunity to understand the different career opportunities that are open to law students at the end of their studies. LAW events are thus creating a direct link between students and the professional world, which is of benefits to both parties.
Benefits
Lawyers at Work events contribute to the legal education of students and young lawyers. The participants of such an event have the possibility to interact and receive career information from experts in the various professions related to law or which are open to law graduates even if they are not directly law related careers. Lack of information on the existing opportunities is often the main obstacle to finding a job.
Professionals are usually eager to participate in LAW events since these events give them a possibility to present their company. Furthermore, by dedicating time to young people they are investing in the future of the company.
Legal Research Groups
ELSA assists law students and young lawyers in performing legal research in various areas of law. Research is what being a legal professional is all about. Regardless of which field of law one has chosen to specialise in, no lawyer can succeed in his or her career without constant research. Regulations increase and change, there are more and more cases to be taken into consideration, in beginners' eyes the jungle of legal norms can seem to be scary and unpredictable.
It is highly beneficial to learn the crucial skills of legal research while studying since these skills will become helpful in the future life of any law student. Universities do not always give students the necessary practice in carrying out a research. This is why ELSA has established a field of activity in legal research. This provides students with opportunities to improve their academic skills, as well as increase their knowledge and know-how.
The core of the activities within Legal Research in ELSA, are the Legal Research Groups. ELSA offers students the chance to form Legal Research Groups, which work independently but report about their work to ELSA. The group carries out the research according to the plan and timeframe it has set for itself.
The other part of Legal Research in ELSA is the ELSA Law Web, which is a practical tool for anyone looking for information on other countries' laws and legal systems. ELSA Law Web is a collection of law-related links with short descriptions, which are easily searchable.
Please contact the Vice President Seminars & Conferences
S&C - Seminars and Conferences
.Seminars & Conferences aims to give law students and young lawyers
from different countries the opportunity to learn and discuss legal topics that are not usually included in the curricula of universtities, thus
contributing to a better legal, cultural and social education.. (S&C Policies, Introduction)
ELSA's Seminars and Conferences key area serves to complement the formal university curriculum by raising students' consciousness and understanding of global, legal, social, economic and environmental issues. The programme includes
- Seminars
- Conferences
- Law Schools
- Study Visits
- Institutional Visits
International Seminars and Conferences are events that deal with a legal topic of high international interest and provide additional skills and knowledge to its participants. While on a seminar, topics are discussed in a plenary. Conferences entail more individual participation and scientific contribution, therefore topics are discussed in workshops to be finally reported in plenary.
An international seminar or conference provides accommodation for the participants and lasts at least 3 days. More than 50 international seminars and conferences are held annually.
An ELSA Law School is an event that aims to be annual and has a scientific programme with a legal topic. An ELSA Law School is organised in close co-operation with the academic or institutional partner(s), i.e. with the law faculty, law institutes etc. The scientific programme includes lectures followed by workshops, which deepen and emphasise different areas of the lecture.
Study Visits are organised by at least one local group. Study Visits may be single, bilateral, multilateral, or institutional. Institutional Visits are Study Visits to international governmental or non-governmental organisations, public administrations or private institutions.
Please contact the Vice President Seminars & Conferences
ELSA's Seminars and Conferences key area serves to complement the formal university curriculum by raising students' consciousness and understanding of global, legal, social, economic and environmental issues. The programme includes
- Seminars
- Conferences
- Law Schools
- Study Visits
- Institutional Visits
International Seminars and Conferences are events that deal with a legal topic of high international interest and provide additional skills and knowledge to its participants. While on a seminar, topics are discussed in a plenary. Conferences entail more individual participation and scientific contribution, therefore topics are discussed in workshops to be finally reported in plenary.
An international seminar or conference provides accommodation for the participants and lasts at least 3 days. More than 50 international seminars and conferences are held annually.
An ELSA Law School is an event that aims to be annual and has a scientific programme with a legal topic. An ELSA Law School is organised in close co-operation with the academic or institutional partner(s), i.e. with the law faculty, law institutes etc. The scientific programme includes lectures followed by workshops, which deepen and emphasise different areas of the lecture.
Study Visits are organised by at least one local group. Study Visits may be single, bilateral, multilateral, or institutional. Institutional Visits are Study Visits to international governmental or non-governmental organisations, public administrations or private institutions.
Please contact the Vice President Seminars & Conferences
STEP - Student Trainee Exchange Programme
Gain working experience abroad
What is STEP?
STEP is a trainee exchange programme that enables law students and young lawyers to gain first hand experience of the substantive and procedural law as well as the culture of another country. The traineeships are between 2 weeks and 18 months and can take place in any law related area; law firms, courts, public institutions, banks, in-house legal departments, consulting firms and international organisations.
Each year ELSA offers around 450 traineeship opportunities all over Europe and occasionally in other parts of the world.
Before and during the traineeship, ELSA provides assistance with finding accommodation, applying for visas, when necessary, and organising social events to involve the trainee in the daily life of the local community.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of a STEP traineeship are immeasurable. STEP gives increased knowledge of a particular legal system or area of law, thus strengthens the professional skills of the trainee. As important as the academic and professional skills are, the improved language abilities and the experience of another culture that the trainee gains while participating in STEP are invaluable.
Furthermore, the trainee acquires valuable contacts, personal as well as professional, and future employment prospects.
In consequence the students and young lawyers are better prepared for becoming lawyers of tomorrow, working in an international environment.
How to apply?
The procedure for applying online for a traineeship can be divided in three steps:
1. Register in ELSA ONLINE.
2. Present the appropriate certificates and attestations to the local ELSA group. ELSA will thereafter activate your application form, which you can access with your chosen password and user name. Once activated you have access to ELSA ONLINE for one year.
3. Search and apply online for the traineeship of your choice. You will be automatically matched to the traineeships available in the database and the traineeships that you qualify for will be listed on the screen. This list is being updated regularly as the pool of available traineeships changes. You can only apply for one traineeship at a time.
Please contact the Vice President Student Trainee Exchange Programme
What is STEP?
STEP is a trainee exchange programme that enables law students and young lawyers to gain first hand experience of the substantive and procedural law as well as the culture of another country. The traineeships are between 2 weeks and 18 months and can take place in any law related area; law firms, courts, public institutions, banks, in-house legal departments, consulting firms and international organisations.
Each year ELSA offers around 450 traineeship opportunities all over Europe and occasionally in other parts of the world.
Before and during the traineeship, ELSA provides assistance with finding accommodation, applying for visas, when necessary, and organising social events to involve the trainee in the daily life of the local community.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of a STEP traineeship are immeasurable. STEP gives increased knowledge of a particular legal system or area of law, thus strengthens the professional skills of the trainee. As important as the academic and professional skills are, the improved language abilities and the experience of another culture that the trainee gains while participating in STEP are invaluable.
Furthermore, the trainee acquires valuable contacts, personal as well as professional, and future employment prospects.
In consequence the students and young lawyers are better prepared for becoming lawyers of tomorrow, working in an international environment.
How to apply?
The procedure for applying online for a traineeship can be divided in three steps:
1. Register in ELSA ONLINE.
2. Present the appropriate certificates and attestations to the local ELSA group. ELSA will thereafter activate your application form, which you can access with your chosen password and user name. Once activated you have access to ELSA ONLINE for one year.
3. Search and apply online for the traineeship of your choice. You will be automatically matched to the traineeships available in the database and the traineeships that you qualify for will be listed on the screen. This list is being updated regularly as the pool of available traineeships changes. You can only apply for one traineeship at a time.
Please contact the Vice President Student Trainee Exchange Programme
