Canadian Bar Association

Published purpose

The program aims to improve access to justice in the programming countries, particularly for poor and marginalized people, including women. Program implementation takes place in three stages. In the first stage, activities focus on achieving results within the legal professional organizations of each country. The second stage introduces regional programming for legal professional organizations to facilitate joint learning, exchange and fostering of mutually supportive relationships. The third stage brings together the broader range of legal sector stakeholders, including judges, government, academia and civil society organizations to work together to advance access to justice nationally and regionally. The program supports the legal professional associations in each country in one or more of the following: to improve their governance and operational structures; to increase their ability to engage in law reform activities and collaborate with other stakeholders in the justice sector to improve access to justice; to enhance their ability to provide legal aid services; and to strengthen continuing legal education and the professional skills of lawyers through the provision of technical assistance, training and support for local activities.