The OSCE Presence in Albania, in close co-operation with the National Chamber of Advocacy and the National School of Advocates, completed on Monday the Second Edition of the Moot Court Competition, with an event held in one of the High Court’s trial rooms. Eight four-member teams, made of young lawyers who are students of the National School of Advocacy, participated in the event.

The aim of the competition was to enhance the professional skills of young Albanian lawyers.

Bernd Borchardt, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, reminded the audience of the international community’s commitment in general, and that of the OSCE Presence in Albania in particular, to assist and contribute to the improvement and reformation of the justice system in Albania.

“Efforts in this area are often focused on assistance to judges and prosecutors, while the role of lawyers is of equally vital importance to  court proceedings, especially in civil proceedings, where they are the only and true engine of the process,” said Borchardt. “I would like to call upon all lawyers, especially those who are just now joining the profession, to work hard in order to grow professionally, but above all to never forget the basic principles of this noble profession: honesty, independence, dignity, commitment and loyalty toward their clients.”

High Court Chair Xhezair Zaganjori also spoke at the event.

The First Edition of the Moot Court was held in 2015, as part of a larger project of the OSCE Presence. In view of its appreciation by the School itself and by the National Chamber of Advocates, the Presence decided to incorporate this activity under its general judicial development project as a tool to improve the efficiency of court proceedings.

Today’s activity is one of the Presence’s many efforts to contribute to more efficient court proceedings. With support from donors and in close co-operation with the National Chamber of Advocates, the Presence has published a manual on civil proceedings and conducted training courses on professional skills for a significant number of new lawyers throughout the country.