The American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA CEELI) began working in Turkmenistan in 1999 with opening an office in the capital city of Ashgabat. The ABA established the Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI) in 2007 to consolidate its five overseas rule of law programs, including CEELI—which was created in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since launching its programs, ABA ROLI has worked with lawyers, law students, professors, and local non-governmental organizations. across Turkmenistan on legal education and legal service programs and projects.
For lawyers, the ABA has provided continuing legal education seminars and workshops on topics including commercial, family, and civil law. The ABA's legal education activities have focused on assistance to a law student association including practical skills seminars for aspiring lawyers, the establishment of a legal resource center at Turkmen State University, and public legal education activities ("Street Law") for secondary school students. The ABA also provided targeted assistance to Turkmen organizations and institutions in support of developing legal aid services for populations of rural regions in the country.