International Senior Lawyers Project

The International Senior Lawyers Project provides the pro bono services of skilled and experienced lawyers to promote human rights, equitable and sustainable economic development and the rule of law worldwide. ISLP assists governments and non-governmental organizations working to advance the rights and well-being of their citizens and helps build the capacity of the legal profession to meet the needs of their communities. <MORE> * ISLP celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a Gala Luncheon Thursday, December 1, 2011 with Honored guests GEORGE SOROS, President ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF of Liberia and a special greeting from actor MATT DAMON. We thank all of our 23 law firm sponsors for their support, including our Global Champion supporters Baker & McKenzie and Hogan Lovells. Click here for videos, photos and more. * Read the ISLP 2010 Annual Report UK Attoney General helps launch ISLP-UK in London <more> Read our LATEST NEWSLETTER highlighting recent contributions of ISLP's outstanding volunteers ISLP supports Oxfam arms control initiative: ATT Legal Response Network CALLING ALL EXPERTS! There are currently no comprehensive global regulations on the global trade in conventional arms. This allows unscrupulous arms dealers or governments to easily supply weapons, even where they know they may be used for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law or may fuel conflict and undermine development. After years of campaigning by NGOs, the UN agreed to discuss an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT); negotiations are ongoing, with the final negotiating conference taking place in July 2012. Oxfam, the International Senior Lawyers Project and Control Arms alliance partners, are establishing the ATT Legal Response Network consisting of expert lawyers from around the world. The Network will support the negotiations by providing free, real time legal advice during negotiating sessions, as well as longer-term advice and support to State parties and NGOs. If you are interested in joining this network please take a moment to fill out this form.
"I want to thank you for the excellent support and advice which our team received from you throughout the period of negotiations in New York and for your continued support and advice in these last few days that helped us to reach a successful conclusion. . . I know that with your help we now have [an agreement] which we can proudly reveal to the nation that represents a significant improvement in the management of our natural resources and protection of our national interest." -- Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf regarding ISLP's pro bono assistance with a mining agreement with the Arcelor Mittal steel company "It was an extraordinary experience to collaborate with members of the Yemeni Parliament as they worked to develop a law that would increase citizens' understanding about the workings of government, deter corruption and promote confidence in government officials." -- Madeleine Schachter, Partner, Baker & McKenzie "Je garde en mémoire ce séminaire conduit avec maestria par les spécialistes de ISPL. Les participants n'ont pas cessé de le répéter...Ce choix que vous avez fait de [l'avocat bénévole de ISLP] a été on ne peut plus heureux." -- Me. Jean Vandal, Avocat du Barreau de Port-au-Prince, Haiti "I just wanted to let you know that the Dutch attorneys have been fabulous. They are all knowledgeable, thoughtful and consistently responsive...Many many thanks!" -- Jessica Pena, Assistant General Counsel, Vera Institute of Justice "Thanks to ISLP, Minnesota public defender Leslie Rosenberg was able to come to China where she made an enormous impact on the fledgling public interest community here. Through a combination of experience, sensitivity to the China context, and unbounded energy, Leslie inspired dozens of Chinese lawyers to use law to improve their society. In a field where impacts are extremely hard to measure, Leslie is a shining example how onsite mentorship by American lawyers can encourage our foreign colleagues who face great challenges not to give up the fight for justice." -- Robert Precht, Project Director, Criminal Clinical Legal Education Project (China), International Bridges to Justice

Board member Natasha Lisman (r) in Strasbourg, France where she conducted a training for Russian human rights lawyers Volunteer Marcia Cleveland spent 3 months onsite with the Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica helping to create an innovative carbon credit model. Several ISLP volunteers are involved in anti-slavery efforts in Mali and Western Africa. Skadden provided a multi-office team to assist NGO Inclusion International with its efforts towards effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Disabled. More Human Rights Projects>>	Commercial Law Training Program in Africa » Over 700 attorneys have attended ISLP trainings in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia since 2004. Zimbabwe lawyers will now have access to this training in 2011. AP ARTICLE on CLTP Hogan Lovells partners assist Liberia with the review and renegotiation of numerous concession agreements. Clifford Chance supports a consortium of Haitian microfinance organizations in commenting on a new draft law affecting the microfinance sector in Haiti. More Economic Development Projects>>	Liberian Ministry of Justice » Blake's partner Jim Dube has made multiple trips since 2007 to help the Government of Liberia rebuild the rule of law. More >> In 2010, 13 ISLP volunteers from France, Belgium, Canada and the U.S. overcame challenges created by the devasting earthquake in Haiti to assist with projects ranging from building the capacity of legal aid lawyers to modernizing the criminal code of Haiti. Volunteer opportunities in Haiti>> More Access to Justice Projects>>
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