Legal Ethics Chair

The Project is implemented with the support of United States Agency for International Development(USAID) within the framework of East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) project Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG).

News

NVU Legal Ethics Co-chair visits Batumi State University
NVU Legal Ethics Co-chair visits Batumi State University

On July 29, 2019, Mrs. Ana Loria, Legal Ethics Co-chair at New Vision University visited Batumi State University (BSU). The purpose of the working meeting was sharing information about activities done by both universities in terms of Legal Ethics. During the meeting, parties also discussed and shared their experience in teaching legal ethics.

Mrs. Loria met with the dean and other representatives of the Faculty of Law and Social Science at BSU. Parties discussed the integration of legal ethics course in Master’s degree programs and participation of Law students in moot court and competitions on articles. The implementation of Legal Ethics direction at Batumi State University’s Legal Clinic was also one of the points during the meeting.

After the meeting, parties agreed that professors from BSU will attend the training of trainers (TOT) to be held in upcoming fall, hosted by New Vision University Legal Ethics Chair. The TOT is designed to share syllabus and the teaching materials for Legal Ethics course on Master’s level.

The working visit was held with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) project - Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG).

Public Lecture on Conflict of Interest
Public Lecture on Conflict of Interest

On June 28, 2019 the chair organized the second public lecture. The lecture was held by Ms, Ana Khurtsidze – a member of the GBA Ethics Commission and director of the law school at University of Georgia. The topic of the lecture was Lawyer’s Conflict of Interest in Practice.

During the lecture Ms. Khurtsidze shortly discussed the relevant provisions regarding conflict of interest in the Code of Professional Ethics for Lawyers and the Law of Georgia on Advocates. Ms. Khurtsidze also analyzed several GBA EC case-law and presented the case-briefs for the audience for discussion. Ms. Khurtsidze also mentioned several landmark cases from the US practice. Attendants were actively engaged in discussions; they asked questions and expressed their interest in the conflict of interest.

On June 28, 2019 the chair organized the second public lecture. The lecture was held by Ms, Ana Khurtsidze – a member of the GBA Ethics Commission and director of the law school at University of Georgia. The topic of the lecture was Lawyer’s Conflict of Interest in Practice.

During the lecture Ms. Khurtsidze shortly discussed the relevant provisions regarding conflict of interest in the Code of Professional Ethics for Lawyers and the Law of Georgia on Advocates. Ms. Khurtsidze also analyzed several GBA EC case-law and presented the case-briefs for the audience for discussion. Ms. Khurtsidze also mentioned several landmark cases from the US practice. Attendants were actively engaged in discussions; they asked questions and expressed their interest in the conflict of interest.

Representatives of the NVU Ethics Chair visited Akaki Tsereteli State University
Representatives of the NVU Ethics Chair visited Akaki Tsereteli State University

On June 8, representatives of the NVU Ethics Chair had a working visit at Akaki Tsereteli State University (Kutaisi, Georgia).

At the meeting, representatives of both universities discussed issues related to strengthening and supporting the ethics curriculum. The staff of the NVU Ethics Chair shared study materials from their courses and their experience in the field of ethics. Participants also discussed establishing an ethics chair branch at Akaki Tsereteli University Legal Clinic.

The working visit was held with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) project - Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG).

Annual Conference on Legal Ethics
Annual Conference on Legal Ethics

On May 10, the Annual Conference on Legal Ethics was held for the second time.

Speakers at the conference discussed the newest challenges and problems of the discipline, such as confidentiality and conflicts of interest, practical and ethical challenges for arbitrators, an attorney’s freedom of speech in social media, along with fees, trust funds and other fiduciary duties of lawyers.

The conference was organized by NVU Legal Ethics Chair with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) project - Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG).

Course for LLM students by James E. Moliterno, Legal Ethics International Expert
Course for LLM students by James E. Moliterno, Legal Ethics International Expert

From May 4 to 9, James E. Moliterno, Professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law, and an esteemed international expert on Legal Ethics conducted a one week course on legal ethics.

