International Scientific Conference on role of lawyers in Vilnius

International Scientific Conference

“The right to legal counsel: scientific and practical aspects of the role of lawyers for human rights in the light of the development of the Council of Europe document „On the profession of lawyers and access to legal assistance”.

September 30-October 1, 2022

EHU, Vilnius

Format: hybrid – online via zoom/offline at Campus of the EHU, Vilnius, Saviciaus 17.

The Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights of EHU (CCHR) with the support of the Academic Department of Social Sciences of EHU and the cooperation of the international partnership of lawyers, including the representatives of such countries as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia, named as “International Law in Advocacy” (ILIA), invited AEA-EAL President to take part as a speaker in a two-day International Scientific Conference dedicated to the forthcoming document of the Council of Europe „On the profession of lawyers and access to legal assistance”. During the Conference, there will also take place a presentation of the second cycle of distance education course on international standards for lawyers as part of the online platform “Lawyers for the Rule of Law. Human Rights Education and Vocational Training”.

EHU represented by the experts of CCHR implements an independent direction of scientific research on the protection of human rights and freedoms, carried out by professional human rights defenders in the region, including members of bar associations, and is currently a leader in this academic field. Many years of effective experience of the EHU in the development of a regional network of lawyers allows us to highlight several key approaches: 1. transfer of know-how methods for online learning (in 2008) to the Network of Human Rights Houses (ILIA Program), 2. providing scientific and expert support in the process of lawyers´ education, 3. preparation of reports and participation of the academic community in the consultations with international organizations. Currently, CCHR is the only academic center in the region whose researchers have internationally recognized competence in international human rights law standards regarding the guarantees of the right to counsel, as well as the implementation of the standards of the profession of a lawyer and access to legal assistance. Today, when authoritarian states not only de facto, but also de jure renounce legal instruments of international protection, including through the denunciation of /withdrawing from the existing international human rights treaties continuing to support lawyers in their work, including through doctrinal and practice-oriented research, is a task that helps preserve institutional memory and continue the development of a human rights-based approach in particular countries and in the region. Lawyers, as independent conduits of human rights, are one of the most effective positive influencing groups in this regard.

This conference is a logical continuation of the previously initiated activities and joint efforts to respond to the existing and new challenges and sets the following aims: 1) to formulate the draft legal provisions to strengthen the text of the forthcoming document of the Council of Europe in terms of the definition of “lawyer” and “bar association”, as well as agree on the text of the appeal to the CoE expert group; 2) to initiate new and continue existing scientific research and publications in the field of access to justice and lawyers´ protection guarantees; 3) to determine the format and conditions for launching the second cycle of the training course “Lawyers for the Rule of Law. Human Rights Education and Vocational Training”.

Agenda (minor changes are possible)

Day 1, 30 September 2022 

10.00 – 10.15 Conference Registration

10.15 – 10.30 Conference Opening Ceremony

10.30 – 12.00 Theme “The New CoE instrument on the profession of lawyer and the universality of human rights. Challenges in shaping standards on access to the defence: key challenges and entry points”

Key-note speakers:

Vaida RUDENAITE, Lithuania, senior adviser of the Ministry of Justice, member of the CoE Committee of Experts on the Protection of Lawyers (tbc)

Livia STOICA BECHT, CoE, Head of the Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-Operation Standard Setting Activities Department, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule Of Law (tbc)

Maria ŚLĄZAK, Poland, Attorney of Law, President of the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL), Observer in the CoE Committee of Experts on the Protection of Lawyers (tbc)

Plenary discussion: 

Framework characteristics of the legal practitioner and the Bar Association. A human rights based approach and the legal profession. Perspectives on the new CoE instrument for the region and for selected countries: The role of the state and the role of the individual(s), civil society, professional societies.

