Court Staff Integration

In the process of integrating court staff within its network and training activities, EJTN Members adopted an inclusive approach where court staff training needs are considered and addressed in all EJTN bodies together with those of judges and prosecutors.

COURT STAFF INTEGRATION

EJTN took the strategic decision to extended its target audience to court and prosecution staff with the adoption of its Strategic Plan 2021-2027 stipulating that “Networking on court staff training and delivering training to court staff is a new strategic objective of the Network” (point 61).

This initiative was also praised by the European Commission in its European Judicial Training Strategy 2021-2024 stating that: The Commission welcomes EJTN’s decision to extend its target audience to court and prosecution office staff.

The integration of court staff was supported by the findings of the Study on the Training Needs of Court Staff on EU Law in the EU and its annexes, developed by the consortium led by EJTN in collaboration with the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) published by the European Commission in June 2021.

An inclusive approach was adopted by the EJTN Members aiming to integrate court staff within the network’s exchange and training activities. In the light of the above, court staff training needs are considered and addressed in all EJTN bodies together with those of judges and prosecutors.

EJTN definition of court staff

In line with EJTN Strategic Plan 2021-2027, court staff can be defined as follows: “Persons working in courts and prosecution authorities where they form part of the “corps judiciaire”, who are not judges or prosecutors, and who have legal training and who either:

(a) Help prepare judgments or prosecutorial decisions

(b) Make judicial or prosecutorial decisions at least at a preliminary phase, or

(c) Play a significant role in cross-border judicial cooperation”

 

This definition is complemented by the Study on the Training Needs of Court Staff on EU Law in the EU and its annexes.

Based on group classifications, these documents provide with a practical tool to identify functions and tasks of court and prosecution staff across the EU:

  • F1 – Court staff with functions primarily related to the administration and management of the courts.
  • F2 – Court staff whose functions include providing assistance to judges and prosecutors in case preparation and research.
  • F3 – Court staff whose tasks include some judicial functions.
  • F4 – Court staff whose tasks include procedural functions of a cross-border nature

 

In the end, the definition of “court staff” and what is encompassed in the latter lies on the discretionary power of EJTN Members and Associate Members. Candidates interested to participate in EJTN activities are invited to contact their national training institutions regarding their eligibility, if any doubts occur.

 

EJTN activities open to court staff

Court staff can participate in a variety of EJTN activities such as exchanges in another EU Member State, seminars and webinars to perfect their legal and judicial skills as well as study visits at European institutions and international organisations. Attending EJTN activities is also a unique opportunity for court staff to network with fellow colleagues from other EU Member States.

EJTN encourages court staff to directly browse the EJTN Online Training Catalogue to find out activities that suit their specific training needs and objectives and apply for participation.

 

 

EJTN-ERA project on Court staff and bailiffs’ training in European civil and criminal law

 

Following a long-standing fruitful collaboration, EJTN along with Academy of European Law (ERA) are implementing a project on Court staff and bailiffs’ training in European civil and criminal law. Co-funded by the European Union, this project aims to apply a modern and practical approach to judicial training for European court staff and bailiffs in EU Member States.

 

More information is available on the project’s website: Court staff and bailiffs’ training in European civil and criminal law