The European Lawyers’ Association (ELA) is the alumni association of the European Lawyers’ Programme (Programme) and the European Young Lawyers’ Scheme (the predecessor of the Programme) and was set up in 1985 with a view to maintaining the professional and social contacts established during the Programme, and to provide a forum for participants to develop these links with other participants and practitioners in the UK. It has around 700 members from 28 countries. The ELA is registered in Belgium as an International Non-Profit Association (‘association internationale sans but lucratif’/’internationale vereniging zonder winstoogmerk’).  

Participants who complete the Programme automatically receive an invitation to join the ELA. The ELA board and annual general meetings and conference take place over a weekend in destinations across Europe and are great occasions to network in a relaxed atmosphere.