30 April 2025 – 30 April 2026
“You made EU law feel alive – and fun!” Meet our Trainee Amálie Peroutková
An interview with Amálie Peroutková
ERA: You are a student at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. Can you tell us a bit about your academic background and what led you to pursue an internship at ERA?
Absolutely! I’m currently studying Law and European Studies at Masaryk University, and I’ve been super involved in ELSA, particularly with professional development and traineeships, so I wanted to gain more experience as well as to try to participate in the ELSA Traineeships programme myself. So, when I spotted the ERA internship opportunity in the field of EU law with a little dive into marketing and communication, I knew I wanted to shoot my shot there.
ERA: In March and April you were an ELSA Intern at ERA, supporting the Marketing, Sales and Corporate Communications department. What were your main responsibilities during this internship?
Oh, where do I begin? I was helping with event evaluations, and working on communication strategies aimed at young lawyers - yes, basically trying to figure out how to make EU law and ERA sound more attractive to students. I also helped brainstorm new ways for ERA and ELSA to cooperate and support each other.
ERA: Did your experience at ERA meet your expectations? Were there any surprises or challenges you encountered during your stay with us?
It definitely lived up to my expectations. One thing that really stood out was the international environment, where everyone was able to communicate with me in English. As for challenges, I can say that some of the conference content was intense and fast-paced, so staying focused and absorbing everything as the only student among all the law professionals was a bit of a workout for my brain. But honestly, that made it even more exciting.
ERA: Can you share some highlights from your time at ERA? What were the most memorable moments or projects you worked on?
Yes! One major highlight was attending the Annual Conference on White-Collar Crime in the EU - not only did I soak up legal knowledge, but I also got to observe how the ERA team organised the whole event with excellence. Another interesting moment was helping evaluate the conferences Recent Case Law of the CJEU in EU Staff Cases and the online Annual Conference on European Immigration Law. And, of course, I got the opportunity to be a little creative by creating a short video capturing sustainability efforts at ERA.
And I can’t forget the city itself: Trier’s Roman heritage is just breathtaking. Walking through the Porta Nigra or visiting the Roman baths really puts into perspective how deeply rooted Roman culture - and by extension, Roman law - is in the European legal tradition. It felt incredibly meaningful to be studying and working on EU law in a place where law itself has such ancient foundations.
ERA: How has this internship influenced your career aspirations and academic goals?
Let’s just say I’ve updated my life plan from “Maybe international law?” to “Definitely something that mixes EU law, communications, and event strategy!” The experience really showed me that I don’t have to pick between being a lawyer and being creative: I can be both. Plus, it gave me motivation to dive deeper into corporate law and - maybe even an LL.M. someday? We’ll see!
ERA: What skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship that you believe will be valuable in your future endeavours?
For me, the best part was seeing how an organisation works from the inside. I learned a lot just by being part of an international team and attending legal events. It motivated me to stay active in the field of EU law and always do activities on top of my studies.
And as a bonus, the ERA library was a perfect spot to focus and prepare for my studies. It’s calm, well-equipped, and filled with legal resources - an ideal space for any student wanting to go deeper into European law.
ERA: What advice would you give to other ELSA students considering an internship at ERA or in a similar field?
Definitely go for it! If you get the chance, especially through ELSA Traineeships, take it. Be open, ask questions, and try to join as many events as you can. It’s a great way to learn, meet people, and grow both personally and professionally.
ERA: Is there anything else you would like to add about your experience at ERA or any final thoughts you would like to share with us?
Just a big THANK YOU to the entire ERA team for letting me be part of your world for a few weeks. You made EU law feel alive — and fun!
