European & International

Lincoln’s Inn is committed to supporting aspiring and junior barristers in developing a deeper understanding of European, international and human rights law. Through a range of prestigious scholarships, awards and bursaries, the Inn provides opportunities to gain first-hand experience at leading international courts and institutions, including those based in The Hague, Strasbourg and Luxembourg.

These opportunities are available to student members and barristers under five years’ Call, enabling successful applicants to broaden their legal knowledge, develop international networks and gain valuable insight into the work of courts at the forefront of international, European and human rights law. The Inn also supports members undertaking independent overseas placements and contributes to the Pegasus Trust scholarships administered by Inner Temple.

In addition, members may wish to explore the Harold G. Fox Scholarships, which are open to members of all four Inns of Court. Further information can be found on the Middle Temple website.

European Scholarships Awards

Overview

Each year the Inn provides scholarships and bursaries for students and barristers under five years Call to spend time at the centre of European, International and Human Rights Law. Applicants are welcome to apply for more than one scholarship.

Johan Steyn Scholarship to the ICC
Peter Duffy Scholarship and Nicolas Bratza Scholarship to the ECtHR
JP Warner Scholarship to the CJEU
EFTA Court Scholarship (open to members of all Inns)
Paul Heim Education Award

Further information on these scholarships and awards can be found in the Guidance for Applicants booklet, which is available for download from this page. You can also read about some of our former scholars experiences on the news and media section of our website under the ‘International Scholarship Report‘ tag filter at the top of the page.

The Inn also holds a number of European and Human Rights Law lectures throughout the year as well as annual visits to the ICC, ECtHR and the CJEU. Details of these events and visits can be found on the European Law Programme and the European Visits pages which include reports from some previous visits.

Eligibility

Please find the eligibility criteria below:

You must either be student member or a member under five years Call.
Applicants need to demonstrate an understanding and genuine interest in the work of the court they are applying to.
The EFTA Court Scholarship is open to members of any Inns Court
The Johan Steyn, Peter Duffy, Nicolas Bratza, and JP Warner scholarships, and the Paul Heim Education Award are only open to members of Lincoln’s Inn.
You must be a national of a member state of the Council of Europe to be eligible for the Peter Duffy and Nicolas Bratza scholarships to the ECtHR. A full list of member states can be found here.

Application Process

Candidates are required to complete a written application, including supplying references, which is reviewed by a panel of barristers. Following this assessment, the panel determines whether the candidate will be invited for interview. All interviews are held remotely.

The application timeline for the 2027 International and European Scholarships are below.

Applications Open: TBC February 2027
Applications Close: TBC March 2027
Interview Dates: TBC May 2027

You can apply here.

Application Criteria

Please find the application criteria below, further information can be found on the Application Guidance:

Commitment to the Bar
Motivation for the internship and its benefit for career progression
Intellectual ability
Inter-personal skills
Written and oral advocacy
Ability to be an excellent ambassador for the Inn
Integrity

Overseas Placement Fund

The Inn has an Overseas Placement Fund to assist Lincoln’s Inn junior barristers to undertake international Human Rights Law internships. Previous members been awarded the fund to undertake work supporting Syrian refugees in Greece, to work on death row cases in the USA and to carry out placements with the Women’s Legal Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.

An application form can be downloaded from this page. This must be returned via email to [email protected] along with a copy of the contract or letter of appointment confirming the placement and a legal CV. Applications must be received by the final Friday of each month.

Please note:

Make sure that you have confirmation of your placement before applying for funding
The Inn cannot fund the placements in full but can make a contribution
Those who have yet to start the Bar Course are not eligible to apply

Pegasus Scholarships (administered by Inner Temple)

The Pegasus Scholarships are funded equally by all four Inns and administered by Inner Temple. As incoming Pegasus scholars, talented young lawyers from other countries will be able to gain work experience in a first class set of chambers for three months. As outgoing Pegasus scholars, junior English and Welsh barristers will be able to travel abroad, live and work in other common law jurisdictions and in the European Community.

For more information on the scholarships, please visit the Inner Temple website.

The Harold G. Fox Scholarship (run by Middle Temple)

The Harold G. Fox Education Fund was established in 1966 to build relationships between lawyers in Canada and the Middle Temple. Each year, the Fund sponsors two scholars to undertake a ten-month placement in a law firm in Toronto. These scholarships are now open to members of all the Inns.

If you would like to read more, please visit the Middle Temple website.