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LAWYERS IN CONCERT:
CONNECTING, CREATING, AND COMMITTING TO SERVICE

24 - 29 August 2026

AIJA 2026 Annual Congress

PRE-REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN!

Join the 64th International Young Lawyers' Congress in Vienna!

Congress theme

Our Congress will be the perfect forum to think globally and shape what the world should look like for the next generation. AIJA is Global.

Congress venue

Our Congress venue in Vienna is located at the city centre and will offer a wide range of facilities to make your stay a memorable experience.

Elite networking

Network with legal professional from around the world. Exchange ideas, meet new friends and business partners.

Arthur Stussi

President of AIJA
2025/2026

WELCOME TO THE 2026 AIJA ANNUAL CONGRESS in Vienna

Servus, dear friends, colleagues, and members of our AIJA family,

It is with great pride and anticipation that I invite you to AIJA’s 64th Annual Congress in Vienna.

Few cities in the world embody elegance, cultural heritage, and the capacity to host defining moments quite like Vienna. At last, it will be our stage — the perfect setting for a congress that reflects not only the grandeur of the city, but also the crescendo of growth and ambition of AIJA at this moment in our journey.

Our theme, Lawyers in Concert: Connecting, Creating, and Committing to Service, captures the rhythm of the modern legal profession: we will explore how meaningful connections open doors, how creativity and adaptability transform our role, and how a true commitment to service — in the spirit of Servus — can inspire us to serve not only our clients, but society at large. This congress will also be a moment to equip young lawyers with the skills to succeed in an environment evolving allegro con brio: networking, embracing technology, and adapting to the accelerating pace of change in our profession.

At the heart of our academic programme is the brilliant and finely tuned Academic Coordinators Quartet, curating sessions and workshops in perfect harmony with Vienna’s cultural and intellectual legacy. Guiding the congress as a whole, our virtuoso Organizing Committee of AIJA all-stars is orchestrating an experience worthy of the city’s grandest stages — from the majestic Hofburg to the historic Rathaus and the world-renowned Musikverein — ensuring that every moment resonates fortissimo with the splendour of our host city.

AIJA today is a true Referrals Powerhouse: a global network where introductions evolve into collaborations and collaborations create enduring results. Vienna will not only celebrate that strength, but also set the tempo for the next movement in our collective symphony — one of growth, leadership, and service on a truly global scale.

Vienna is ready. The orchestra is set. Now, we play.

#AIJAReferralsPowerhouse #ServusAIJA #AIJAVienna2026

See you in VIENNA

Servus* AIJA!

Servus* to Vienna – where imperial elegance meets modern innovation, where tradition is etched in stone and progress resonates in every corner. As Co-Chairs of the Organising Committee for the 64^th International Young Lawyers’ Congress, it is our distinct pleasure to welcome you to the Austrian capital, a city whose soul is as rich in legal heritage as it is in culture, music, and diplomacy.

Framed by imperial palaces, elegant boulevards, and iconic concert halls, Vienna stands as a symbol of legal tradition, international cooperation, and the enduring pursuit of justice. Home to the United Nations, the OSCE, and numerous other international organizations, Vienna has long served as a meeting place for ideas, dialogue, and decisions that shape our today’s world.

The 2026 Annual Congress invites you to explore the pressing issues and transformative innovations that define the legal service industry today. From the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into legal workflows to the global push for sustainability, equity, and access to justice, the program is designed by the Academic Coordinators to stimulate, challenge, and inspire. It is this spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines the Congress – Lawyers in Concert.

Our venue in the heart of Vienna captures the spirit of the Congress perfectly: timeless, sophisticated, and filled with energy. Just steps away from timeless architectural treasures like the Hofburg Palace and the Vienna State Opera, this location offers an extraordinary setting for deep discussions, bold ideas, and new connections.

But a truly memorable Congress is not only about academic excellence. It is equally about building relationships – through meaningful conversations, shared cultural experiences, and discovering the vibrant life of Vienna together. Over these few days, we encourage you to dive into Vienna’s vibrant lifestyle: enjoy a slice of Sachertorte in a historic coffeehouse, stroll along the Danube, explore the galleries and courtyards of the MuseumsQuartier, and discover why Vienna consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable cities.

