Synergy #33 Spring edition 2003 - European Law Students ...

STEPStudent
Trainee
Exchange
Programme
The job market is becoming bigger, borders
are being erased and the world is
becoming smaller. With this, the
demands on the future lawyer are increasing
as well. The tasks and
expertise of the lawyer are going to be
quite different from what they are now
in a few years time.
As a student participating in STEP you
are going to be able to compete in the
international market with the knowledge
and experience you acquired. You are
going to be prepared for your future
job like nobody else since you already
gained the practical skills on your
traineeship abroad.
Legally skilled, internationally minded,
with knowledge of other cultures and
legal systems.
As an employer we can offer you the
opportunity of meeting future lawyers
who will meet the requirements of the
market. This can however only happen
if we work together in achieving this
goal.
We have a programme educating the
future lawyer through putting the
theoretical knowledge acquired at Law
School into practice through the exchange
programme. Not only do the students
obtain the legal skills but also meet the
demands of the international scene.
Read about the programme and decide
if you want to participate.
We have the programme, we have the
students, now we need the opportunity!
16
Jenny Piipponen
Vice President STEP
ELSA International
Magazine of The European Law Students’ Association
Exchange
STEP
The Student Trainee Exchange Programme
is a quality programme for law students and
young lawyers, that provides the students the
opportunity to go abroad and learn about
another legal system and culture. Every year
we offer our members several hundreds of
traineeships all across Europe in various law
firms, courts, public institutions and faculties.
Students
At University you learn the theory, but you
might perhaps not have the opportunity to
put this theoretical knowledge into practice.
Remember... your education doesn’t end in
the classroom. STEP gives you the opportunity
to gain first hand experience of the
substantive and procedural law of another
country. ELSA provides you with the opportunity
to increase your knowledge of law, to
meet and exchange ideas with employers
abroad and to establish useful contacts for
your professional careers.
Employers
A STEP traineeships lasts between 2 weeks
and 18 months, and can take place in a law
firm, court, public administration office, university
of other institution and the legal
department of a bank, company or corporation.
Former employers include Freshfields,
Ernst & Young, Bang & Olufsen, Coca Cola
Bottlers, Coudert Brothers, UNHCR and
Linklaters & Alliance.
Whether you need a trainee with a
specific knowledge in commercial law in France
or a student able to translate from Polish into
German, ELSA can provide you with someone
who will meet your requirements. Particpating
in STEP is a simple and effective way to broaden
your horizons and create an advocate
for your firm. Thereby, your firm could effectively
attract young lawyers. Having a trainee
working in your law firm is a valuable investment
for the future.
Internationalisation
The world is becoming a smaller place. Over
the last decade there has been developments
Jenny Piipponen
Vice President STEP
ELSA International
in Europe that have brought a greater need
for integration and versatile expertise amongst
legal professionals. Participation in the STEP
programme aids a better understanding of the
legal realities across Europe. It gives a better
contact for future legal reference in your
preferred country or field of law.
Quality
The exchange is managed in ELSA ONLINE,
which is a modern matching system ensuring
quality. All traineeships and applications are
entered online. The filtering system then
selects the most suitable applicants for each
traineeship ensuring qualified applicants. ELSA
ONLINE guarantees an accurate exchange
while being efficient and effortless.
Service
During the traineeship, the ELSA local Groups
provide assistance to the trainees by finding
accommodation and helping them with
formalities; visa, work permits and taxation
issues. ELSA organises social and cultural
events to introduce the trainee to the country
and seeks to involve the trainee in the life of
the city.
How to apply?
As a student contact your local ELSA office
and register your CV at the website. Present
the appropriate certificates and attestations
to your 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.
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.
How to participate?
Contact ELSA International at www.elsa.org
or elsa@brutele.be