Participation of Young Lawyers as Clerks of the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation

Since 2023 The School of International Law carries out the project "Participation of Young Lawyers as Clerks of the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (ICAC Clerkship Programme)". 

This is a unique project, carried out in cooperation with the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. A century of experience of leading foreign universities demonstrates that completing an internship as an assistant judge or arbitrator (known as clerkship) is a mandatory stage in the career of a successful litigator. In keeping with this tradition, students selected for the project will be able to act as official speakers on domestic disputes considered by the ICAC under Russian law (disputes from supply, insurance, contractual agreements, etc.).

In this capacity, students will directly assist the arbitral panels (or sole arbitrators) of the ICAC in resolving internal disputes of various categories (depending on the needs of the ICAC and the interests of the students). As a result, students will be able to see "from the inside" the oldest and most authoritative arbitral institution, touch to its traditions, formulate ideas on its positioning and development in the modern environment, and gain invaluable experience of interaction with experienced arbitrators. The project leaders will provide students with the necessary counselling and administrative assistance, and will also hold meetings to discuss the results of the internship in order to train students in the theoretical and practical skills required to resolve domestic disputes before the ICAC.

The experience gained will be useful both for a deeper understanding of arbitration as a method of resolving commercial disputes and for future legal practice. As a result of the project, successful students may be recommended for inclusion in the list of clearks on a permanent basis with the prospect of becoming arbitrators of the ICAC at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in the future. Performing the functions of a cleark implies remuneration provided for by the ICAC rules. HSE students may receive project credits for participation in the project.

The project leaders are: Mikhail Galperin (Professor of the HSE School of International Law, Deputy Chairman of the ICAC at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation – Project Leader from the side of the ICAC at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation), Vladimir Kostsov (Candidate of Legal Sciences, Master of Laws, Harvard University, Master of Private Law – Operational Project Manager from the side of the HSE) and Dmitry Dedov (Professor of the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Lomonosov Moscow State University, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, elected from the Russian Federation in 2013-2022;  Scientific supervisor of the project from the side of the HSE).

Master's students (of all programmes and of all courses of study), as well as postgraduate students of the Faculty of Law are invited to participate, provided that the candidate has a higher legal education as of the date of application.

To participate in the pre-selection, please send a letter to vkoscov@hse.ru with(1) a motivation letter (1-2 pages) in Russian and (2) a short CV. Students who have successfully passed the pre-selection will be invited for an interview with the project leaders by return letter. Dates of interviews are announced each year.

If you have any questions, please send them to vkoscov@hse.ru