South African Commercial Law Training Program Expands to Botswana through International Senior Lawyers Project
Released on = June 27, 2007, 1:56 pm
Press Release Author = International Senior Lawyers Project
Industry = Law
Press Release Summary = A Kellogg Fd grant is supporting a commercial law training program for historically-disadvantaged attorneys in South Africa and Botswana
Press Release Body = NEW YORK, NY - The International Senior Lawyers Project has received a $221,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, MI to co-sponsor a commercial law training program for historically-disadvantaged attorneys in South Africa and Botswana. According to Jean Berman, Executive Director of ISLP, "this generous grant will permit ISLP to continue and expand its co-sponsorship of a program which addresses the issues of racial inequality and lack of opportunity that are the continuing legacy of colonialism and apartheid in southern Africa."
In partnership with the South African Black Lawyers Association, ISLP will offer a 12-week commercial law training program in both Johannesburg and Cape Town beginning July 12. The trainings pair nine experienced commercial law attorneys from the United States with South African business lawyers to teach the practicalities of commercial law to attorneys who have historically been denied opportunities to practice in this area. All instructors provide their time on a pro bono basis.
Since 2004, nearly 200 South African attorneys have participated in the training program. The Kellogg Foundation grant allows the program to continue in South Africa and to expand into Botswana as a five-week pilot program, which is being co-sponsored by the Law Society of Botswana. Over 100 attorneys have registered for the 2007 programs. The grant will also support a conference to be held in Johannesburg in the fall to review the impact of the training programs in helping to expand commercial law opportunities for black attorneys.
Attorney Steven Spronz, one of the first volunteer attorneys to lead a pilot program in Johannesburg in 2004, is enthusiastic about the project's accomplishments, noting, "Despite the myriad of problems that currently beset South Africa, my students illustrated for me the qualities of determination, intelligence, grace and hope essential to build a better life, not only for themselves, but to better represent their clients, and by doing so, better their society as a whole." Mr. Spronz will be returning in July to South Africa for his fourth year as an ISLP volunteer instructor.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930 "to help people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations." To achieve the greatest impact, the Foundation targets its grants toward specific areas. These include: health; food systems and rural development; youth and education; and philanthropy and volunteerism. Within these areas, attention is given to exploring learning opportunities in leadership; information and communication technology; capitalizing on diversity, and social and economic community development. Grants are concentrated in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. For further information, please visit the Foundation's Web site at www.wkkf.org. The site offers: in-depth information about the Foundation's programming interests, information on the Foundation's grant application process; a database of current grant recipients; and access to publications which report on Foundation-funded projects.
The International Senior Lawyers Project(www.islp.org) is an international organization that enlists the resources of highly experienced lawyers worldwide on a pro bono basis to advance the rule of law, human rights and equitable economic development. ###
Web Site = http://www.islp.org
Contact Details = Jean Berman, Executive Director International Senior Lawyers Project 31 W. 52nd Street New York, NY 10019 212-880-5836; information@islp.org
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