Trainees get chance to study in Belgium

UK TRAINEES will be eligible to take up a five-month seat in Brussels through a new placement scheme which is being organised by the Law Societies of England and Wales and Scotland.

Trainees who are interested in pursuing a career in the international arena will move over for a secondment with the Law Societies' joint Brussels office, spending time studying the workings of European institutions.

"The scheme will offer trainees with an interest in Europe an excellent opportunity to be directly involved in EU affairs," said the Law Societies' Brussels representative Patrick Oliver.

"It will undoubtedly benefit both the trainee and his or her firm and it will help to produce solicitors who are confident in EC law."

Oliver said the scheme, which would take two trainees a year, was expected to be particularly attractive to people from firms without a Brussel's office.

Applicants would need a working knowledge of French and would also need some knowledge of EC law and the EC institution.

The first placement will begin in March next year and all applications for the scheme must be received by the Law Society's personnel manager by 10 November.