Support to the Kyrgyzstani Legal Defense Community Quarterly Report: April 1, 2013 – June 30, 2013

The initiative, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to improve access to an impartial justice system and promote stability in the country. ABA ROLI has been actively supporting the passage of the draft Law on Advocatura, which has been under consideration for years. The organization has provided technical support and guidance to government bodies working on the bill, encouraged public support for the law, and involved the defense advocate community in the process. Despite the draft law being recommended for plenary review in January 2012, it remains stalled due to the lack of action from the Committee Chair. To address this issue, ABA ROLI has held ongoing discussions with the Advocates Training Center, defense advocates, parliament, and the President's staff to identify the reasons for the law's stagnation and discuss potential solutions. The organization has also begun working with members of parliament to introduce new legislation that would raise the standards of the profession and call for unification of advocates. ABA ROLI has also been supporting the development of an electronic bar examination, which is currently awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Justice. The organization has been working with a software developer to produce the computer-based exam program and coordinating the review of exam content by a working group of experts appointed by the Ministry. In addition to legislative reform efforts, ABA ROLI has been providing financial and technical support to the Advocates Training Center and six legal clinics through long-term sub-grant agreements. The organization has also been working with law professors from six universities to develop practical skills courses that were incorporated into the university curricula this quarter and will be offered to students beginning this fall. ABA ROLI has conducted a series of professional trainings, including presentations on land law and professional skills for advocates, with a total participation of 76 persons. The organization has also developed and introduced three practical skills courses as elective courses into law school curricula, which will be taught starting from the fall of 2013. ABA ROLI has also made substantial progress in the development of the computer-based qualification examination for advocates. The organization has also been working with the Ministry of Justice to develop questions for the advocates' qualification examination. ABA ROLI anticipates that this multi-pronged approach will increase the chances of meaningful reform. The proposed changes, which would raise the standards of the profession and call for unification of advocates, have received largely positive support from the general advocate population, though there are opponents. ABA ROLI will be reviewing the standing of the draft Law at a July 2013 staff retreat and identifying the most effective way forward. The outcome of this reflection will be coordinated with USAID and outlined in detail in the work plan for the upcoming programmatic year.