Understand, compare, progress

Job Shadowing is an exchange initiative developed by the International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ). It allows judicial officers to observe in a concrete and immersive way the practice of their profession in another country, by being hosted for a few days in a foreign country. This experience is a unique opportunity to discover, from the inside, the professional practices, the working methods, the technological tools, but also the legal and cultural constraints specific to each system.

Beyond the purely professional aspect, this programme aims to strengthen the bonds of solidarity between colleagues, to encourage dialogue between legal systems and to promote better mutual understanding. It is fully in line with the UIHJ’s mission to promote the harmonization of standards, the sharing of good practices and the development of a common culture of execution at the European and international levels.

What is Job Shadowing?

This is short-term professional immersion (usually from one to several days) in a judicial officer’s office in another country. This approach, which is entirely non-profit, is part of a logic of exchange of knowledge and reciprocal discoveries. It allows the guest judicial officer to open to other professional practices, to deepen his comparative understanding of the profession and to strengthen his skills through direct observation.

The guest judicial officer observes the procedures, the management of the office, the technological tools used, the interactions with the courts and the litigants. He also discovers the concrete practice in the field, the missions carried out on the spot, as well as the cultural and legal particularities of the local system.

This immersion allows them to ask questions and better understand the legal, organizational and human framework in which their colleagues evolve.

Conditions of participation

• Registration to host a colleague is done exclusively via the UIHJ website, using the form provided for this purpose.

• Travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses are the responsibility of the participating judicial officer.

• The UIHJ does not take care of any logistical or administrative aspects. Networking is facilitated via our platform, but the concrete terms and conditions are agreed directly between the parties.

• The working language is to be agreed between the host office and the guest judicial officer.

• There is no remuneration or financial compensation: it is a purely professional and voluntary exchange.