Strengthening lawyer training in Lao PDR: practical tools and a lasting partnership
From 14 to 18 September 2026, the JuSTICE Project, funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), brought the Lao Bar Association (LBA) and the Paris Bar Training School (École de Formation professionnelle des Barreaux du ressort de la Cour d’appel de Paris, EFB) together for a week of practical work and exchange. The mission was led by Gilles Accomando, Director of the EFB, and Barbara Clauss, Head of International Cooperation.
This second pedagogical strengthening mission built on the partnership between the EFB and the LBA developed since 2024 under the JuSTICE Project. It was also EFB’s final mission under the Project, which is approaching its closure at the end of December 2026. The week therefore offered an opportunity both to take stock of the work undertaken and to equip the LBA with practical training resources it can continue to use and adapt.
Structuring the lawyer internship programme
The first part of the mission focused on the LBA’s pre-bar internship programme. Participants reviewed the tools developed to support trainee lawyers and their supervisors, including an Internship Charter, an Objectives Sheet, a Supervisor Information Sheet and a practical Supervisor’s Guide.
The discussions addressed how these tools can help clarify the purpose of the six-month internship, define expectations from the start, guide trainees’ learning and support supervisors in providing feedback and assessing progress. Participants also considered practical questions that will shape implementation, such as supervisor eligibility and accreditation, remuneration, attendance, evaluation and the LBA Training Centre’s role in monitoring placements.
The exchange recognised that putting a structured internship programme into practice will require addressing real constraints, including the availability of supervising lawyers and the capacity of organisations to host trainees. The tools provide the LBA with a practical foundation for continuing this work in the Lao context.
Making lawyer professional ethics practical
Professional ethics was another central theme. Through brainstorming, case discussion and group work, participants explored how principles such as confidentiality, independence and the management of conflicts of interest can be taught through practical situations.
The EFB’s ethics training toolkit provides case-based materials and exercises that trainers can use to bring ethical questions into the classroom. Participants discussed how the toolkit could be adapted and integrated into the LBA’s 45-day lawyer training programme, helping future lawyers connect professional rules with the decisions they will face in practice.
Training trainers through an interprofessional mock trial
The mission concluded with a two-day interprofessional mock trial bringing together lawyers, judges and prosecutors. Based on an anonymised Lao case file, the exercise gave participants the opportunity to prepare and conduct a simulated criminal hearing, reflect on the different professional roles involved, and consider the requirements of a fair trial.
The mock trial also served as a training-of-trainers exercise. Participants worked through how to transform a case file into a teaching resource, prepare materials for each role, facilitate team preparation, run a simulation and lead a structured debrief. A case study, role-specific character sheets, a participant summary and briefing materials now give trainers practical resources for organising similar exercises in the future.
Looking ahead
Throughout the mission, the EFB shared its expertise and experience in lawyer training, while working closely with LBA counterparts to consider how methods and materials could respond to local needs. The week reflected the value of sustained exchange between the two institutions and the practical resources that this cooperation has produced.
The discussions also looked beyond the JuSTICE Project, including the possibility of formalising future cooperation through a protocol between the EFB and the LBA. As the Project approaches its closure, the tools, methods and professional relationships developed through this partnership offer a foundation for continuing to strengthen lawyer training in Lao PDR and support the rule of law.
