Young & Future Lawyers
Your journey starts here
with ECBA by your side
Are you a law student, trainee, or early-career defence lawyer with a passion for criminal justice and human rights?
Whether you’re navigating your first courtroom or building your profile in European criminal law — the ECBA is here to support, connect, and inspire your next steps.
Why join the ECBA Community?
Because ambition needs allies.
At ECBA, we believe that today’s young lawyers are tomorrow’s changemakers.
That’s why we’re committed to helping you grow — not only as a legal professional, but as a voice for justice in Europe and beyond.
Through ECBA, you’ll gain access to a dynamic network of criminal defence lawyers, specialised trainings, cross-border opportunities, and real-world experience that bridges the gap between studies and practice. What You’ll Find Here:
Mentorship & Community
Connect with experienced lawyers across Europe. Learn from their paths — and find guidance for your own.
Opportunities to get involved
Participate in working groups, attend ECBA events, contribute to projects and position papers — and make your voice heard.
Training & resources
Sharpen your knowledge of EU criminal procedure, digital justice, fundamental rights, and cross-border defence work.
International Exposure
Join conversations that shape the future of defence rights in Europe. From Strasbourg to Luxembourg, your legal horizon just got wider.
Upcoming Conferences and Webinars
Join us Friday 3 July, 2026 for the upcoming Extradition Challenges webinar
Heiko Ahlbrecht introduces Dr. Miguel João Costa on the CJEU’s 20 Mar 2025 judgment (C‑763/22) and its impact on conflicting extradition requests.
ECBA Autumn Conference 2026, 2 and 3 October in Tirana, Albania
Join the next ECBA Autumn Conference in Tirana, Albania!
EFCL Annual Conference 2027, 11 June 2027 in Frankfurt, Germany
The next EFCL Conference is scheduled for 11 June 2027 in Frankfurt, Germany. Details will be published closer to the date.
We welcome
Law students
with a focus on criminal law or human rights.
Trainees and junior lawyers
seeking hands-on experience in European cases.
Legal researchers or PhD candidates
exploring cross-border defence topics.
Young professionals
with a drive to connect theory and practice at the European level.
We know it’s not always easy to break into the field — especially across jurisdictions. But you’re not alone.
The ECBA is a space where young and future lawyers aren’t just welcomed — they are needed.
Contact: secretariat@ecba.org
Start where you are. Grow with us. Shape the future.
Latest Posts
Join us Friday 3 July, 2026 for the upcoming Extradition Challenges webinar
Heiko Ahlbrecht introduces Dr. Miguel João Costa on the CJEU’s 20 Mar 2025 judgment (C‑763/22) and its impact on conflicting extradition requests.
EFCL Annual Conference 2027, 11 June 2027 in Frankfurt, Germany
The next EFCL Conference is scheduled for 11 June 2027 in Frankfurt, Germany. Details will be published closer to the date.
ECBA issues Statement on the Death Penalty Legislation in Israel
ECBA condemns Israel’s new laws expanding capital punishment by hanging, targeting Palestinians and undermining fair trial guarantees.
Global Coalition Condemns Attacks on Tunisian Legal System: 39 Groups Urge Protection of Bar
Over thirty-nine international organisations have united to condemn Tunisia’s systemic, state-led assault on judicial independence and the rights of defense advocates.
Join us Friday 22 May, 2026 for the upcoming Sanctions WG webinar
Elena Fedorova and Anzhela Torosyan will discuss the Advocate General’s Opinion in the DNO Yémen AS case before the CJEU, issued on 19 March 2026 (C-842/24), and its practical consequences for arbitration proceedings.
Join us Friday 15 May, 2026 for the upcoming Extradition Challenges webinar
A Brussels court ordered Belgium to negotiate the return of a wrongly extradited person to the US — a landmark case discussed with Belgian defence lawyer Christophe Marchand.
EFCL Annual Conference 2026, 12 June 2026 in London, United Kingdom
Join the next EFCL Conference which will be a joint conference with the FLA in London!
The ECBA Cautions Against “Rebalancing” Fundamental Rights at Upcoming CoE Session
Ahead of the May 2026 Chişinău Ministerial Session, the ECBA warns that proposed migration-driven “rebalancing” of ECHR rights risks weakening the rule of law. Read our observations.
Grand Chamber Finds Violation of Article 7 in Yasak v. Türkiye: The ECBA Welcomes a Judgment It Helped Shape
The ECBA welcomes the Grand Chamber’s judgment in Yasak v. Türkiye, affirming that Article 7 prohibits retroactive punishment and requires individualized proof of criminal intent.
ECBA Spring Conference 2026, 24 and 25 April in Barcelona, Spain
The conference brought together European criminal defence lawyers for expert discussions on procedural safeguards, fundamental rights and cross-border defence practice.
Writing a new Statement on the Directive on Combatting Corruption
Preparing an ECBA follow-up position on the final EU Anti-Corruption Directive, assessing reforms and remaining defence-rights concerns in Europe’s evolving enforcement framework.
Strategic litigation and court interventions
The HRC files third-party interventions and amicus briefs in landmark cases before European and domestic courts, ensuring the criminal defence bar shapes the law that governs it.