The Supreme Court is open to cooperation with students of higher education institutions, such as with specialists in law, in communication and in other fields.
Attendance of court hearings
In the Supreme Court, cases mainly are adjudicated in written proceedings; hearings happen rarely (approximately 30 hearings a year). In order to better understand the cassation procedure and observe the conduct of the hearing, students are welcome to attend court hearings.
Days of first-year students
To extend understanding and interest of students – prospective lawyers – to the Latvian court system and allow them to have a look into one of the most interesting, and at the same time one of the most difficult legal professions – post of the judge, the Supreme Court has organised Days of first-year students in the Supreme Court since 2009.
Groups of first-year students, both bachelors and masters of Law faculties and programmes of jurisprudence, have been invited to the Supreme Court.
Students are given an opportunity to meet the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to go on tour in the Palace of Justice, to see court rooms and to visit the museum of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court also supports activities of law faculties of other high schools. Prospective and current students also visit the Supreme Court in framework of activities of Young Lawyers University, student career days; finale of the moot court takes place in the Senate Hall.
Lectures for students
If groups of law students have specific thematic preferences that fall within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, it is possible to arrange lectures given by judges at the Supreme Court on specific topics.
For example, Veronika Krumina, Chair of the Department of Administrative Cases, has lectured on the language of legal texts for several groups of students, and Zane Petersone, Judge of the Department of Civil Cases, on mediation.
Students of other disciplines, on the other hand, are encouraged to take the opportunity to apply for lecture in law at the Supreme Court. It is an opportunity to get acquainted with the Latvian legal and judicial system in a concentrated way. The lecture may be supplemented by a guided tour in the Palace of Justice (building of the Supreme Court) or with a meeting with employees working in the relevant field.
Traineeship
Where possible and in accordance with the cooperation agreements concluded with the higher education institutions, the Supreme Court gives legal students the opportunity to undergo a traineeship at the Supreme Court.
Students from other fields are also welcome to undergo traineeship at the Supreme Court. In addition to lawyers, the court also employs administrative staff – specialists in finance, personnel, communication, information technology and project management. Students who need to undergo traineeship in these areas are offered traineeships in the Administration of the Supreme Court wherever possible.
Research paper upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court shall offer law students topics that might be interesting and relevant for their research papers. Topics shall be published on the Supreme Court's website and sent to Faculties of Law of various higher education institutions.
If students choose a topic for their master's or doctoral thesis, the Supreme Court will, as far as possible, provide support for research and, if the result is successful, will give an opportunity to speak at the Supreme Court’s conferences and publish material in the "Supreme Court Bulletin".