Week 8: The Training
Eight IBJ lawyers and seventy-seven Bar Association lawyers attended the UNDEF training and iConnectJustice app launch this past weekend. The total of 85 participants, which included every member of the newest generation to pass the bar exam, was more than triple the minimum number outlined in IBJ’s contract with the UN. While newly accredited as lawyers, many of the participants had already worked in the legal sector for a number of years. The group’s combination of experience and idealism ensured our training had a huge impact. In fact, one of the participants told me that the training completely changed her perspective on criminal defense.
IBJ Founder and CEO Karen Tse with Cambodia Country Director Ouk Vandeth
Karen Tse, founder and CEO of IBJ, flew in from Geneva along with International Program Director Sanjeewa Liyanage. World-renowned defense lawyer Michael Karnavas made his way from the Hague. And local staff like me traveled across town to the Bar Association to ensure everything went smoothly.
Karen and Sanjeewa led the training, and conducted interactive sessions that required the group to examine their values, envision goals for the future, and plan how to reach those goals. Mr. Karnavas delivered in-depth lectures on the rights of the accused, cross examination, case theory, and closing arguments. Finally, app developer Pheakdey Phou introduced the iConnectJustice apps. The participants were enthusiastic about all aspects of the training. In fact, their enthusiasm was infectious. Not one person left the room at the end of the training without feeling inspired about the future of the Cambodian justice system. I’d been working on planning and preparing for the event over much of the summer, and was glad to see that my labor paid off.
International Program Director Sanjeewa Liyanage listens as IBJ lawyer Ouk Kalyan discusses her values
One of my jobs during the event was to ensure that the participants completed the pre- and post-training surveys that would gather baseline data and measure learning outcomes. After the training, I analyzed the responses. The results showed that participants gained knowledge, and felt optimistic about implementing it.
Here is an excerpt of my report:
Our surveys asked participants to rate their knowledge of legal matters covered in the training on a scale of one to ten. While some participants responded in the 1-2 range on the pre-training survey, no participants continued to feel that they had knowledge meriting a “1” after the training, and only a single participant continued to rate his/her knowledge, in one area, as a “2.” The average responses increased by 0.53 to 1.04 points. For example, in the pre-training survey, the lawyers rated their knowledge of how to conduct a cross-examination at an average of 5.79; after the training, the participants rated the same skill at an average of 6.81, demonstrating a dramatic change given the short duration of the training. While the number of participants responding in the range of 9-10 did not grow in every case, this is likely because the participants came to understand how important and complex the subjects are, with even the smartest and most experienced lawyer having more to learn. Of seventy-seven lawyers participating in the survey, 98% now feel better equipped to implement the national and international standards that protect the rights of the accused. Furthermore, 100% of participants stated that the teaching content related directly to issues in their practice.
We also got helpful feedback from the participants about the app.
Me ready to snap a photo at the training, and enjoying a celebratory dinner with my new friends
After the training, the participants invited us to their “graduation” party, in honor of finishing the intensive bar prep course and passing the bar exam. The party took place in a private ballroom at the Chinese-owned casino called Naga World. Now a room full of friends rather than strangers, the participants came up to me throughout the night to ask how we’d keep in touch, and convey that IBJ should make sure to reach out to them for help with pro bono cases. I think that’s a pretty sure sign of success.