Dealing with the justice system is discouraging for those outside the justice system, especially those who have experienced sexual violence. Victims who navigate or are considering navigating the justice system often turn to trusted advocates for help. We created an online course to give victim advocates the knowledge they need to guide victims through the justice process, entitled Victim Advocate Training: Helping Victims of Sexual Assault Navigate the Criminal Justice System. To strengthen the independence and professionalism of lawyers around the world, we have developed the Legal Profession Reform Index (LPRI), which provides an empirical basis for examining the independence and effectiveness of legal practitioners and the environments in which they operate. To date, we have conducted LPRI assessments in more than 15 countries. These assessments guide ABA ROLI, local justice sector partners and international organizations in developing more informed and targeted programmes and empower legal practitioners themselves to play a more active role in promoting legal reform and the rule of law in their countries. Inadequate legal education and professional training, as well as the lack of emphasis on judicial ethics, hamper the effectiveness of the judiciary and individual judges in many countries around the world. An overwhelming number of cases – coupled with inadequate resource allocation and the absence of modern case management systems – can lead to procedural delays that adversely affect the administration of justice. Judges and lawyers work with high school students at home and at school while participating in interactive modules on current issues that convey the relevance of the rule of law, separation of powers, judicial independence and jury service in everyday life. IAALS is changing the way our system serves the people of today while anticipating and preparing for future needs and creating justice we can all believe in.
Our programs improve criminal justice systems by helping justice professionals and institutions increase their capacity and enhance their capacity. A well-functioning criminal justice system protects and promotes the rights of individuals. Our contributions to the reform of the Code of Criminal Procedure have resulted in investigations and trials that are increasingly free of bias and include strengthened legal protections – for both accused and victims – at all stages of criminal investigations and proceedings. In some countries, particularly those moving towards a more adversarial system, ABA ROLI offers legal representation training to criminal justice actors to help them communicate and advocate more effectively. These trainings also focus on compliance with international and regional standards and best practices. Courts are often plagued by corruption, undermining the often fragile public confidence in the fairness and efficiency of the justice system. In addition, insufficient professional safeguards and the poor definition of the judiciary mean that many judges and judges are demoralised and marginalised in their own courtrooms and are therefore unable or unwilling to promote the rule of law. In 2013, we developed and piloted the Analysis of Criminal Defense Advocacy (ACDA) (ACDA) methodology to produce a comparative analysis of criminal defence capabilities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia.
A strong, independent and effective criminal defence is essential to protect citizens` rights and increase public confidence in the criminal justice system, and ACDA provides an empirical basis for analyzing criminal defence in a country or comparatively across countries. As part of its judicial reform programmes, ABA ROLI promotes greater independence, accountability and transparency in judicial systems; contributes to the development and implementation of codes of conduct for the judiciary; promotes the training of judges; and contributes to improving the administration and efficiency of the courts. ABA ROLI also designs customized assessments of legal professions that can be implemented to analyze specific issues or laws affecting lawyers in a host country. The National Judicial Training Program (NJEP) has been the catalyst and advisor to more than 50 high-level federal and state task forces on gender bias in courts across the country. NJEP educates judges, lawyers and court experts on how gender bias can undermine fairness in criminal, civil, family and juvenile law. The NJEP places particular emphasis on sexual assault cases and cases where sexual assault and domestic violence overlap. The NJEP creates resources and provides training on these issues to promote the fair resolution of these cases. In cases of sexual assault, deep-rooted stereotypes and misunderstandings can undermine the fairness of justice systems, particularly in cases where victims and perpetrators know each other, which accounts for the vast majority of cases. Throughout the year, federal courts open their doors to provide experiential learning, celebrate legal milestones and celebrate Heritage Months with ready-to-use activities and multimedia resources. ABA ROLI supports the professional development of lawyers by working with legal training institutes and bar associations to design and deliver legal education on a wide range of topics, including litigation, legal practice management, alternative dispute resolution, mediation and litigation. We have implemented qualification measures for litigants in more than a dozen countries that have transitioned to the prosecution system.
These programs strengthen lawyers` practical skills and increase their in-depth knowledge of the law so that they can serve their clients more effectively. To identify and address key challenges that require judicial reform, we have dedicated resources to building capacity for advanced assessment. ABA ROLI conducts assessments of the judiciary using its Judicial Reform Index (JRI), a tool for assessing judicial reform and independence. CIM was designed and designed based on comparative analyses of legal traditions, international standards and regional standards in order to be implemented globally. Since 2001, ABA ROLI has conducted 40 JRI evaluations in 20 countries, influencing both national reforms and donor priorities. The NY LEO program is administered by Kathie E. Davidson, Dean of the New York State Judicial Institute. Students live on campus and participate in the program full-time. Experienced law professors teach in the law school`s first-year core courses, as well as in legal research, writing, and analysis. As part of the program, students have the opportunity to visit the courts in session and meet members of the judiciary and other lawyers. ABA ROLI works with lawyers and bar associations around the world to provide technical support in building a strong, effective and independent legal profession. ABA ROLI provides support in three main areas: professional development of lawyers, technical support to bar associations and assessment of the state of the legal profession.
NJEP has been providing legal services to state courts – judges, court staff, state court administrators, etc. – in more than 25 states for over thirty years. We provide education on topics such as adult victim sexual assault cases, teen violence, forensic sexual assault investigations, trauma neurobiology and more for a multidisciplinary audience. Through an intensive six-week summer program, the NY LEO program helps minority, low-income, economically or educationally disadvantaged college graduates gain the foundational and practical skills needed to succeed in law school. The program is available to qualified candidates who will attend law school in New York City. ABA ROLI programs help build the capacity of bar associations and create independent, autonomous, effective and sustainable organizations capable of providing the essential services necessary to advance the legal profession. We support and cooperate with various professional legal organisations, including those for young lawyers, as well as regional networks of lawyers. Our efforts include assisting in the development of codes of conduct and discipline, as well as setting standards for entry into the legal profession. We also assisted in the preparation and conduct of bar exams.
Many law schools around the world are often unregulated, using ineffective teaching methods and highly outdated textbooks and teaching materials. In addition, corruption and lax standards in some law schools allow students to graduate with little evidence of acquired skills and knowledge, degrading the value of a law degree and diluting the pool of competent and practical law graduates. In response to these challenges, ABA ROLI works with universities to support curriculum and accreditation reforms, clinical legal education, and moot court and trial activities.