OSCE Office in Baku organizes training for new members of the Collegium of Advocates

BAKU, 4 October 2010 - A one-week intensive training course organized by the OSCE Office in Baku for lawyers who joined the Collegium of Advocates (Azerbaijani Bar Association) in 2009 started today.

International and local experts, both academics and practitioners, will address various aspects of criminal and civil proceedings. The participants will take part in a series of lectures, followed by a training day to encourage the practical application of lessons learned through a simulation exercise involving a criminal court hearing.

"We hope that this course will further develop the knowledge of these new members of the Collegium in different fields of law, including international fair trial standards in relation to a lawyer's participation in criminal and civil proceedings. We also hope that it will prove useful for them to further enhance their practical skills in the courtroom, as well as their approach towards their clients," said Fiorentina Azizi, the Judicial Training Officer at the OSCE Office in Baku.

Specific topics of the training sessions include the history of legal advocacy in Azerbaijan, the participation of a defence counsel in criminal proceedings and specifics aspects of criminal procedure in Azerbaijan. The training will also address the requirements of the European Convention of Human Rights regarding the participation of a lawyer in criminal proceedings; specific aspects of civil procedure in Azerbaijan; ethics of dealing with clients both in criminal and civil cases, as well as consultation with and interviewing of clients.

The course is part of the OSCE Office in Baku's training strategy for 2010, implemented in co-operation with the Azerbaijani Bar Association and the Justice Academy.