Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for Lawyers and Assistant Lawyers

"Continuing Legal Education" means professional training in various fields of law based on the programs and rules approved by the National Bar Association.

AVL is an essential condition to guarantee the role of the lawyer in the administration of justice as a guarantor of fundamental human rights and freedoms. The high level of quality and ethics of the lawyer's profession are the main conditions to preserve the lawyer's independence from all powers, to strengthen the function in the public interest, to minimize the interventions imposed by the prevailing rules of the market and competition.

The administration of the profession of lawyer in defense of the interests of the community, guaranteeing the competence and professionalization of lawyers is entrusted to the governing bodies of the National Chamber of Lawyers, in support of Article 21 (point c) of Law No. No. 9109, dated 17.7.2003 "On the Profession of Lawyer in the Republic of Albania", amended by law no. 9795, dated 23.7.2007 and law no. 10 047, dated 24.12.2008, "General Council... examines and analyzes the work progress and professional training of lawyers and assistants, who are part of the lawyer's room".

The drafting and determination of policies aimed at the professional development of lawyers has been entrusted to the National Chamber of Advocates of Albania, provided for in Article 2 of the Statute of the National Chamber of Advocacy "Drafting and implementation of policies aimed at professional development, the creation of an environment and infrastructure which increases the well-being, trust and pride of lawyers for their organization".

The Lawyer's Code of Ethics, in Article 8, imposes an obligation related to professional competence, defining that "A lawyer should not deal with a matter for which he does not have the necessary skills, except when he cooperates with a lawyer who is competent for them treat it". In addition, Article 9 of the Lawyer's Code of Ethics provides that "The lawyer has the duty to develop his skills through continuous professional training" through, among others, "...Meetings, seminars, professional debates, generalizations of the experience of lawyers, law offices and chambers of lawyers, increasing the publishing ability with legal topics of lawyers in periodical press bodies, etc.

• Beyond the field of professional behavior and deontological obligation, equipping with appropriate knowledge and skills, including those of a specific character, updating and adding them periodically, is a constant requirement for lawyers in Europe and the basic acts that regulate the Legal Profession in the context of the European Community, mentioning among others:

• Directives of the European Union in the exercise of the legal profession in cross-border matters.
• The jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.
• Recommendation Rec (2000) 21 of October 25, 2000 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for member states regarding the freedom to exercise the profession of lawyer.
• Resolution of the European Parliament on legal professions and the general interest in the functioning of legal systems of March 23, 2006.
• Charter of Fundamental Principles of the Legal Profession in Europe, 2006.
• The Rome Declaration on the Training of Lawyers in Europe, November 2008.
• Recommendations of the Council of Bars and Legal Associations in Europe (CCBE); etc.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, on May 12, 2011, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Director of USAID for Albania, Mr. Joseph Williams, and the Chairman of DHKASH, Mr. Maksim Haxhia, for the AVL Program, which has started to be tested, in the form of a demonstration project in the Regional Chamber of Vlora and Durrës for lawyers and assistant lawyers of these chambers. The implementation of this program is being carried out by the Albanian Center for Legal Training and Studies (ACLTS), with funds provided by USAID and DHKASH.