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IBA and LSGL launch project to create blueprint for global legal education

The International Bar Association (IBA) and Law Schools Global League (LSGL) have launched an ambitious project that aims to identify the key drivers that shape global legal education, the consequent emerging responses and whether these responses can sufficiently address the challenges confronting legal professionals all over the world. Some of the drivers examined include:

• globalisation;
• technology; and
• changes to regulatory frameworks.

Through the analysis of relevant literature, law schools’ websites, an online survey and interviews with key stakeholders, the two organisations intend to develop a blueprint that will help legal education institutions navigate the ongoing paradigm shift.

For more details please visit the project’s website

The joint initiative, titled Developing a Blueprint for Global Legal Education (the ‘Blueprint’), forms part of ongoing research conducted by the IBA Commission on the Future of Legal Services (the ‘Commission’) into trends that are shaping the legal profession. More than 400 bar associations, law schools and other legal institutions are expected to participate in the three-phase project, which will culminate in the publication of a report to be showcased at the IBA Annual Conference in Miami in November. The first two phases of the project are already underway and involve:

• an extensive literature review;
• an analysis of law schools’ websites; and
• a global survey and interview process.

Co-Chaired by Fernando Peláez-Pier, President of the IBA from 2009-2010, and Javier de Cendra, President of the LSGL from 2015-2018 and Dean of IE Law School, the Commission has a particular focus on the impacts of globalisation and technological disruption.

Mr Peláez-Pier commented: ‘The ways in which people learn and work within all industries and professions across the globe are changing, and the legal profession is no exception. It is therefore essential that those of us already engaged in the field of law adapt to new practice technology in this new decade and beyond. We must also put into place a new model for those entering the profession. With the insight gained from this research, we can develop universal standards for international legal education to ensure all lawyers receive the right training throughout their careers.’

The key goals of the project include:

• understanding how globalisation, technology and the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, among other drivers, impact legal education globally;
• identifying the challenges that are common to legal education around the world, while recognising the significance of local contexts (cultural, regulatory, historical, etc);
• identifying the main challenges still present and the negative consequences of lack of adaptation;
• developing common solutions to identified challenges, while recognising the necessity of locally-sensitive solutions;
• generating a compendium of best practices per jurisdiction; and
• disseminating and implementing the model with key stakeholders.

Professor de Cendra said: ‘We believe that this project has the potential to make an important contribution to global legal education. Through our research, we will gain a deeper understanding of the key trends, challenges and opportunities legal educators face. The final blueprint will be hugely beneficial for employers, law schools, regulators and other professional organisations involved in the legal sector. It is a privilege to partner with the International Bar Association in this endeavour.’

Members of the Commission include:

• Sarah Hutchinson Chair, IBA Section on Public and Professional Interest (SPPI)
• Amnon Lehavi President, LSGL
• Gonçalo Matias President, LSGL
• Ken Murphy Past Co-Chair, IBA Bar Executives Committee
• Petra Zijp Past Co-Chair, IBA Capital Markets Forum

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

1. Further information on the Developing a Blueprint for Global Legal Education project, including a description of the methodology, content, key deliverables, region representatives, phases, subjects of analysis, timeline and implementation is available here.
2. The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world’s bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.
3. The Law Schools Global League (LSGL) brings together 25 law schools with a strong vision about the need to promote a global approach to legal education, research and impact upon society at large.

The programme, which is part of the CyberBRICS project and of FGV DIREITO RIO’s Fellows in Rio initiative, has been developed in partnership with the Higher School of Economics and the Center for New Media and Society, in Moscow, Russia; the Centre for Internet and Society, New Delhi, India; the Fudan University, Shanghai, and the University of Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, China; and Research ICT Africa and the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

The goal of the programme is to support a selected group of highly qualified post-graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral scholars working in the area related to the activities of the 2020-2021 work plan of the CyberBRICS project, namely regulation of Internet access and digitalisation of public administrations in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS).

The programme will offer five fellowships for a duration of up to 6 (six) months, ideally from  February to July 2020, at FGV DIREITO RIO, providing economic, intellectual and networking resources to support selected scholars coming from the BRICS or having relevant experience in at least one of the BRICS country.

The CyberBRICS 2020 fellows will be selected by a commission formed by Prof Luca Belli, from FGV DIREITO RIO, (Brazil), Prof Alexey Ivanov, from the Higher School of Economics (Russia), Ms Elonnai Hickok, from the Centre for Internet and Society (India), Prof Shen Yi, from Fudan University (China), and Prof Alison Gillwald, from the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance University of Cape Town (South Africa).

More information at https://cyberbrics.info/call-for-applications-cyberbrics-fellowship-programme/

Fundação Getulio Vargas São Paulo Law School (FGV DIREITO SP) is pleased to announce the selection process of the research grants program for PhD Students and Post–PhD in Law. The Global Fellowship Program aims to attract young academic talents interested in advancing their scholarship in Brazil. These young professional talents will have the opportunity to develop their academic research and to contribute to FGV DIREITO SP internationalization process. The program offers economic and intellectual resources to support insightful and promising young legal scholars from all over the world willing to do research in Brazil.

1. ELIGIBILITY

Applicants may be of any nationality, including Brazilian, and must have completed (or be about to complete) a Doctoral Program in Law or in another correlated area. Although desired, knowledge of Portuguese is not required.

2. APPLICATION

i. Curriculum Vitae and/or CV Lattes

ii. Recommendation Letter

iii. Research proposal and/or thesis summary – up to 5000 characters

iv. Proposed activities at FGV DIREITO SP (item 3)

v. Period of the visit (first or second Semester)

Please send the documents listed above to cri.direitosp@fgv.br (Reference: Global Fellowship– Candidate’s name) Deadline: September 14th, 2018

3. Scope of research and activities at FGV Direito SP

Candidates should prepare the research proposal and the specific activities to be undertaken at FGV Direito SP considering the following possibilities: a) original research on a topic in Brazilian law. b) comparison of Brazilian developments with those in another country, done in collaboration with FGV scholars or in accordance with the FGV research agenda. c) a research project unrelated to Brazil but of interest to scholars in Brazil

4. RECRUITMENT

Candidates approved in the selection process can start its activities in February or August 2019, depending on the period for which he/she has been selected. The applicant must submit, on time pre-established, to FGV DIREITO SP’s International Affairs Coordinator, all documents required for his/her hiring. The foreign candidates shall be responsible for obtaining visas and permits required for residency in Brazil. Approved candidates in the selection process will have to stay at FGV DIREITO SP, and cannot be absent during the fellowship period without the consent of Program’s Coordinator.

5. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT (PER SEMESTER)

Six months’ scholarship for PhD Students: R$ 36.000,00, paid in 6 (six) installments of R$ 6.000,00. Six months’ scholarship for Post-PhD: R$ 45.000,00, paid in 6 (six) installments of R$ 7.500,00.

6. FELLOWSHIP DURATION

Period 1 – February to June 2019 Period 2 – August to December 2019 The applicants must specify the period of their choice. The scholarship duration may be exceptionally extended for additional six months if there is mutual interest of the FGV Direito SP and the fellow.

7. FELLOW AT FGV DIREITO SP ACTIVITIES

Fellows are expected to advance their scholarship, engage in the intellectual life of FGV DIREITO SP, and develop their professorial skills, by joining our Legal Education Center, and participate in direct class activities, supervised by senior members of the faculty. Fellows will also be welcome to participate in researcher’s groups at FGV DIREITO SP, and to conduct seminars, in English, to FGV DIREITO SP students.