Belgium | A Belgian law student specializing in European law has opened up about fears of being unprepared for a future career within European Union institutions. Despite nearing completion of a Master’s degree and planning further specialization in EU intellectual property and competition law, the student says they feel behind compared to peers because of limited professional experience.
The student explained that they did not complete internships or traineeships during their studies and now worry that an average academic record may not stand out in competitive EU recruitment processes. However, they have already applied for the European Commission’s Blue Book traineeship and are considering opportunities at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
The discussion reflects a common concern among European students entering highly competitive public-sector and international careers. Many respondents emphasized that multilingual skills, specialization, and persistence in applying for internships can still create strong opportunities over time, especially within EU-related legal fields.
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