My three-month experience at the European Court of Human Rights

Posted on: 2 January 2025 by Mary Takwoingi in Blog

I moved to Strasbourg, France, to complete an exciting three-month internship at the European Court of Human Rights at the end of August. I was encouraged to apply for this by my lecturer after excelling in the Law of the European Convention of Human Rights modules. It was an exciting and rewarding experience that challenged me in ways I never expected.

During my internship, I had the privilege of working in the Office of the President. I was involved in a range of complex tasks supporting the work of the Court President, Marko Bošnjak, providing me with lots of high-quality work. 

Exciting and challenging tasks

One of the highlights was the variety of exciting tasks I was given. From drafting speeches to preparing answers for podcast interviews and Q&A panels, every assignment gave me an opportunity to learn more. I also had the chance to conduct research on various officials the President was meeting, updating briefing notes to ensure that he was prepared for each meeting. 

The most rewarding moments were seeing the speeches I had written being delivered in Court and at international conferences. Watching these speeches being delivered, particularly if they only had minor edits, was a reminder of how much my writing had improved during the internship and boosted my confidence. 

A particularly exciting moment was attending a meeting with leading experts on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and learning about the challenges that AI poses to human rights, such as to the right to privacy. As AI and technology continue to reshape society, it was interesting to gain insights into how the legal world is tackling these issues.

Overall, my time at the Court helped me to develop key skills for my future career as a solicitor, such as legal writing and research, whilst working in a fast-paced environment. 

Exploring Strasbourg

Beyond the work, another highlight was the chance to explore Strasbourg with the friends that I made at the Court. The Court attracts interns from across the world and it was amazing to meet so many people from different backgrounds. We spent a lot of time exploring the city together which made my time in Strasbourg even more memorable! 

I really enjoyed living in Strasbourg as it is a small city, so it was nice and had a relaxed feel. Despite its small size, there were still lots of restaurants and bakeries to explore. Also, Strasbourg is in a good location, as it is right next to Switzerland and Germany, so I got to explore the beautiful Swiss mountains. 

In all, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that I had to complete this internship as I learnt more about human rights law, improved essential legal skills and made great friends. I also discovered a very beautiful city which I hope to visit again soon!