Press Release - DLA Piper attorneys participate in 2016 Myanmar National CLE Mock Trial Event

DLA Piper attorneys participate in 2016 Myanmar National CLE Mock Trial

New Perimeter, DLA Piper’s nonprofit affiliate that provides long-term pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world, recently partnered with Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia Community Legal Education Initiative (BABSEACLE) and law firm Herbert Smith Freehills to lead clinical legal education (CLE) mock trial workshops at the second Myanmar National CLE Mock Trial Event for law students in Myanmar. Also participating were the Irish Law Society and Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), along with several other regional and local pro bono advocates.

Building on the success of Myanmar’s inaugural CLE mock trial last year, the 2016 event took place on February 6-7 at East Yangon University and brought together 40 law students and 48 dedicated teachers from 16 universities across Myanmar. Prior to the event, international trainers worked alongside Myanmar law teachers during two days of workshops that covered the trial skills required for every aspect of the CLE mock trial. The workshops also provided training related to legal ethics, rule of law and the importance of fair trials. Representatives from New Perimeter, BABSEACLE, Herbert Smith Freehills and IRLI also designed training materials for the event.

“We were honored to return to Myanmar and to continue to assist law department faculty in helping students hone their legal skills, as well as to see first-hand their dedication to access to justice,” said Andrew Valentine, partner in DLA Piper’s Silicon Valley office. “The CLE-based workshops and mock trials are extremely effective methods of providing students with skills-based training in areas critical to their development as attorneys. The significant growth of the teachers is demonstrated in their eagerness to co-train and in the students’ demonstrated abilities in the CLE mock trial.  I am overwhelmed by the progress achieved in such a short period of time. We look forward to continuing to work with BABSEACLE and the many other partners committed to utilizing CLE programs to further enhance legal education curriculums in Myanmar and to advance the rule of law.”

BABSEACLE is nonprofit organization dedicated to helping establish, strengthen and support university-based and community-based CLE programs throughout Asia. Bruce Lasky, co-founder and co-director of BABSEACLE, added: “It has been incredibly rewarding to observe the continued momentum and excitement around CLE programs in Myanmar in our 13 years working with universities across the region. As this effort evolves, we will continue to work with DLA Piper and our other partners to develop new interactive training models to support Myanmar universities in their development of CLE programs.”

The event is part of a larger program, supported in part by the United Nations Development Program and the United States Agency for International Development, to promote the development of CLE in all 18 Myanmar law departments nationwide.

In addition to Valentine, the members of DLA Piper’s New Perimeter team that participated in the 2016 mock trial event included Sydney-based attorneys Michael Gill and Scott McDonald.

About DLA Piper

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.

About New Perimeter

New Perimeter is a nonprofit organization established by global law firm DLA Piper to provide pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world to support access to justice, social and economic development and sound legal institutions. Founded in 2005 as a result of our firm’s commitment to support legal advancement worldwide, New Perimeter’s vision is to harness the skills and talents DLA Piper lawyers to further a more just world for all.

Contacts

Josh Epstein, Media Relations, DLA Piper, T. 212.776.3838