"Judicial Fellow" is a Fellowship of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague awarded to only "a few of the most outstanding legal scholars worldwide" and is widely regarded as "the most competitive and coveted fellowship in international law."
The Court generally selects approximately 15 participants each year from a pool of what it describes as "the world's most promising law students." The Court seeks candidates of diverse nationalities and places particular emphasis on academic excellence and a demonstrated interest in public international law. Candidates must also have an excellent written and oral command of at least one of the Court's two official languages, English and French; a working knowledge of the other language is considered an asset. The Court does not accept applications from individuals; candidates must instead be nominated by their respective academic institutions, which select the candidate or candidates they wish to put forward for the Court's consideration.
Like other law clerks in various domestic and international courts and tribunals, ICJ Judicial Fellows serve on a full-time basis between ten and twelve months, and are each selected by an individual Judge of the Court. Their duties may include conducting legal research, drafting memorandums on questions of law or fact relating to cases pending before the Court, attending hearings and sittings, and performing other duties assigned by their respective judges.
The programme's participants have subsequently pursued careers in international law, academia, human rights, and international organizations. Notable alumni include international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Margaret Satterthwaite, and University of Cambridge Professor Sandesh Sivakumaran. In 2026, on the occasion of its 80th anniversary, the Court established the Alumni Association of the Judicial Fellows Programme.
The list of Judicial Fellows is organized by fellowship year. It includes the names of fellows, their nationality, and their nominating institution. The list provides a record of participants in the programme since its establishment and facilitate identification of former Judicial Fellows who have subsequently held prominent positions in international law, international organizations, academia, and related fields.