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Legal internships in the Czech Republic take two distinct forms: informal summer and part-time internships for law students (known as praxe or staz), and the formal koncipient program — the mandatory three-year trainee period required before becoming a registered advokat. Understanding the difference is critical for planning your Czech legal career.
Student Internships (Praxe / Staz)
Most major Czech law firms offer structured summer internship programs for students in their 3rd to 5th year of the Mgr. program. These programs typically last 4-8 weeks during the summer months (June through August) and serve as the primary recruitment pipeline for future koncipient positions.
Which Firms Offer Summer Programs
- Havel & Partners: One of the largest summer programs in the Czech market, accepting 15-25 interns across Prague, Brno, and Ostrava. Interns rotate through 2-3 practice areas. Compensation of approximately CZK 20,000-25,000/month
- PRK Partners: Selective program accepting 6-10 interns in Prague. Known for giving interns meaningful work on live transactions. Competitive stipend offered
- White & Case Prague: International standard internship program with 4-8 interns per summer. Exposure to cross-border banking and M&A transactions. Among the highest-paying internships in the market
- Clifford Chance Prague: Small, selective program (3-5 interns) with high-quality work exposure. Access to the firm's global training resources
- Kocian Solc Balastik: Intimate program (4-6 interns) known for direct partner exposure and mentoring. Strong conversion rate to koncipient offers
- Kinstellar: CEE-focused internship with rotation possibilities across the firm's regional offices
- CMS Prague: Structured program with formal training sessions alongside practical work
- Rowan Legal: Ideal for students interested in technology, IP, and data protection law
How to Apply for Student Internships
- Timing: Applications typically open in January-March for summer positions. Apply early — competitive programs fill quickly
- CV and cover letter: Submit in both Czech and English. Highlight academic achievements, language skills, moot court participation, and any published articles
- University career fairs: The legal career fairs at Charles University (usually November) and Masaryk University (usually March) are prime networking opportunities where firms actively recruit
- Direct applications: Most firms accept unsolicited applications through their career pages year-round
- Grades matter: Top firms typically require above-average academic results, particularly in core subjects like civil law, commercial law, and constitutional law
The Koncipient System
The koncipient position is the cornerstone of Czech legal training. Unlike casual internships, it is a formal, full-time employment relationship governed by the Advocacy Act (zakon o advokacii) and supervised by CAK.
Key Features of the Koncipient Period
- Duration: Exactly 3 years — there is no way to shorten or accelerate the period
- Registration: You must register as a koncipient with CAK before beginning. Your supervising advokat must also register the arrangement
- Full-time employment: Koncipienti work full-time and receive a salary. Unlike unpaid internships in some countries, Czech koncipienti are properly compensated (see our salary guide for current rates)
- Supervision: A registered advokat serves as your skolitel (training supervisor) throughout the period. The supervisor is responsible for your professional development and must certify your readiness for the bar exam
- Mandatory seminars: CAK organizes seminars that koncipienti must attend covering ethics, civil procedure, criminal procedure, and professional skills
- Work scope: Koncipienti draft contracts, prepare court submissions, conduct legal research, attend court hearings (under supervision), and interact with clients. At major firms, the work is substantively similar to a junior associate role at an international firm
Koncipient Salaries in 2026
- International firms (Prague): CZK 60,000-80,000/month gross
- Top domestic firms (Prague): CZK 50,000-70,000/month gross
- Mid-size firms (Prague): CZK 40,000-55,000/month gross
- Regional firms (Brno, Ostrava, Plzen): CZK 35,000-50,000/month gross
Part-Time Roles During Law School
Many Czech law students work part-time at law firms during their 4th and 5th years. These roles — often called brigada or castecny uvazek — typically involve 15-20 hours per week of legal research, document review, and administrative support. Pay ranges from CZK 150-250 per hour. While not formal internships, these positions provide valuable experience and often lead to koncipient offers upon graduation.
Tips for Standing Out
- Language skills: Fluent English is essential. German is highly valued given the Czech Republic's economic ties with Germany and Austria. French or Russian can be differentiators at specific firms
- Moot court: Participation in competitions like the Vis Moot (international commercial arbitration) or the European Law Moot Court is highly regarded by top firms
- Publications: Publishing student articles in journals like Pravni rozhledy, Casopis pro pravni vedu a praxi, or Bulletin advokacie demonstrates academic rigor
- Study abroad: Erasmus exchanges at prestigious European universities signal international capability
Browse current koncipient and internship positions on our Czech Republic legal internships board, or explore all Czech Republic legal jobs. Set up job alerts to be notified when new trainee positions are posted.