This learning unit is not open to incoming exchange students!
Teacher(s)
Language
French
Prerequisites
The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| Introduction to the professional legal world. | |
Content
- 60 hours of internship (between October 2025 and May 2026) in a legal environment involving observation and/or participation in various tasks (preparing memos, drafting legal documents, writing reports, conducting legal research…)
- Keeping a internship diary throughout the duration of the internship
- Writing a 20-page internship report: description of the internship, development of a legal question, critical analysis
- Mandatory participation in the collective introductory session and in individual or group mid-term interviews
Teaching methods
The teaching method for internships is designed to support and guide students throughout the practical completion of their placement, which provides immersion in a professional environment and direct observation of legal practice. Throughout the internship, students receive individual or group academic supervision, enabling them to develop a critical perspective and produce relevant analyses, in line with a social science research methodology
Evaluation methods
Type of Evaluation (and possible components)
1° Evaluation of the written report by the faculty internship supervisor (17 points out of 20)
- Written internship report (20 pages) including an introduction, two main sections, and a conclusion (in addition to a cover page, table of contents, and bibliography).
In the first part of the report, the student describes the activities they took part in during the internship and the issues they encountered. To this end, they draw on their field journal (which is strictly personal, must not be submitted as an appendix to the report, and will therefore not be evaluated), where they recorded their internship experience, the tasks carried out, and their personal impressions.
In the second part, the student addresses a legal question related to the internship, outlines the applicable normative framework, and analyzes the key issues involved. For this purpose, students are expected to make use of relevant legal doctrine and case law.
In the conclusion, the student provides a personal critical analysis of their internship experience.
2° Internship evaluation by the external internship supervisor through a confidential report (3 points out of 20) : engagement and availability in the field are assessed.
Language of Evaluation :
The language of the report (French or English) depends on the internship assigned at the beginning of the academic year.
Evaluation criteria
For the assessment of the report:
Completeness of the report on observed activities and tasks performed
Ability to analyze and articulate a legal issue
Quality of writing (both in form and content)
Critical thinking
For the assessment of the internship:
Engagement and availability in the field (assessed by the extern internship supervisor)
Additional information
* The internship report must comply with the referencing guidelines of UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles.
* Students are subject to the Code d’éthique et de déontologie applicable aux utilisateurs et utilisatrices des services de l’information de l’UCLouvain.
* Students must use generative IA tools responsibly, in accordance with the document « Utilisation responsable de l’intelligence artificielle générative », approved by the Faculty Council. To this end, students are required to sign a "engagement d’intégrité". Failure to submit the signed document will result in a penalty of two points.
The report must be submitted via Moodle by Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM (August 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM for students in the resit session).
In case of justified delay, the submission deadline will be extended by the number of days between the start date of the medical certificate and the initial deadline, up to a maximum of 10 days.
In the case of unjustified delay, 2 points will be deducted for every 24-hour period (or part thereof). A delay of more than 5 days, the submission of an invalid report, or failure to submit the report will result in a grade of 0A (absent).
1° Evaluation of the written report by the faculty internship supervisor (17 points out of 20)
- Written internship report (20 pages) including an introduction, two main sections, and a conclusion (in addition to a cover page, table of contents, and bibliography).
In the first part of the report, the student describes the activities they took part in during the internship and the issues they encountered. To this end, they draw on their field journal (which is strictly personal, must not be submitted as an appendix to the report, and will therefore not be evaluated), where they recorded their internship experience, the tasks carried out, and their personal impressions.
In the second part, the student addresses a legal question related to the internship, outlines the applicable normative framework, and analyzes the key issues involved. For this purpose, students are expected to make use of relevant legal doctrine and case law.
In the conclusion, the student provides a personal critical analysis of their internship experience.
2° Internship evaluation by the external internship supervisor through a confidential report (3 points out of 20) : engagement and availability in the field are assessed.
Language of Evaluation :
The language of the report (French or English) depends on the internship assigned at the beginning of the academic year.
Evaluation criteria
For the assessment of the report:
Completeness of the report on observed activities and tasks performed
Ability to analyze and articulate a legal issue
Quality of writing (both in form and content)
Critical thinking
For the assessment of the internship:
Engagement and availability in the field (assessed by the extern internship supervisor)
Additional information
* The internship report must comply with the referencing guidelines of UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles.
* Students are subject to the Code d’éthique et de déontologie applicable aux utilisateurs et utilisatrices des services de l’information de l’UCLouvain.
* Students must use generative IA tools responsibly, in accordance with the document « Utilisation responsable de l’intelligence artificielle générative », approved by the Faculty Council. To this end, students are required to sign a "engagement d’intégrité". Failure to submit the signed document will result in a penalty of two points.
The report must be submitted via Moodle by Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM (August 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM for students in the resit session).
In case of justified delay, the submission deadline will be extended by the number of days between the start date of the medical certificate and the initial deadline, up to a maximum of 10 days.
In the case of unjustified delay, 2 points will be deducted for every 24-hour period (or part thereof). A delay of more than 5 days, the submission of an invalid report, or failure to submit the report will result in a grade of 0A (absent).
Other information
- Unpaid internship
- Insurance coverage provided by the university
- High availability required throughout the academic year.
- Internship assigned based on a random draw.
- Some internships require an excellent command of English and/or Dutch.
- Documents to be submitted to the internship supervisor before starting the internship: personal information sheet; internship agreement (including, where applicable, a confidentiality clause).
- It is the student’s responsibility to contact their internship supervisor and ensure the follow-up of the signature of the above-mentioned documents.
- Each student must also submit, along with the internship report, a statement of integrity committing to the «Utilisation responsable de l’intelligence artificielle générative».
- Available on Moodle : Internship Vade Mecum; Internship regulations (annexed to the Vade Mecum); Table of UCLouvain legal referencing rules; Grading grid for the internship report; Examples of previous internship reports; Evaluation form completed by the internship supervisor; Code d’éthique et de déontologie applicable aux utilisateurs et utilisatrices des services de l’information de l’UCLouvain; Regulations relating to internships.
Bibliography
Les documents nécessaires à la tenue du stage (mentionnés ci-dessous dans « Autres informations ») sont déposés sur Moodle.
Bibliographie
• Informations pratiques sur les professions du droit (podcast « La justice et moi »)
Bibliographie
• Informations pratiques sur les professions du droit (podcast « La justice et moi »)
Faculty or entity
