Lawyers’ Working Groups

PRAJ has helped established and continues to support lawyer “Working Groups” involved in land rights and women’s and children’s rights. As of June 2008, each of the two Phnom Penh-based Working Groups had approximately 50 members. Smaller regional groups have developed in Siem Reap and Battambang, creating venues for province-based legal aid lawyers to discuss local issues. In total, approximately half of Cambodia 's legal aid lawyers are members of the Working Groups.

The Working Groups provide lawyers with an opportunity to meet on a regular basis to share information, discuss cases, and keep up-to-date on changes in the law. PRAJ assists the Working Groups to arrange meetings and set agendas; it also helps with travel costs. PRAJ frequently provides the groups with copies of new laws, regulations and legal documents, and arranges seminars and guest speakers to provide updated information on areas of law and practice. These seminars have included presentations on changes made to the land law, methodologies of representing crime victims, and community-based advocacy.

PRAJ views the Working Groups as being especially valuable for lawyers working in NGO offices on their own, especially in the provinces, where they do not have easy access to legal resources and regular advice from colleagues.

For more information about the Working Groups or for copies of documents distributed to the members of the Working Groups, contact the secretariat in the PRAJ office at llwg@ewmi-praj.org or wclwg@ewmi-praj.org