Anar Baghirov: "There are serious gaps in the curriculum of law faculties"

On June 10, 2021, it was held an academic conference on "Training of highly qualified lawyers as one of the priorities of public policy" which was organized by the Bar Association of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (APA)

The academic conference was attended by heads of government bodies, rectors of higher education institutions, MPs, legal scholars, authoritative experts, public and political figures and young lawyers, e-huquq.az reports.

Rector of the APA, Academician Urkhan Alakbarov, who made an opening speech at the online academic conference, drew attention to the achievements of the Republic of Azerbaijan due to the development strategy successfully pursued by President Ilham Aliyev. At the same time, he stressed that the high efficiency of the complex of innovative management technologies applied in Azerbaijan is reflected in the successful implementation of four UN Security Council resolutions and the liberation of the territories occupied by Armenia for 30 years. He praised the fact that this victory lasted only 44 days and the full restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity as a solemn result of the President's innovative development strategy.

Then, the chairman of the Bar Association Anar Bagirov made a comparative analysis of the history of the advocacy institutions, noting that modern advocacy in Azerbaijan has undergone significant positive changes compared to law firms around the world, emphasizing that this change was implemented in accordance with the goals set by the head of country.

A.Baghirov also spoke about the problematic issues in the legal community and ways to solve them, noting that there are serious gaps in the curriculum of law faculties, and stressed the importance of teaching subjects related to the development of public speaking and legal writing. In particular, he added that although the number of lawyers has more than doubled in the last three years, this number is very small compared to other countries, and the main reason is the small number of law graduates.

Besides, A. Bagirov said that the Board provides comprehensive support to local law students in local and international competitions, creates the necessary conditions for internships, and now they work in the Office of the Bar and other agencies. Thus, both the conference participants and other local organizations called on young people to support the training of lawyers from the first years of student life. The Bar Association has also signed memorandum with some higher education institutions, including the APA, and is ready to cooperate with all universities.

Then, MP Ziyafat Asgarov, "Requirements for legal personnel in the modern state-building period", Gulu Novruzov, head of the SCC Academy, "The role of legal knowledge in the efficiency of the customs service", MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev "Highly qualified lawyers as one of the factors ensuring human rights and freedoms", Mubariz Ahmadov, head of the Scientific and Training Center of the Prosecutor General's Office "Formation of a staff corresponds to modern challenges as one of the main goals of consistent reforms in the prosecutor's office", MP Jala Aliyeva "Legal education in Azerbaijan: history and modernity", MP Etibar Aliyev “ Legal education in the context of interdisciplinary approach ”, Mubariz Mammadli, Head of the Department of Science No. 3 of the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, "A new approach to the training of highly qualified specialists in the field of legal sciences in accordance with modern challenges", Mahir Ahmadov, First Deputy Chief of the Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,“ Features of staff training at the Police Academy ”, Elchin Khalafov, Acting Rector of the Academy of Justice,“ Issues of training a new generation of professional lawyers in Azerbaijan ”, Isakhan Valiyev “As one of the main conditions for training qualified lawyers ”, 1st Deputy Head of the DTC Academy, Elshad Nasirov“ Training of professional lawyers in Azerbaijan; problem and perspectives”, Shahmar Mammadov, Chairman of the Bar Disciplinary Commission and Director of the Legal Aid and Training Center,“ Advocacy as one of the main institutions in training highly qualified personnel ”, Fakhraddin Nagiyev, Associate Professor of Law, PhD “Training of highly qualified lawyers in the context of modern challenges " spoke at the scientific conference moderated by Isakhan Valiyev, head of the "Law" department of the APA."

Shahmar Mammadov spoke about the role of the Bar Association in the training of highly qualified personnel, gave examples of reforms in recent years, spoke about the admission to the bar not every two years, but on a regular basis, the transparency of the exam by representatives of international organizations.

Then, he spoke in detail about the activities of the Legal Aid and Training Center, established by the Presidium of the Bar Association and launched on December 26, 2019.

He added that the Center regularly holds events not only for advocates, but also for advocate assistants and law students. Since the beginning of 2020, many students have been involved in extracurricular internships at the Center. Here they are in direct contact with the person seeking legal aid, advise them, participate in the preparation of procedural documents. We think this is a good experience. Because students gain practical knowledge, they even participate in court proceedings together with advocates.

We are currently cooperating with the Academy of Justice. Candidate advocates are involved in compulsory training at the Academy of Justice. The trainings are currently underway. The center conducts remote trainings during the pandemic. Different videos and presentations are being prepared, and participants can get this information at the home without visiting the Center. Then the trainings are evaluated and submitted to the Presidium.

In conclusion, Sh. Mammadov noted that today the Center is ready to cooperate with higher education institutions and relevant agencies, and it is hoped that cooperation will continue.