1. Outline Initial Proposals for Discussion April 2015

2. Aims of the Network Umbrella network for UK legal professionals and organisations interested in providing pro bono legal assistance to Sierra Leone (SL) Act as focus for demand from SL for assistance in legal matters, from both Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and legal professionals and bodies Set out a long-term rolling programme of work aimed at meeting that demand in collaboration with partners in SL Co-ordinate UK lawyers to deliver programme

3. Objectives of the Network Seek to support GoSL’s Justice Sector Reform Strategy and Investment Plan for the period 2015 to 2018 (JSRSIP III) Work closely with representatives of private practice lawyers in SL and legal-related civil society organisations Main initial objectives: –assisting implementation of JSRSIP III –assistance in relation to impact of Ebola

4. Main elements of the proposed programme Professional support and exchange programme Capacity building training programme (both generic and specific) Assisting with the strengthening of legal institutions (eg legal education and resources, and pro bono provision) Remote assistance (eg e-learning, knowledge and advice)

5. Government of Sierra Leone JSRSIP III Outcomes (1) Justice is easily accessible locally (2) Justice is expedited (3) Respect for rights and accountability (4) Commercial law and justice improved (5) Communication and stakeholder engagement improved Relevant topics with which we could assist are listed below [* = overlap with Ebola-related recommendations]

6. (1) Justice is easily accessible locally Training of Judges Provision of legal aid to those in need

7. (2) Justice is expedited Strengthening of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms * Popularization of ADR mechanisms * Support implementation structures for the revised Criminal Procedure Act (Phase 2)

8. (3) Respect for rights and accountability Strengthen the Anti Corruption Commission’s human capacity to fight corruption

9. (4) Commercial law and justice improved Strengthen the capacity and management structure of the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (JLTI) * Strengthen the capacity of GoSL lawyers to negotiate and manage commercial contracts, especially extractives * Provide link to relevant on-line websites of publications and electronic libraries Strengthen the capacity of the Law Reform Commission to enable it research, review, draft and modernize the legislative landscape of SL Develop and take forward prioritised legislative programme for commercial law reform in light of Ebola * (Phase 2)

10. (4) Commercial law and justice: training Establish specialised training in all spheres of commercial law, including ethics and expectations of international standards, and arbitration * Training for Judiciary and Law Officers Department (LOD) * Training of LOD in sector-specific areas to support MDAs Seminars for judiciary, lawyers & business community Training programmes / conferences for legal professionals * Training for media on reporting court procedure & judgments Establish rota of qualified trainers through training of trainers programme * (Phase 2)

11. Main SL organisations to work with? Justice Sector Co-Ordination Office Law Officers’ Department (LOD) Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) General Legal Council (GLC) Judicial and Legal Training Institute (JLTI) Law Reform Commission (LRC) Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) Legal Aid Board

12. Main UK organisations to work with Advocacy Training Council (ATC) Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) Association of Law Teachers British and Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL) Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Commonwealth Secretariat Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) Fair Deal Sierra Leone International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP) Law Society / Bar Council (LS/ BC) Legal Assistance for Economic Reform (LASER) Rule of Law Expertise (ROLE) UK

13. Professional support & exchange programme Twinning SL lawyers with specialist UK lawyers Practice and professional development, skills development, professional standards, etc Cover practising lawyers: private and GoSL Work with SLBA, in consultation with GLC Some planning already done with SLBA Need support of Law Society and Bar Council Work with ISLP and ILFA Need to recruit UK lawyers to assist

14. Capacity building training programme Focus on training trainers and key people Work through the JLTI if possible Cover the training needs identified in JSRSIP: ADR, commercial law, anti-corruption Seek to work first with GoSL LOD and judiciary Develop co-ordinated, long-term plan Deliver in country post Ebola Training provided by ATC, CIArb, judiciary, Network member lawyers and firms Ensure supported by other elements, eg e-learning and online resources (Phase 2)

15. Strengthening of legal institutions & pro bono Work to strengthen JLTI to deliver programme Work first with a few key organisations: –ACC, JLSC, LRC Work with Legal Aid Board to assist with building structures and capacity for legal aid Work on pro bono with SLBA (Phase 2) Work on continuing professional development and recognising professional excellence by lawyers, with eg GLC (Phase 2)

16. Legal education & resources Universities (Phase 1) - and SLLS (Phase 2) –help with systems for sound delivery of teaching and marking –summer school, teaching visits, exchanges, joint programmes –access to online teaching materials (Phase 2) Led by ALT Assistance to law libraries Online resources and knowledge –SierraLII –web-based document system (Phase 2) Both led by BIALL

17. Remote advice (Phase 2) Work with key organisations eg LOD, ACC, LRC Need to build long-term relationships Like HSF Fair Deal programme with LOD/GoSL Seek UK solicitors firms for similar arrangements with other organisations eg ACC, LRC Advice would cover both processes and substantive legal matters Need to address practicalities, eg scanning material for emailing, information sharing, etc

18. E-learning (Phase 2) If possible, work with existing provider (eg ILFA) Encourage production of material relevant to SL Encourage coverage of key issues for SL e.g. natural resources, commercial law, ADR Seek to offer free access to GoSL lawyers Link to online resources Seek to co-ordinate provision via JLTI

19. Consultation and development of plan Establish a reference group in SL of key players Consult with potential main partners in UK & SL Finalise long-term plan of work Lead partners for each element can do detailed planning, with support from Network as required – and co-ordination with other bodies Potential funding sources for out of pocket expenses can be identified

20. Network recruitment Press contact Website and LinkedIn group Initial focus on London firms of solicitors Ensure barristers and GLS also involved SL diaspora lawyers Database of interested lawyers

22. http://www.laserdev.org/sierra-leone-pro-bono-network/ slprobononetwork@lawdevelopment.com