Moderator: Jolanta BIELIAUSKAITĖ, Lithuania, Vice Rector for Research at Kazimieras Simonavičius University

Rapporteur:

Lela METREVELI, Moldova, a head of the ILIA partnership, a head of Human Rights Embassy, associate member of the CCHR (tbc)

12.00 – 13.30

Lunch

13.30 – 16.00

Lecture: “Role of professional standards for human rights protection: ethical and normative aspects”

Liudmila ULYASHYNA, Lithuania, EHU, Dr, associate professor of the Academic Department of the Social Science, Head of the Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights.

Theme: “Presentation of the work on the Model Code. Role and necessity of the Code of Ethics for lawyers-members of the professional association and/or practicing outside the association”.

Volja VYSOCKAJA, Poland, a human rights lawyer, a head of the working group on drafting Model documents as a follow up of the “Lawyers for the Rule of Law. Human Rights Education and Vocational Training” (tbc)

Plenary discussion 

A broad definition of „lawyer” and the role of ethical standards as an integral part of the guarantee of lawyers’ immunities. Loyalty and Service to the Public Interest: the Dilemma of Bar Practice. The role of the Bar Association in understanding the status and place of lawyers in the justice system. Presentation of the Model Code: status and prospects.

Moderator: Anastacia SERBINA, Ukraine, a lawyer, an adviser of the working group on drafting Model documents as a follow up of the “Lawyers for the Rule of Law. Human Rights Education and Vocational Training” (tbc)

Rapporteur: Olena DYEMYENYEVA, Ukraine, a lawyer, an adviser of the working group on drafting Model documents as a follow up of the “Lawyers for the Rule of Law. Human Rights Education and Vocational Training” (tbc)

 19.00 Dinner for invited participants (tba).

Day 2, 1 October 2022

10.00 – 10.15 Registration of Conference participants

10.15- 12.00 Theme: “Presentations of the reports of the ILIA countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia”

Discussion

The Role of the Bar and the Advocate: from the definition of concepts to the impact on the level of human rights protection

Moderator: Natalia MATCKEVICH, Belarus, a human rights lawyer, a co-leader of the Project “Lawyers for the Rule of Law”, scientific manager of the second cycle of educational course “Human Rights Education and Vocational Training” (tbc)

Rapporteur: Kristina HYRLA, a lawyer, a member of the CCHR team.

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch

13.30 – 14.00 Adoption of the text of the letter to the CoE expert group on behalf of the Conference

14.00 – 16.00 Lecture “Academic freedom and training of lawyers for the promotion of human rights. Raising the culture of judicial proceedings, development of the doctrine” 

Ingrida DANELIENE, Lithuania, EHU, Dr., Head of the Academic Department of the Social Science, associate professor.

Discussion 

Do research and publications impact on the effectiveness of human rights protection? What is the impact of practicing lawyers’ lectures to students on the uptake of study materials? How to raise the relevance of student research by involving lawyers in generating topics for coursework and master’s theses? 

Moderator: Intigam ALIEIV, Azerbaijan, a human rights lawyer awarded by the CCBE for his contribution to the human rights protection, a trainer for lawyers in the region (tbc)

Rapporteur: Kenan QAYIBOV, Azerbaijan, a law student of the Baku University, awarded as a best student of the Summer University 2022 with the internship at the CCHR.

16.00 – 16.15 Coffee break

16.15 -17.15 Theme: “Presentation of training results, course materials and discussion of the second cycle of the educational courses “Lawyers for the Rule of Law. Human Rights Education and Vocational Training”

Lela METREVELI, Moldova, a head of the ILIA partnership, a head of Human Rights Embassy, associate member of the CCHR (tbc)

 Discussion. Q&A

Do professional bar associations recognise the certificates issued by the EHU as professional development? Is it necessary and how should this be dealt with? How to manage the workload while studying? Advice and experiences from First Cycle graduates. The added value of training? 

17.15 – 17.45

Closing remarks

Summary of publications and sources. Plan for the Lawyers for Rule of Law Project 2023.