Amsterdam European Law Clinic
The Amsterdam European Law Clinic offers you the unique possibility to combine theory and practice of European law. You will be directly involved in providing legal advice in areas such as EU legal remedies, EU constitutional law, various substantive areas of law relating to public health, the protection of the environment, asylum and refugee protection and consumer protection.
The Amsterdam European Law Clinic (AELC) encourages critical thinking about the functions of law in society and its possibility to make positive changes and contributions our social world. It offers pro bono services if the client does not have adequate means for extra legal research, or when a public interest is pursued. These services are often offered to private individuals, non-governmental organizations, and international governmental organizations that are dealing with complex legal issues that require extra research.
“By working with real clients on actual cases and pertinent legal issues within the field, you are given the opportunity to apply your academic research skills in a professional context. This process not only teaches you how to successfully work in a team to produce an end product in which all members are accurately represented, but also reveals how to effectively communicate with both colleagues and clients.”
Working in the clinic
Clinical legal education is the study of law and lawyering in context. Working with real clients with real problems allows law students to begin the lifelong process of becoming responsible lawyers. Therefore, you will receive intensive, hands-on, guidance from clinical educators and staff from the Amsterdam Center for European Law and Governance (ACELG). You will learn how to conduct legal research and how to write a legal opinion for external clients on issues of European law. Professionalism, high quality work, teamwork, and respect for confidentiality are emphasised. On top of that, you will work closely with other students and members of staff at the University of Amsterdam.
Projects worked on by the Amsterdam European Law Clinic
The Amsterdam European Law Clinic assists with both national and European legal cases. Examples of the clinic's work include:
- How investment treaties and investor-to-state dispute settlement grant foreign investors greater rights than Dutch and EU law
- Supporting the challenge to the EU’s tobacco products directive before Dutch and EU courts;
- Investigating whether the reception of asylum seekers (including children) in a newly built closed reception centre (a so-called Closed Control Access Centre) on Lesbos is in line with obligations under human rights treaties, European law and Greek law. For the full report, see here (pdf);
- Legal research on the meaning and use of Article 13 TFEU (the EU’s constitutional requirement to integrate animal welfare considerations in a number of policy fields);
- Legal research on the regulatory freedom of Member States to cut back greenhouse gas emissions for cars.
Contact us
For any questions regarding the Amsterdam European Law Clinic, send us an e-mail or contact Mi-Sue Akkerman.
Requirements, eligibility and application
- You are a Master's student European Union Law or European Competition Law and Regulation (tracks within the master International and European Law).
- You are available at least 10 hours per week
- You have a strong work ethic, excellent communication and English-writing skills, and a genuine interest in European law.
Should a particular case or project in the Amsterdam European Law Clinic provide the possibility for students from other Masters to participate, this will be communicated through the clinic’s website informing other Master's students about the possibility to apply as well.
Check here the specifics on how to apply.
“Looking back, aside from the unique opportunity of working in a meaningful project with a real client, what made this experience memorable was the joint effort to provide creative solutions for legal questions- a challenge which I encourage all law students to welcome.”
Contact former clinic students
If you're interested in more hands-on information about the clinic and experiences from former Amsterdam European Law Clinic students, you can contact any of the following former students. Send us an e-mail and we will provide you with the relevant contact information.