Mehreen Kazmi’s ECHR Experience as Nicolas Bratza Scholar 2024

In May 2024, I was awarded the Nicolas Bratza Scholarship by Lincoln’s Inn, enabling me to undertake an internship at the European Court of Human Rights. I received the news just before my final Bar Practice Course exam, and it was the perfect way to end my studies, giving me something incredible to look forward to after months of hard work. After a well-deserved rest over the summer, I packed my bags and moved to Strasbourg at the end of September.

The President’s Office

During my time at the Court, I was attached to the Private Office of the President, supporting the work of President Marko Bošnjak, the judge in respect of Slovenia. My work was exceptionally varied. I had the opportunity to take on exciting and important tasks to support the President’s official visits and engagements. Some of the projects I worked on included:

• Drafting a letter to the UK Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, and preparing a briefing note for the President’s meeting with her.
• Writing the opening speech for the visit by a delegation from the Constitutional Court of Türkiye.
• Researching the Court’s case law and compiling a background note for the Vice President’s meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues.
• Drafting the keynote speech for the conference on ‘Effectiveness of Ombudsman Institutions and NHRIs in Tackling Contemporary Challenges’ in Bled, Slovenia.
• Writing a keynote speech for the Warsaw seminar, ‘The Role of the European Court of Human Rights in Strengthening Democratic Institutions.’
• Drafting a Memorandum of Understanding between the ECHR and the Supreme Court of Cassation of Italy.

Each of these tasks provided me with a deeper understanding of the Court’s relationships with member states and other stakeholders, offering insights into the importance of judicial dialogue and the principle of subsidiarity.

UK Case Processing Unit

I was also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with the UK Case Processing Unit, where I was able to engage with actual cases. I conducted administrative and admissibility checks on applications brought against the UK, drafting notes to the Single Judge for cases across different areas of law. This included:

• An immigration case on refusal of entry clearance.
• A family law case regarding an occupation order, which was all in French!
• An international family law case on abduction proceedings.
• A public law / judicial review case concerning a local council body.

Working with the UK Unit was a fantastic addition to my internship. I was able to gain a practical understanding of the Court and the Convention through working on real applications, tracing their journey from domestic courts through to Strasbourg. A particular highlight was meeting Judge Eicke, the UK judge at the Court, who shared unique perspectives on the Court’s inner workings.

Events and Conferences

Part of what made my experience so enriching was the abundance of learning opportunities, beyond my work. With events and discussions constantly taking place across the institutions – the Court, the Council of Europe, and the European Parliament, there was always something engaging to explore. A few highlights included:

• Attending the European Parliament Plenary Session, where I watched critical debates on pressing global issues, such as financial assistance for Ukraine, and a ceasefire in Lebanon.
• Observing the ECHR and UNHCR Seminar on international refugee law compliant procedures at state borders.
• Watching the Grand Chamber Hearing – Kovačević v. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Helping organise and support the Visit of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.
• Assisting the Visitors’ Unit and attending the Grand Chamber Hearing – Danileţ v. Romania.

One of the most unforgettable moments was bumping into with Jeremy Corbyn and conversing with him outside the Council of Europe!

Social Life in Strasbourg

My time in Strasbourg was made even more special by the people I met. The Court had a fantastic trainee community, and it was easy to make friends. One of the most memorable experiences was attending the ‘Last Agenda Party’, which was a huge international potluck where each Unit of the Court brought home cooked dishes from their country, followed by performances, such as a nativity performance by the Ukrainian Unit and a choir performance by the Turkish Unit. I was so grateful to the UK lawyers for inviting me to be a part of this exceptional evening.

Outside of the Court, Strasbourg itself was a wonderful place to live. It is a beautiful city, home to the European Institutions, but also a picturesque old town and famous cathedral. Its location on the border with Germany made it easy to take day trips; I visited both Frankfurt and Freiburg. One of the highlights was getting to experience the Strasbourg Christmas Markets in December. Strasbourg is widely considered the ‘Christmas capital of Europe’ and I was so fortunate to be able to enjoy the entire Christmas season there.

Final Reflections

This internship was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am incredibly grateful to Lincoln’s Inn for enabling me to experience it. To anyone considering applying for this scholarship, I could not recommend it highly enough!

Each year, Lincoln’s Inn provides scholarships and bursaries for students and barristers under five years Call to spend time at the centre of International, European and Human Rights Law.

Applications for 2025 are open until 31 March 2025 at 10:00. Find out more about eligibility and apply via our International Scholarships page.