In the scope of course, Professor Moliterno introduced to students important concepts and issues in professional ethics, such as the professional roles of lawyers, prosecutors and judges, the ethical creation and termination of a lawyer-client relationship, appropriate methods to interview clients, confidentiality, and sharing decision-making with clients. NVU students along with students of other law schools participated in the course. Successful participants were granted certificates.

The certificated course was organized by NVU Legal Ethics Chair with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) project - Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG).

Public Lecture on The Standard of Proving and Sharing the Burden of Proof in Disciplinary Proceedings of the GBA Ethics Commission
Public Lecture on The Standard of Proving and Sharing the Burden of Proof in Disciplinary Proceedings of the GBA Ethics Commission

On April 30, Tamar Khubuluri, a senior lawyer in the legal department of the GBA Ethics Commission and a researcher of the NVU Legal Ethics Chair conducted a public lecture.

The topic of the lecture was The Standard of Proving and Sharing the Burden of Proof in Disciplinary Proceedings of the GBA Ethics Commission.

The public lecture was organized by NVU Legal Ethics Chair with the support of USAID Projects - Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG).

Call For Papers

The Legal Ethics Chair of the University is pleased to announce a competition to select scholarly articles on legal professional ethics.

The article should be related to: the ongoing challenges in the field of professional legal ethics, or an analysis of a case opinion of the Georgian Bar Association Legal Ethics Commission and/or the Supreme Court Disciplinary Chamber.

Selected articles will be published on the website of the New Vision University Legal Ethics Chair and the Collected Essays on Legal Ethics Book. The competition is open for the students and practicing lawyers.

This Project is supported by the USAID Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia Program, implemented by the East West Management Institute in Georgia.

Deadline for submission of the articles: July 20th, 2019.

Articles should be submitted by email to:

legalethicschair@newvision.ge

Application process for students to participate in Legal Ethics Chair clinic

The Legal Ethics Chair of the University is pleased to announce a competition to select students to participate in a legal ethics clinic (a 4 month course).

In the course, the students will learn the main principles and standards of the professional ethics and become familiar with the practices of the GBA Legal Ethics Commission. Students will elaborate upon case-briefs of EC decisions/recommendations, which will be uploaded onto the online platform of the Legal Ethic Chair and be accessible for every interested person. Students will be granted certificates upon completing the course.

Interested student should submit an application before April 3, 2019

The Legal Ethics clinic is supported by the USAID Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia Program, implemented by the East West Management Institute in Georgia.

Training of Trainers on Legal Ethics Issues
Training of Trainers on Legal Ethics Issues

On February 15-16, Training of Trainers (TOT) was held at University to share the syllabus and teaching materials of the course for interested parties. Recommendations of attending professors regarding syllabus content and teaching materials will be incorporated in the final product.

Professors of various universities participated in the training. The course is intended for Bachalor’s Law Programs and covers professional ethics of attorneys, judges, prosecutors, arbitrators and mediators. The syllabus was developed by a working group that included former and current members of the ethics commissions, judges, legal practitioners, mediators, arbitrators and other legal experts. 

The project was implemented with the support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) project Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG).

Training of Trainers on Legal Ethics Issues

NVU Legal Ethics Chair led the working group participating past and present members of the Ethics Commission, judges, legal practitioners, mediators, arbitrators and legal experts which elaborated the course on Legal Ethics for Bachelor’s students of law faculties. The course covers attorneys’, judicial and prosecutors’ ethics, as well as arbitrators’ and mediators’ ethics. This course consists of lectures, individual and group exercises, case-based learning and role-plays.

To facilitate the implementation of the Ethics Course at various universities and to share syllabus and teaching materials of the course, interested parties are invited to take part in TOT held on 15-16 February at New Vision University. Recommendations of attending professors regarding syllabus and teaching materials will be incorporated  in the final product.

TOT will be held at administrative building of the New Vision University, Mikeladze str. 1a.

Professors from authorized universities both from Tbilisi and regions are invited to attend the training (2 participants from each university are welcomed). Whereby all the expanses for participants arrived from regional universities will be covered by the organizer – New Vision University.

Interested parties are required to fill the registration form latest on 30 January, 2019.

Amount of the participants is limited and 16 applicants registered first will have an opportunity to attend the training.

Teaching course was elaborated with the support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) project Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG).