A4ID Law and International Development Training Programme
The 3rd year of A4ID's Annual Law and International Development Training Programme ('Training Programme') 2008/2009 has now been launched.
This year's Training Programme has been developed to reflect A4ID's increasingly wide ranging portfolio. Additional subjects include climate change, transitional justice, food security, water rights and international investment, exploitation of national resources and the impact on indigenous communities, developing country debt, microfinance, health, gender and migration. The 3rd Training Programme also has a more practical focus and includes seminars delivered by leading legal practitioners from A4ID member firms and development experts from A4ID's Development Partners.
The purpose of the Training Programme is to provide A4ID members with an overview of core legal, social and economic issues in relation to A4ID's four practice areas: Trade & Investment, Debt & Finance, Governance and Development Rights. Through obtaining a greater understanding of the complexities of international development, the global economy and the treatment of social and cultural rights worldwide, participants are able to more effectively manage and meet the needs of A4ID's partners in the developing world.
The Training Programme commences and ends with a residential weekend at the Chancellor's Conference Centre in Manchester. Throughout the year, sessions are held on 6-8 weekly basis on Saturdays in Central London. This year's programme is open to 60 member lawyers.
The Training Programme is heavily subsidized by A4ID. Training Programme fees are charged at £350 per person. A bursary of £100 is available for 5 junior barristers, government lawyers or high street practitioners. The bursary is comprised of prize money awarded to A4ID's Executive Officer at the 2007 Junior Lawyer Awards. The bursary is designed to provide increased access to the Training Programme for lawyers from across the profession.
Additional classes on this year's Training Programme are open to members that took part in 2006/07 and 2007/08 and are charged at £10 per class. Please contact Katie Hutt (katie.hutt@a4id.org) for further details.
All members of A4ID who are keen to play a role in the organisation and work on projects are eligible to join the course.
Those involved in previous years have shared their views of the training programme:
"Having completed a masters in international law and development before starting my training contract, I was thrilled to find in the A4ID training course a forum where I could continue to learn and to meet lawyers from across the City working in various fields but with a shared interest in this fascinating and important area. The seminars are thought-provoking, varied and informative and provide for its members vital background and context to the work of A4ID."
Rebecca Wright, Norton Rose LLP
"The A4ID Training Programme has, I believe, been a resounding success in its first year. Our [course leaders] have been of the highest calibre. We have received expert insight into the economic and political, as well as legal, issues that surround questions of development but, not only this, our teachers demonstrated throughout the year a genuine enthusiasm for what A4ID is about and I for one have felt inspired by their belief that we can make a difference."
Roger Leese, Clifford Chance, Director A4ID
"The A4ID training course has provided a valuable introduction to different areas of law which impact on international development (with a dash of politics and economics thrown in too). It was also a great opportunity to meet and share ideas with other members of A4ID who are committed to using their legal skills in this area."
Stephanie Biden, Bates Wells & Braithwaite
"As Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, I have greatly valued the opportunity to work with Advocates for International Development as they have built their network of lawyers over the last two years. This is a remarkable achievement. We have been particularly impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the organising committee. I can personally attest to their effective dedication to creating a means of facilitating pro bono advice to countries and individuals in need. We have worked with A4ID in presenting a nine month pilot training course for London based lawyers on 'International Trade Law and the Poverty Agenda'. It has proved to be a successful concept and we hope to be involved in further such programmes."
Gillian Triggs, Director, British Institute of International and Comparative Law
British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL):
University of Manchester:
Institute of Development Policy and Management (IDPM):
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/idpm/
Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI):