From 22–25 July 2025, the JuSTICE Project, funded by AFD, supported the People’s Supreme Court in organising an Advanced Training of Trainers (ToT) on Legal Reasoning and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) for 23 core master trainers from the Lao People’s Supreme Court Research and Training Institute.
This advanced training programme built on two earlier foundational ToT sessions held in December 2024 and June 2025, progressing from introductory concepts to more specialised techniques. Delivered by international judicial training experts of the JuSTICE Project, Dr. Hajer Rouidi and Dr. Lawrence Siry, the course was designed to equip participants with the tools and skills needed to design and deliver high-quality, learner-centred training for judges.
Over four days, the trainers engaged in interactive modules combining theory with practice. Participants were trained to apply the IRAC method (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) and principles of problem-based learning in judicial training, draft effective and realistic legal case studies drawn from practical judicial contexts, and design complete case study training packages aligned with adult learning principles. They also developed facilitation skills by learning how to create engaging, participatory learning environments and incorporate technology to support delivery.
A central feature of the programme was participant-led simulations, where trainers practiced leading mock trials and moot courts, gave and received constructive feedback through peer review, and strengthened their confidence in facilitation. The experts also incorporated video recording in some simulations, offering trainers a highly effective means of reflection and self-assessment. Throughout the workshop, participants worked collaboratively in peer review groups, developed their own case study packages, and tested their approaches in simulated training environments. This practical, hands-on methodology ensured that participants not only gained new knowledge but also applied it directly in realistic training scenarios.
By strengthening the skills of these core master trainers, the initiative reinforces the institutional capacity of the Lao judiciary to deliver standardised, practice-oriented, and high-quality judicial training. In the long term, these efforts aim to improve legal reasoning among judges, enhance the effectiveness of judicial decisions, and contribute to building a more professional judiciary that upholds the rule of law and expands access to justice in Lao PDR.
