By Sophie Geoghegan & Kyaw Htin
Mock Trial trainings, one of the four common CLE models BABSEACLE has introduced to Myanmar universities over the last two years was first introduced during the 1st National CLE Summer School, held at Taunggyi University, in May 2014. The Summer School, and interest in Mock trials was such a success that a National Mock Trial Event is being organized by BABSEACLE, UNDP, DLA Piper/New Perimeter and Herbert Smith Freehills. The event is being co-supported by both UNDP and under the USAID’S Protecting Rule of Law Programme (PRLP). It will be held at Dagon University, on 7-8 February, 2015.
Case information and other instructional guides have been given to each of our 18 partner universities which will select two students to represent them and participate in the event. Lawyers, judges and other legal professionals are being invited to participate, as Mock Trial judges.
In preparation for this national event, Herbert Smith Freehills assisted in a Mock Trial workshop, on 22-24 December, 2014, at Yangon University of Distance Education in Myanmar, with participants from each partner university from lower Myanmar. The workshop was supported by Mr. Bruce A. Lasky (BABSEACLE), Mr. Christopher Keith Mitchell (HSF), Ms. Anne Elizabeth Knight (HSF), and Ms. Alexandra Louise Payne (HSF) where they trained over 40 law teacher participants from the universities, in Lower Myanmar, including East Yangon University, Dagon University, Dawei University, Mawlamyine University, Pathein University, Pyay University, Sittwe University, Taungoo University, Yangon University, and Yangon University of Distance Education.
BABSEACLE’s partner DLA Piper/New Perimeter then assisted in supporting a similar training, at Yadanabon University, on 19-21 December 2014. This workshop was facilitated by Mr. Bruce A. Lasky (BABSEACLE), Mr. Jerald Russell Hess (DLA Piper), and Mr. Ben Sanderson (DLA Piper) as trainers. Law teachers from the universities of Upper Myanmar, including Magway University, Mandalay University, Mandalay University of Distance Education, Meikhtila University, Monywa University, Myitkyina University, Pinlong University, Taunggyi, University and Yadanarbon University attended this workshop. Complementing these participants were more than 25 participants from the UNDP supported Rule of Law Project, which is being implemented by a consortium made up of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), Advocates Sans Frontieres (ASF) and BABSEACLE.
Now that these workshops are complete the law teachers have returned to their universities, where they will share what they have learnt to prepare students for the National Mock Trial Event. We are very excited about this national event given the enthusiasm that the universities, students and our partners have demonstrated.
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