The European Judicial Training Network is proud to launch a comprehensive new study examining the state of judicial training in Europe.
Coordinated by the EJTN Working Group on Judicial Training Methods, the report – entitled “State of Judicial Training in Europe” – provides the first internal overview of judicial training institutions across Europe. It assesses key dimensions such as training content, evaluation methods, and trainer profiles.
The analysis is based on data collected at the end of 2024 through a detailed survey completed by all EJTN Members, Associate Members, and Observers. The report offers one of the most comprehensive overviews of the judicial training landscape to date, providing a solid foundation for reflection, the exchange of best practices, and the development of coordinated strategic action.
This study builds on the work launched by the European Parliament’s 2012 Pilot Project on European judicial training and carried forward by the European Commission in 2013–2014.
On the basis of the submitted answers, the final report on the State of Judicial Training in Europe draws an overview of initial and continuous judicial training across several dimensions, including:
- The organisation of the judicial training institutions in Europe
- The profile of the judicial trainers
- The nature of the training
- The identification of training needs
- The content trained
- The methods for delivering training
- The design of the training
- The evaluation of the training
Key findings highlight the importance of diversity and innovation
The study provides the first analysis of the various needs identified by judicial training institutions across Europe. It lays the groundwork for further analysis of the needs and challenges faced by training institutions, supporting informed discussion and strategic reflection at European level.
Building on this analysis, the study identifies several cross-cutting themes that characterise the needs and challenges of judicial training institutions across Europe:
- Diversity around shared needs: Judicial training institutions are deeply rooted in their national contexts, meaning their status, internal organisation, and scope of action vary widely. Yet all share fundamental needs for qualified trainers and adequate resources, and these are areas where EJTN plays a key supporting role.
- Common themes in training content: Despite differences in training structures, both initial and continuous training focus on fundamental legal knowledge and procedural skills shared across all institutions.
- Innovation in training methodologies: While digital formats and asynchronous training (e.g., e-learning) are widely adopted, only a few institutions are leading the way in experimenting with innovative methods such as gamification or virtual reality.
- EJTN’s central role in support and coordination: Across all dimensions, EJTN’s actions are essential to assist its members, associate members, and observers in delivering effective judicial training. The report highlights several directions for strengthening collaboration and sharing best practices throughout the Network.
The study was first exclusively launched at the EJTN Annual Training Needs Assessment, which took place in January 2026 in Brussels, Belgium.
Access all EJTN publications here.
To receive the latest updates from EJTN, follow us on LinkedIn.