Together with our dedicated Organizing Committee, we are honoured to host you in our home city. We are committed to making this Congress an unforgettable experience filled with dialogue, and a rediscovery of the law’s transformative power.

Welcome to the 64th International Young Lawyers’ Congress. Let’s embrace Vienna’s energy and be part of a community driving legal innovation. Servus* to Vienna!

Co-Chairs of the Organizing Committee:
Teresa Waidmann, Schönherr Rechtsanwälte, Austria
Lukas Wieser, Zeiler Rechtsanwälte, Austria

*”Servus” is a common, friendly greeting in Austria, equivalent to “hello” or “hi”. The term originates from the Latin word meaning “servant” or “at your service”, which interestingly connects to the concept of legal service and dedication to others in the legal profession.

Lukas Wieser

Zeiler, Austria

Teresa Waidmann

Schönherr, Austria

CONGRESS THEME

LAWYERS IN CONCERT: CONNECTING, CREATING, AND COMMITTING TO SERVICE

Join the beat of AIJA’s 64th International Young Lawyers’ Congress in Vienna, the world’s ‘capital of music’ !

With centuries of history, Vienna is an international capital and a crossroads of culture and ideas—a city renowned for its triple C’s: coffee, classical music, and cake. Just as music transcends languages and borders, so too does our profession when we connect through our harmonized ideas and values. It is the ideal setting for an inspiring gathering, bringing together a broad spectrum of skilled and like-minded legal professionals from every corner of the world.

The “Academic Quartet”—your dedicated academic coordinators—is “pulling the strings” to orchestrate a programme that truly resonates in Vienna, the “City of Ideas”.
In the spirit of “Lawyers in Concert”, we draw inspiration from Vienna’s unique legacy, where law, philosophy, and the arts flourished side by side, and breakthroughs often happened through great thinkers at the intersection of disciplines.

Our academic sessions and workshops, crafted in harmony with AIJA’s Commissions and Boards, will hit all the right notes: exploring today’s most pressing topics, setting new standards, and creating space for real exchange. This is more than a programme—it is an open stage.

In true AIJA spirit, it is your opportunity to move from the audience to the ensemble: to share, learn, and grow together.

The congress theme—Lawyers in Concert: Connecting, Creating, and Committing to Service—reflects 3 C’s key pillars of the modern legal profession in this day and age, that are the backbone and rhythm of our congress:

Connecting: AIJA offers unparalleled opportunities for young legal professionals to connect and engage. It is the ideal platform to build a strong global network of legal professionals for developing your business. In a world in an ever-growing need for diplomacy and collaboration, we also aim to strengthen ourselves through our togetherness. Connect to learn the necessary skills for a meaningful connection with peers, friends, clients, and society.
Creating: To thrive as a lawyer in today’s rapidly evolving world, creativity and adaptability are indispensable. As technology transforms legal tools and frameworks, the profession must reinvent itself. The modern lawyer is no longer just an interpreter of laws, but an orchestrator of advanced tools—especially AI—delivering innovative, industry-specific solutions.Our congress is a stage for innovation – we will think outside the box of traditional legal frameworks. Expertise today goes beyond legal knowledge – it requires learning from industry leaders, collaborating across sectors, and engaging clients as true partners. In this new era, successful lawyers are both legal minds and industry specialists, leveraging technology and creativity to provide real value.
Committing to service: Every meaningful connection begins with a simple greeting—just like “Servus” in Vienna, a word that opens doors and hearts. At this year’s congress, let us take “servus” beyond a welcome. Let us turn it into action. Together, we will explore what true service means in our profession: How can we reimagine legal practice to be more client-centric, more responsive, and more impactful? How can we, as lawyers, rise to the challenge of better serving not just our clients, but society at large? AIJA remains unwavering in our commitment to the rule of law and the defense of fundamental human rights—values that will always differentiate us lawyers from other service providers.

This congress is a celebration of who we are as legal profession and who we aim to become as young international lawyers with a global focus. AIJA’s congress in Vienna is a concert – and everyone will play an invaluable piece of its unique symphony.

Join us for AIJA’s 64th International Young Lawyers’ Congress in Vienna, to connect, create and show our commitment to service, where excellence, inclusion, and service will always be in harmony!