The JuSTICE Project, funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), supported the Lao Bar Association (LBA) in organising a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) from 27 to 31 October 2025 in Vientiane Capital. The training brought together 20 trainers, including 6 women, to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of the 45-day professional lawyer training programme delivered by the LBA.
This activity formed part of the broader partnership between the JuSTICE Project, the Lao Bar Association and the École de Formation du Barreau (EFB), aimed at modernising lawyer training in Lao PDR. Through this cooperation, EFB has supported the LBA not only through expert-led training sessions but also through the preparation of practical pedagogical materials tailored to the Lao context, with a view to strengthening the long-term capacity of LBA trainers
The training was facilitated by Ms Barbara Clauss, Head of International Cooperation at EFB, together with Mr Gaëtan Escudey and Mr Audric Dupuis. Over the five days, participants explored interactive teaching methods such as simulations and case study exercises, alongside key pedagogical principles including lesson planning, assessment and feedback techniques.
A key contribution of EFB to this activity was the development and use of a full set of training materials and methodological tools for trainers. These included a Trainers’ Guide, methodological sheets on adult learning, learning objectives, active learning methods, oral workshops, case study design, legal reasoning and session planning, as well as observation grids and practical case studies. Together, these materials provided a concrete framework to help LBA trainers design and deliver more practice-oriented and competency-based legal training.
Through a series of practical and collaborative exercises, participants learned to design and deliver training sequences reflecting real legal practice in Laos, covering areas such as criminal and civil law, ethics and client counselling. These exercises aimed to strengthen trainers’ ability to guide learners through realistic scenarios and to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and professional application.
This Training of Trainers marked an important step in the ongoing cooperation between the Lao Bar Association and EFB. Beyond a single activity, it contributed to a broader effort to strengthen the LBA’s training system, consolidate the pedagogical autonomy of its trainers, and support the development of a new generation of competent, ethical and practice-ready lawyers in Lao PDR.
