The National Institute of Magistracy (NIM) is Romania’s leading judicial training institution, responsible for the education and professional development of judges and prosecutors. Established in 1992 and operating under the coordination of the Superior Council of Magistracy, NIM plays a central role in strengthening the independence, professionalism and integrity of the Romanian judiciary by providing high-quality initial and continuous judicial training, organising examinations and competitions related to the judicial career, and promoting excellence in legal education.
The Institute’s mission extends beyond the transmission of legal knowledge. Through a modern, competency-based approach, NIM develops the practical skills, ethical standards and professional values required of judges and prosecutors, while fostering a deep understanding of the social role of justice and the responsibility that accompanies judicial office. Initial training combines legal education with practical internships in courts, prosecutor’s offices and other legal institutions, complemented by interdisciplinary subjects such as psychology, communication, critical thinking, digital skills and foreign languages. Innovative teaching methods (including case studies, simulations, mock trials and practical exercises) ensure that future magistrates are fully prepared for the realities of judicial practice.
Continuous professional development is equally central to NIM’s activity. Every year, the Institute delivers an extensive programme of specialised training for judges, prosecutors and other judicial professionals, covering both substantive and procedural law, European Union law, the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, judicial ethics, leadership, communication, digitalisation and emerging legal challenges. In 2024 alone, more than 3,100 participants attended NIM’s continuous training programmes through both in-person and online formats.
NIM is also a recognised European leader in judicial training. An active member of the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN), the Institute was re-elected to the EJTN Steering Committee, reflecting its significant contribution to the development of judicial education across Europe. It participates in and coordinates numerous international projects, facilitates judicial exchanges, and promotes cross-border cooperation among European magistrates, reinforcing a shared legal culture founded on the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.
Beyond its educational mission, NIM actively contributes to research, institutional dialogue and public engagement. Through initiatives such as the THEMIS journal, international competitions, conferences, outreach programmes for law students and innovative projects such as The People Beyond the Robe, the Institute promotes legal scholarship, judicial transparency and closer connections between the judiciary and society.
The partnership between the National Institute of Magistracy and ARCON builds on a successful collaboration initiated in 2025, when the two institutions, together with the Romanian Competition Council, organised a specialised judicial training programme dedicated to recent developments in EU competition law. Hosted by the National Institute of Magistracy in Bucharest, the programme brought together leading judges, academics and competition law practitioners from Romania, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Moldova to discuss key topics including vertical and horizontal agreements, as well as the standard of proof in competition law infringements. The initiative reflected the shared commitment of NIM and ARCON to promoting judicial excellence, facilitating the exchange of international expertise and supporting the consistent application of competition law. This collaboration continues at the LIDC Congress 2026 Bucharest, where the National Institute of Magistracy joins the Congress as an institutional partner and contributes to a dedicated judicial training session, further strengthening the dialogue between the judiciary, competition authorities, academia and legal practitioners.