EWMI NEWS:
JANUARY 2010
CAMBODIA’S THIRD ANNUAL LAW STUDENT CLIENT COUNSELING COMPETITION

On January 28 – 29, 2010, EWMI’s USAID-funded Program on Rights and Justice 2 (PRAJ 2) worked with the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia to host the Third Annual Cambodian Client Counseling Competition (CCCC) in Phnom Penh. The CCCC is an example of the creative and exciting new methods used to teach law students important practical skills that are not being effectively taught in Cambodian law schools, and is an integral part of EWMI’s innovative work in Cambodia to promote access to justice and improve the professional standards of Cambodia’s future lawyers and judges.

During the event, over 200 law students, professors and members of the legal community watched as twelve teams from eight Cambodian law schools (Royal University of Law and Economics, Cambodian Mekong University, Pannasastra University, Build Bright University, Norton University, National University of Management, Cambodian University of Specialties and University of Cambodia) competed for the honors of national champion. The teams were placed in a simulated law office environment where they were challenged to conduct a counseling session with a “client” that is played by an actor. The teams were scored by a panel of local and international judges (mostly lawyers in Phnom Penh).

The team from the Royal University of Law and Economics was named national champion during an award ceremony presided over by the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, Carol Rodley, and President of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chiv Song Hak, and will travel to Hong Kong to represent Cambodia in the International Client Counseling Competition from April 7 – 10, 2010.

The competition gave the students the opportunity to employ important practical legal skills such as active listening, interrogation, empathy, issue spotting, legal analysis, problem solving and teamwork. To prepare for the competition, the students worked with local lawyers and attended a client counseling workshop conducted by EWMI. Both the competition and workshop were well received by the Cambodian legal community. There is already considerable excitement about next year’s competition.

Practice counseling sessions at the workshop

Practice counseling sessions at the workshop

Counseling Sessions at the competition

Counseling Sessions at the competition

The Award Ceremony, with Ambassador Rodley and Bar President Choun Sun Hak presenting the trophy to the winning team