August 2015
On May 26, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) launched an online learning platform for Armenian lawyers and law students during a Yerevan event that was attended by about 45 people. The platform currently hosts 10 courses.
The launch event was attended by ABA ROLI partners and Armenian stakeholders, including representatives from the U.S. Embassy, the Chamber of Advocates (Armenia’s bar association), the School of Advocates, the Gyumri and Vanadzor legal clinics, and other local experts and trainers. ABA ROLI works with the Chamber of Advocates to make continuing legal education available to practicing and aspiring advocates across the country. The online learning platform ABA ROLI launched in May allows advocates—including those in remote areas of the country—to complete up to one-third of their mandatory annual continuing legal education requirements. ABA ROLI developed the platform (olp.abaceeli.am) to provide sustainable and accessible continuing legal education opportunities to Armenian advocates. ABA ROLI staff gave presentations, explaining how the platform works and how advocates can take online training and earn continuing legal education credit. The platform currently houses six courses designed for practicing advocates and judges, and four courses designed for law students. The courses address such diverse topics as evidence, defense strategy, prohibition of torture and the right to freedom and security. So far, a total of 54 advocates and law students have taken courses through the online platform.
Speaking at the event, Hayk Alumyan, a criminal law expert and an ABA ROLI trainer, said, “Every investment made by ABA ROLI toward developing the capacity of advocates does not only build individual advocates’ capacity, but the capacity of the judicial and legal system as a whole, contributing to solving its universal problems.”
The platform was developed with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
ABA ROLI’s work to support criminal law reform in Armenia is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.
To learn more about our work in Armenia, contact the ABA Rule of Law Initiative at [email protected].