Though RAROLC programs and presentations are made possible in large part by the volunteer efforts of legal professionals, the organization also relies on funding and support from a variety of public service organizations.

Currently, the three main types of funding for RAROLC partnership activities are:

United States Agency for International Development





Rule of Law Partnership Project – RLPP

This project provides training to judges, lawyers and legal organizations to improve their professional capacity and strengthens partnerships between Russian and American judicial bodies.

ACTIVITY DATES: September 2008 - September 2012

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA/ROLI), Russian-American Rule of Law Consortium (RAROLC)

REGION(S): Arkhangelskaya oblast, Karelia Republic, Leningradskaya oblast, Moscow, Moskovskaya oblast, Nizhegorodskaya oblast, Novgorodskaya oblast, Pskovskaya oblast, Rostovskaya oblast, St. Petersburg, Ulyanovskaya oblast, Vologodskaya oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project aims to improve access to justice by encouraging: improvements in the operation of the justice of the peace courts; professional self-governance of the legal profession and judiciary; and partnerships between U.S. and Russian judges, judicial offices and lawyers' associations.The project works with the Justices of the Peace and the users of those courts in three target regions (Leningrad, Nizhni Novgorod, and Rostov Oblasts) on issues of improved court operations, enhanced access to justice, and improvements in the institution and training of justices of the peace. It assists the legal profession in areas such as professional self-governance and ethics regulation, and facilitates contact between the U.S. and Russian judiciaries. The project also promotes voluntary free legal services and the development of centers for continuing legal education. The project web site is http://www.rlpp.ru/.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

Justice of the Peace. Curricula were developed for justices of the peace (JPs) and JP court staff trained in Rostov and Leningrad Oblasts. Curricula cover topics such as the role of JPs in the judicial system, professional ethics, and electronic information management. A new bench book for JPs was developed covering: criminal, civil and administrative procedure, admission and review of evidence, sentencing, and legal writing for court decisions. In cooperation with the Center for Mediation and Law, plans are underway to develop an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Center in Rostov, to be staffed by trained and certified mediators. The Center will focus on civil cases, including cases referred by the JPs in Rostov Oblast. Surveys on "The Public Perception of the JP Court System" were conducted in the three pilot regions, and "Know Your Rights" brochures were published and widely disseminated.

Professional Self-governance. Several publications have been produced, including: Professional Ethics of Advocates, which compiles disciplinary decisions and related materials, Life of an Advocate, Interactive Methods in Continuing Legal Education, and Disciplinary Practice in Ulyanovsk Region. A conference on legal ethics was conducted jointly with the Federal Chamber of Advocates, Moscow State Law Academy, the Association of Russian Lawyers, and the Rostov regional chamber of advocates. In partnership with lawyers' organizations in the three target regions and at the national level, 15 professional trainings were conducted for 729 members of the legal community, and bench-bar meetings were held in four regions for 154 professionals. Seminars were also held for members of qualifying commissions, ethics committees, and councils of judges on improving the application of normative ethical standards. Topics included judicial independence and judicial accountability; sources of ethical norms; financial disclosures by judges; political affiliations of a judge; conflicts of interest and ex parte communications; judicial advisory commissions; and judicial behavior on and off the bench. The project is also working with regional chambers of advocates in St. Petersburg, Leningrad, and Ulyanovsk to develop Continuing Legal Education (CLE) centers based on a model center launched in Krasnoyarsk in 2008 under a previous project.

Promoting Russian-American Partnerships. Existing partnerships between U.S. states and Russian regions are being strengthened, including Maryland with Leningrad Oblast and New Hampshire with Vologda Oblast. A new partnership has been established between Oklahoma and Nizhni Novgorod Oblast.




Open World Leadership Center
RAROLC has developed and implemented numerous high quality professional rule of law programs for Open World since 2001 and has demonstrated ability to fully meet all the Open World program requirements. RAROLC’s history, mission, structure, programs and experience offer unique qualifications for hosting Open World programs. For the past 19 years RAROLC has administered partnerships, including sister courts, between legal communities in the United States and Russia for the development of the legal system in both countries. There are currently 11 such partnerships. These ongoing relations allow RAROLC to host Open World delegates in the U.S. legal communities which have strong ties to the home regions of the delegates, expertise in Russian legal system and great interest in continuing joint projects with their Russian colleagues.

As each hosting locality has a committee of leaders from all parts of the legal system, including judicial leaders, legislators, law professors, court administrators, and attorneys they have the contacts and experience to put together effective professional programs. Hundreds of American legal professionals participate in RAROLC programs on a volunteer basis and have been, and will continue to be, available for Open World hosting activities.

RAROLC’s steering committees on the Russian side are comprised of the regional legal leaders who are involved in nominating candidates for each Open World visit and assuring that there are reciprocal visits by Open World hosts. In addition, RAROLC state steering committees include members of the state and local legislatures allowing RAROLC to provide each Open World delegation with programmatic activities with (potential) federal, state, and local legislators and legislative staff to enhance the delegates’ understanding of the American legislative process.
They also work with delegates after they return from the U.S. so they can share their knowledge with their colleagues and apply their experience in the ongoing or future joint programs. RAROLC encourages participation of Open World alumni in all of the seminars and projects conducted in their partner regions in Russia on an ongoing basis.

RAROLC is proud to have fostered important long standing relationships through Open World delegates and alumni that have created sustained activities in the Russian legal system. Open World alumni are offered a unique opportunity to remain in touch with the RAROLC professional counterparts.


To learn more about RAROLC’s relationship with the Open World program, click here.

Special Projects

Either directly through RAROLC or through separate organizations, RAROLC partners have obtained funding to work on various special projects. For example, in 2000, RAROLC partnerships provided training for new bailiffs (officers charged with the collection of court judgments) under a contract with the University of Maryland's IRIS program (Institutional Reform in the Informal Sector). In 2001, the Vermont / Karelia partnership completed a SPAN grant, which supported the operation of a civil legal assistance program for the indigent in Petrozavodsk. Two law schools that provide membership to RAROLC steering committees - the University of Vermont Law School and the Franklin Pierce Law School (N.H.) - have NISCUPP sister institution grants with Russian law schools; these grants are an outgrowth of legal community partnership activities.

Contact Information

For information about how to become a supporter of RAROLC, please contact:

Karin Bourassa - Executive Director, RAROLC
Harborside Professional Building, 85 Prim Road, Suite 202, Colchester VT 05446
Phone: 802.651.9300 : Fax: 802.651.9699
rusamlaw@icqmail.com