The Hungarian judicial organisation pays special attention to the new generation: the training concept of 2019 includes the training of trainee judges, secretary judges and judges, however, the young generation have also the opportunity to try their hand at scientific work and get experienced in the international environment as well – emphasised dr. Judit Gyarmathy, Deputy President of the National Office for the Judiciary at the event of Consilium Peritorum. Besides international training opportunities, the Deputy President highlighted the European success the Hungarian team of trainee judges has gained at this year’s international competition for trainee judges called THEMIS.

The internship at Court of Justice of the European Union and the Academy of European Law provided by the President of the National Office for the Judiciary has been renewed and is now called Werbőczy Mundus.

The three pillars of Werbőczy Internship Programme are Werbőczy Universitas, Werbőczy Lingua and Werbőczy Mundus. Werbőczy Universitas provides support for judges to obtain a specialisation in certain legal fields. The aim of Werbőczy Lingua is to present international results in justice to Hungarian judiciary, communicate the results of national justice in international field and also to improve professional language skills.

In his ceremonial speech Dr. András Osztovits, Director of Hungarian Academy of Justice highlighted that learning is essential to become a good judge for what the National Office for the Judiciary and the Hungarian Academy of Justice provide several opportunities. The Director raised the attention of the newly appointed trainee judges and secretary judges that it is not enough to be good but the best at their profession; to handle their cases with maximum care and humbleness as the power of judge is not for misuse but use accordingly.

Since 2012, the Consilium Peritorium is the ceremonial event dedicated to the newly appointed judges, secretary judges and trainee judges, which also serves the occasion for the president of the National Office for the Judiciary to present Mailáth György Scientific Award each year. Also, the Consilium Peritorium is a perfect platform for the new generation to get better acquainted with judicial community, the operation of and the opportunities provided by the organisation.  

As for the opportunities, international exchange of experiences plays a key role besides trainings. In cooperation with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the Academy of European Law (ERA), the president of the National Office for the Judiciary (NOJ) announces internship programme each year for judges, secretary judges and trainee judges since 2014. The internship for CJEU and ERA is now called Werbőczy Mundus, for which the application will be available as part of Werbőczy Internship Programme from 2019.

This internship programme provides an excellent opportunity for the participants to learn more about international working environment and best practices and deepen their legal knowledge during the time spent at these two institutions. In addition, working abroad improves language skills and is - last but not least - an experience of a lifetime.

During the 5 months long internship program the interns of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg are given the opportunity to work in Judge Endre Juhász’s Cabinet. The internship to the ERA takes place in the Academy of European Law in Trier, Germany, where the internship winner can take part in the everyday work and trainings of the ERA. Application to the internship program to the ERA is already available for trainee judges as well.