Legal Profession Reform 

Developing the legal profession

With funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) is working with lawyers’ associations across Libya to build their capacity in transition-related law reform. ABA ROLI is working with Libyan bar associations to train lawyers in how the legal profession can contribute to building democratic institutions in Libya. Specifically, ABA ROLI is supporting the bar associations in conducting trainings on elections law, human rights law, judicial independence, fair trial procedures, freedom of speech, anticorruption, freedom of information, legislative drafting, legal advocacy and other relevant topics.

Developing civil society and supporting civic education

ABA ROLI is working with Libyan bars and civil society organizations to develop and deliver a rule of law course on various transition-related technical legal issues to lawyers, civil society members and the public. In addition to various substantive areas, the course will cover legal reform advocacy skills that civil society organizations can use to monitor the justice sector and advocate for reforms in anti-corruption, women’s rights and constitutional development.

ABA ROLI is also engaging with Libyan bar associations and civil society organizations to conduct public legal education throughout the country. We will train Libyan lawyers both on substantive legal concepts and methods of teaching them effectively to citizens. ABA ROLI has developed Arabic language rule of law and human rights education toolkits that will be adapted by Libyan civil society organizations to promote a rule of law culture throughout Libya.