Jump Starting Legal Education in Myanmar (Burma)

Andrew Valentine (East Palo Alto) contributed to Thomson Reuters’ Legal Solutions Blog in an article that describes his first-hand experience with New Perimeter’s groundbreaking project to jump start Myanmar’s legal education program. What he calls the pro bono “project of a lifetime,” Andrew chronicles two summer schools hosted by DLA Piper and project partners for 50 representative law faculty from 18 university law departments to introduce experiential, CLE-based learning; and two National CLE Mock Trial Events (the first of its kind) which drew 25 international trainers that worked alongside Myanmar law teachers to make the training and mock trial event a success.

New Perimeter teamed with Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia Community Legal Education Initiative (BABSEACLE), a nonprofit that specializes in clinical legal education-based (CLE) programs throughout Asia, to establish a consortium that included law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

“The teachers were incredibly motivated to learn and to take what they learned and apply it in the classroom,” Andrew said of the summer schools. “The energy among the teachers was incredible. Those of us who participated as trainers wore traditional Burmese clothing, including the very comfortable longyi."

Following the success of the two national training events, the consortium hosted the first mock trial events in the country. Andrew remembers of his trip, “It was amazing for me to see the progress that was made between these two mock trial events. The teachers have come so far in terms of their confidence and drive. Their success in the classrooms (a demonstrated impact of this project) was easily spotted in the performance of the students.”

The goal of the CLE project in Myanmar was not only to bring people together, but to create sustainable programs that assist in achieving access to justice and rule of law. Andrews mentions that just a couple of years ago, there was some reluctance in Myanmar to talk about politics. However, in the national elections in November 2015, there was an 80% voter turnout and he could “feel the change in the air” and the opportunity to see the impact on the students, who are the next generation that will lead Myanmar, was very powerful.