Latin American Young

Lawyers’ Exchange Programme

Information for participants

2

Investing time and money in a programme

like this allows us to build lasting personal

and professional relationships with solicitors

and barristers. Daniel Villas Boas, Brazil, 2014 “

3

Background 04

Programme aims 05

Programme summary 06

Selection criteria 04

Finance 10

Health and insurance 11

How to apply 12

Contact details 13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4

The Latin American Exchange Programme for young lawyers is jointly

organised by the Bar Council, the Law Society, the Ordem dos Advogados

do Brasil (OAB), Barra Mexicana, Asociacion Nacional de Abogados de

Empresa (ANADE), Illustre y Nacional Colegio de Abogados (INCAM)) the

Chamber of Legal Services of the National Association of Employers of

Colombia (Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia (ANDI) in

partnership with Lex Anglo-Brasil and BPP Law School.

The programme began in November 2014 with a group of 10 Brazilian

lawyers participating in a four-week programme in London. The

programme saw two groups of young British lawyers head to Brazil for a

two-week programme in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and a further group

of Brazilian lawyers visiting London in 2016. In 2018, the scheme was

expanded to include Mexican and Colombian lawyers, creating further

cross -jurisdictional networking opportunities.

To read about some the previous cohort’s experiences on the Bar Council

website: http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/supporting-the-

bar/international/business-development/placement-and-exchange-

programmes/brazilian-british-lawyer-exchange-programme/

Background

5

Increase participating lawyers understanding of:

• Further participants' knowledge on the functioning of the British legal system and

legal profession;

• Offer lawyers a better understanding of the British legal market and opportunities

it can offer;

• Enable English lawyers to better understand the Brazilian, Mexican and

Colombian legal system

• Facilitate professional networking among the participants;

• Create an alumni network and develop new means for employing the familiarity

of participants to the legal profession of the involved countries; and

• Deepen the relationship between partners that are useful both in the development

of business opportunities and in the cooperation of professional standards.

“ The month that I spent in London

allowed me to feel part of the legal

system of England and Wales. Eduardo Parroquin, Mexico, 2018

Programme aims

6

PR

OG

RA

MM

E

The programme will take place over 3 weeks from 29 April to 17 May 2019.

Participants will also have the option to stay an additional week in chambers or

a law firm. The programme includes the following activities:

BPP University will provide an academic course at the

beginning of the programme. The course will include

lectures on commercial international law including

dispute resolution and some sessions on legal skills.

ENGLISH LAW COURSE BY BPP

2/3 weeks

The participating chambers and law firms will have an

international dimension to their work and will be

located in London. A barrister and a solicitor will act

as mentor and will assist with coordinating the

placement and ensuring a wide variety of activities is

undertaken with different members of the

chambers/firms. With the daily support of the mentor

there will be opportunity to follow cases, be involved

in client meetings, attend court and arbitrations, learn

about different areas of English law, witness advocacy

and see how chambers and firms are managed and

marketed.

PRACTICAL PLACEMENTS

Programme Summary

1 week

7

Programme Summary Continued…

Through your placements there will be opportunity to learn about:

• The role of barristers and solicitors and the nature of their work

• Case management

• Court procedures

• The common law system

• Alternative dispute resolution, including international arbitration

• What constitutes effective advocacy

• Cross-examination of witnesses

• The code of conduct, ethics of the bar and regulation of the profession

• Chambers and law firm management

And enhance the following skills:

• Communication

• Research

• Analysis

• Drafting legal documents

• Negotiation

8

Programme Summary Continued…

Seminar programme delivered by practitioners

Each week there will be one seminar on a legal topic of an international commercial

nature, legal skills such as advocacy and negotiation or a business skill. These will be

delivered by law firms and chambers. managers.

Legal visits

There will also be a programme of visits to key legal institutions such as the Supreme

Court and the Commercial Court.

Social programme

The social programme will include a welcome reception, lunch in the Inns of Court and

chambers and law firm drinks. This will enable networking with English barristers,

solicitors and other legal professionals in informal surroundings.

9

Selection Criteria

The programme can accommodate roughly 15 lawyers. Programme participants are

selected on a competitive basis, based on their application and an interview and must

meet the following criteria:

a) Be a citizen of Brazil, Mexico or Colombia.

b) Be a graduate of law and have passed or completed the necessary exam or

requirements needed to be a qualified lawyer in Brazil, Mexico or Colombia

c) Have practised law for between 4 and 10 years on the date of application

d) Have evidence of excellent oral and written English

e) Be currently working for a Brazilian, Colombian or Mexican law firm, and be

supported by your law firm to participate in the programme.

f) Have a great interest and preferably experience in international work.

g) Have an interest in one or more relevant areas to the relationship

Brazil/Colombia/Mexico - United Kingdom.

h) Have strong professional interest, and preferably experience, in international

work.

10

Finance

The programme, including the academic course, chambers placements and other

educational and social components will be offered free of charge to participating lawyers.

Participants are responsible for all other costs, including visas, travel to London and

living expenses whilst in London (accommodation is around £700 to £1,000 per month).

It is hoped that participants’ law firms will give some financial support to their lawyers.

Some guidance will be given on accommodation options.

11

Health and Insurance

Please note that the Bar Council and Law Society does not take any responsibility for

your health, safety, security or welfare whilst you are in the UK. We strongly recommend

that successful applicants take out adequate insurance or are otherwise independently

covered for any health issues or other emergency which might befall them during their

time in the UK. You should not assume that you will be able to obtain free medical care

whilst here. We cannot advise you in relation to medical services available to you in the

UK.

12

THE

TEA

M

How to apply

To apply for the programme please email as one scanned document or one electronic

document copies of the following documents to IntlEvents@BarCouncil.org.uk on

Monday 21 January 2019.

a) Application form

b) Reference from senior partner in law firm, signed and dated (in English)

c) Practising certificate/lawyers licence

d) Demonstrated fluency in English

e) Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English

Selection of participants will be made by the Bar Council, the Law Society, the OAB, Barra

Mexicana, ANADE, INCAM and Legal Services Chamber of ANDI according to the

selection criteria and will be based on the application form and supporting documents.

You may be asked to participate in a telephone interview.

13

Contact Details

If you have any queries relating to the programme please contact Jessica Crofts-Lawrence,

International Policy Analyst at the Bar Council at JCrofts-Lawrence@BarCouncil.org.uk or

on 0044 207 611 1357.