Changing the law
successful reform

One-week study programme 20 to 24 October 2008

About the study programme

Reform of the law is vital across the world and is becoming ever more important. As societies become more complex, it is crucial that the law is as fair, modern, simple and cost-effective as possible, while retaining the best from the past. Increasingly it is essential for reform of the law to be principled, to be based on sound methods, and to take account of the views not only of experts, but also of civil society. In many countries law reform is undertaken by governments, but there are over 60 law reform commissions and other permanent independent law reform agencies providing expert and detailed advice to governments.

In 2005 the Law Ministers of the Commonwealth issued a communiqué encouraging better law reform, and the creation of law reform agencies, in more Commonwealth countries. Both within and outside the Commonwealth, there is a great variety of law reform bodies. Some serve countries with very large populations, such as India and Nigeria, while others are for countries and states with much smaller populations such as Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands. Some are countries with a long common law heritage, others have very different legal environments and traditions. While most law reform bodies are statutory, some are not. Many have been established fairly recently.

Law reform typically aims to improve protection for the vulnerable, sustain the rule of law and increase human rights. It has to be respected, reliable, rigorous and responsive. Independent law reform agencies have to capture the attention of governments, and thus law reformers need to be dynamic, imaginative, creative and forward-thinking. They can be catalysts of change, responsive both to the public they serve and to the latest issues and challenges in the world. Law reformers do not simply patch up the law.

The principal aims of the programme are to:

• Explore different organisational structures for law reform, and how to establish them
• Increase understanding of a variety of methods of achieving successful law reform
• Discover the full value to law reformers of wide consultation and outside expertise
• Consider legislative and other methods of reforming the law
• Enable participants to share their own experiences from different legal and political systems
• Contribute to the professional development of law reformers.

Who is it for?

This one-week programme is designed for all those involved in law reform, including:

• Those working for law reform commissions, committees and institutes
• Law reformers working within governments and
• Other major contributors such as parliamentarians, judges, academic lawyers and representatives from non-government organisations (NGOs).

Participants would most likely be working at middle to senior levels, and be equally from countries where law reform is a major priority, or from those where resources for law reform are much smaller.

What the programme will cover

• Why is law reform needed?
• What are the current trends and challenges in law reform across the world?

• Who can reform the law? (the role of government, the courts, parliament and independent law reform agencies)
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of independent law reform?
• Establishing an independent law reform agency
• Standards and values
• Successes and problems
• International co-operation in law reform

• Choosing projects
• Planning projects
• Legal, policy and empirical research
• External assistance and consultation
• Skills in publication and presentation
• Resources

• “After sales service”
• Implementation by legislation and by alternatives
• Review and evaluation

The programme will include presentations, case studies and discussions. It is designed flexibly, so that it can be adjusted to meet the specific requirements of participants and their organisations. Visiting speakers or visit hosts are likely to include a Law Commissioner, the Chief Executive of the Law Commission for England and Wales, a senior figure involved in establishing a new law reform agency, and law reform staff from the UK Government’s Ministry of Justice.

Programme outline

We reserve the right to change the programme as necessary.

Location and arrival arrangements

The study programme will be based in central London. On request, PAI can assist in finding suitable hotel accommodation and can arrange travel to and from the airport.

Language

The programme will be conducted in English.  Participants will be expected to have a good working knowledge of the language.

Public Administration International (PAI)

PAI specialises in management consultancy and development services for organisations in and associated with the public sector. We provide advice and support for governments undergoing political, economic, structural and legislative change. Our extensive network of associates includes practitioners, academics and independent consultants. This programme is one of a number of specialist UK-based study programmes designed to meet the needs of the public services worldwide.

About the Director of Studies

The Director of Studies for the programme is Michael Sayers, a barrister. For ten years, he was the Chief Executive of the Law Commission, the official law reform body for England and Wales. He previously worked on reforming the law in a variety of governmental posts. He co-founded the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies (www.calras.org), of which he is the first General Secretary, and co-represented CALRAS at the most recent Commonwealth Law Ministers’ meeting.

He has acted as a consultant in law reform for the World Bank, the British Council, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Canadian International Development Agency, has lectured on law reform in South Africa, Northern Ireland, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ghana, Chile, Bangladesh and Australia, and has written a number of published articles on law reform. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Fees and other costs

The fee for this two-week study programme will be £1,795. This includes tuition, travel to and from the airport (if required), travel on scheduled visits [1] , printed material and other documentation. UK Valued Added Tax (VAT) will not be charged if applicants can provide written confirmation from their government or its accredited representative that they are employed by their government in furtherance of its sovereign activities. In all other cases, VAT (currently 17.5%) will be charged in addition to the fee. Payment in full must be received by PAI no later than 20 October 2008. Cheques should be made payable to Public Administration International. Alternatively, PAI is able to invoice individuals or government agencies. Payment by bank transfer is also acceptable.

Airfares, accommodation costs (apart from one night outside London), daily travel (other than on visits scheduled in the programme), meals and living expenses are not included. We suggest that approximately £120 per person per day should be allowed for a modest standard of accommodation, local travel in the UK, meals and other incidental expenses.  Participants requiring a higher standard of accommodation will need to allow approximately £150 per person per day.

Insurance

Participants are advised to arrange travel and health insurance cover before leaving their home country.

How to apply

Clare Walters
Public Administration International
10 Bayley Street
London, WC1B 3HB
UK

T +44 (0)20 7580 3590
F +44 (0)20 7580 4746
pai@public-admin.co.uk

Applications should be made as soon as possible as the number of available places is limited.

How to contact us

For further information about this programme or our consultancy and development services, please contact:

Claire Cameron or Donald McGregor
Executive Directors
Public Administration International
10 Bayley Street
London, WC1B 3HB
UK

T +44 (0)20 7580 3590
F +44 (0)20 7580 4746
pai@public-admin.co.uk
www.public-admin.co.uk

We also have extensive experience of designing tailor-made programmes which can be run in-country or in the UK to meet the specific needs of groups or individuals.  Please contact us if you would like further information.