In late November 2009 ILHDC staff visited Rwanda to conduct a needs assessment of the legal community.  By meeting with the Ministry of Justice, members of the Kigali (Rwanda) Bar Association,  judges of the commercial high court, the Institute of Law Practice and Development, and the rector of the law faculty at the National University of Rwanda (NUR), the ILHDC staff were able to survey specific requests for legal training and learn what role the legal community is playing in Rwanda’s vision for development.

Rwanda is at a very important and exciting moment in history.  As evidenced by its recent admission to the Commonwealth, Rwanda has made tremendous progress in the last 15 years and continues to work to achieve its development goals as laid out by Rwanda Vision 2020 http://www.gesci.org/assets/files/Rwanda_Vision_2020.pdf  To supports its increasing ability to offer an attractive environment in which to operate a business and invest, Rwanda is quickly changing from a civil code to a common law judicial system.  It is precisely at this moment of strategic transition that the ILHDC is offering legal trainings to support the specialization of Rwandan lawyers in the area of business law.

In Fall 2010 ILHDC will offer a one week training on “The Life of a Business” to offer Rwandan lawyers training in company formation, contract negotiations as well as the fundamentals of banking law for the purpose of lending and borrowing.  This training will be offered both to practicing lawyers and judges and will be co-taught by experienced Rwandan and US attorneys.

In preparation for the course the ILHDC is examining both Rwandan and US contract and banking law in order to provide a training that is contextualized and relevant to the needs of Rwandan attorneys and judges.

To learn more please contact: info@ilhdc.org