Quarterly Report: October 1 to December 31, 2012

The project's primary objectives include building a sustainable nationwide network of legal advocacy organizations, developing partnerships and attracting additional private resources to expand and enhance the impact of the program's pro bono efforts. To achieve these objectives, the project has implemented various activities, including developing demand-driven technical training for partner organizations on specialized topics such as trial advocacy skills, drafting of policy papers, and legislative drafting. Additionally, the project has provided technical assistance to build the organizational sustainability of partner organizations, including strategic planning, accounting practices, and financial and human resource management. The project has also focused on improving the reach of partner organizations through trainings focused on leadership, public outreach, and informational and advocacy campaigns. Furthermore, the project has improved linkages between partner organizations and courts to build a foundation for exchanges and mutual learning, contributing to a more citizen-driven experience in Ukrainian courts. A key aspect of the project is the creation of multiple national networks and associations that bring together legal advocacy organizations focused on similar issues. These networks aim to support regular interactions between representatives and joint advocacy campaigns where feasible. The project has also developed synergies between the work done by regional advocacy organizations at the local level and regional and national policymakers, in order to build a vital link between effective advocacy campaigns and promising reform efforts in program-supported priority issue areas. The project has engaged the public in policy debates relating to specific issue areas championed by legal advocacy groups through public town halls, local campaigns, or other venues that allow for community involvement. Additionally, the project has developed network sustainability by researching and analyzing the most promising business practices and business models for organizing the work of legal advocacy groups in Ukraine and creating mechanisms and working with media to share these findings and implement such models on a national basis. The project has also fostered links between issue-based legal advocacy networks established in Ukraine and those in neighboring countries focused on the same subjects to share best practices and promote regional cooperation. Furthermore, the project has developed a quarterly newsletter, webzines, updates to a website or other means of communication that increases awareness of issues, problems, and resources related to the legal issue network. The project's third objective is to develop partnerships and attract additional private resources to expand and enhance the impact of the program's pro bono efforts. To achieve this, the project has created a national legal sector clearing house that connects private sector lawyers with clients in need of legal assistance and provides quality and timely assistance to vulnerable underrepresented groups. The project has also identified and mobilized resources from various law firms that can be of assistance to legal advocacy organizations and networks. Overall, the Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment Project in Ukraine has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including strengthening the capacity of legal advocacy organizations, building a sustainable nationwide network, and developing partnerships and attracting additional private resources. The project's activities have contributed to a more citizen-driven experience in Ukrainian courts and have promoted broader access to justice.