News From The IBA

IBA Distance Learning Programme

In its continuing strategy to support the efforts of national bars around the world to enhance the skills of the legal profession, the IBA has announced its Practice Diploma Programme to create the global standard of practical, high quality continuing legal education for international lawyers. In co-operation with the College of Law of England and Wales, the IBA will create a distance learning programme consisting, initially, of demanding courses in key business law topics, including:

Courses in Human Rights law, Energy law and Developing a Successful Law Practice will be also added at a later date.

The Programme is targeted to developing lawyers (ie lawyers with between three to five years' experience) seeking additional practical knowledge in the relevant subject area, and more experienced lawyers who wish to further develop their overall knowledge or create expertise in a particular practice area.
A scholarship fund will be created to assist lawyers from developing countries to participate. The language of the IBA's global programme will initially be in English.

The IBA Practice Diploma Programme will begin accepting applications in late 2002, and will launch in a limited number of targeted developing countries through close partnership with national and local bar associations and law societies. Participants are expected to complete each course in approximately six months, earning a College of Law accredited IBA Practice Diploma. After completing five courses, a lawyer will earn the designation of 'IBA Fellow in International Law and Practice'.

For additional information, please contact:

Michael Diedring
Deputy Executive Director
International Bar Association
271 Regent Street
London W1B 2AQ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7629 1206
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7409 0456
Email: michael.diedring@int-bar.org