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Public law in changing times
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| One-week study programme |
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About the programme
Lawyers have a key role in all government systems – at national, supra-national and sub-national levels. In particular, they make an important contribution to the formulation of policy, they draft primary and secondary legislation, they engage in litigation in national and international courts, and they undertake prosecutions and provide legal advice to government departments. Lawyers are also involved in the provision of public services and regulatory functions.
In common with many other countries, the United Kingdom has been experiencing major changes in the organisation and culture of its public services. Government lawyers themselves have been affected by management changes; many of them now work in executive agencies, while some government legal services have been contracted out to the private sector.
All this has taken place against a background of increasing globalisation of commerce and trade and, therefore, government activity. In addition for the UK, membership of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights has had huge legal and constitutional implications, and government has been increasingly exposed to challenges in the domestic courts through the growth of judicial review.
This one-week study programme has been developed for lawyers whose administrations share a common legal inheritance and for whom UK innovations have great interest. Emphasis will be given to the extent and impact of the changes that are taking place in public legal services, the problems encountered, and the processes employed in managing modernisation processes. There will be plenty of opportunity for comparative discussion.
Who is it for?
The programme is designed primarily for government lawyers and senior public administrators with responsibility for provision of government legal services. Participants will already be working at middle to senior level.
How participants will benefit
The study programme will
What the programme will cover
The programme will comprise briefings, plenary sessions and appropriate visits to key practitioners. It is designed flexibly so that it can be adjusted to meet the specific requirements of participants and their organisations. A key element for sharing experience and best practice will be sessions where individual participants will be invited to give informal presentations on an issue of particular interest or significance from their own country. Certificates of attendance will be presented at the end of the programme.
The core programme
The core of the programme will concentrate on the organisation of government legal services, with an emphasis on managing and responding to change throughout. It will include:
Contemporary challenges
In addition, there will be the opportunity for participants to debate and learn from guest speakers and each other about some contemporary issues and challenges facing government lawyers. Both UK and international experience will be drawn upon for maximum benefit.
Topics for inclusion in this part of the programme might include:
Visiting speakers or visit hosts are likely to include senior lawyers from the Ministry of Justice and the Law Commission.
Programme outline
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AM |
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| Day 1 |
Welcome and introductions Roles and functions of lawyers in modern government |
Bringing about change in the law |
| Day 2 |
Participants' informal presentations: key issues The Government Legal Service: its work and its people |
Visit to King's College London Aspects of constitutional reform including the Human Rights Act and modernisation of Parliament |
| Day 3 |
Strategies to reduce backlogs Managing pre-trial delays Sentencing policy and options |
Visit to the Law Commission The work of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Law Commission and the impact of change |
| Day 4 |
Change management Performance management targets and indicators |
The role of the Ministry of Justice |
| Day 5 |
Visit to Royal Court
of Justice: Visit to HM Inspectorate of Prisons: |
The way forward Review of programme Presentation of certificates of attendance |
We reserve the right to change the programme as necessary.
Language
The programme will be conducted in English. Participants will be expected to have a good working knowledge of the language.
Location and arrival arrangements
The study programme will be based in central London. Visits to appropriate Government departments and other organisations in London will be included. On request, PAI can assist with finding suitable hotel accommodation and can arrange travel to and from the airport.
Fees and other costs
The fee for the two-week study programme will be £1,815. This includes tuition, travel to and from the airport in London, travel on scheduled visits and documentation. UK Value 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 the Government in furtherance of its sovereign activities. In all other cases, VAT (currently 20%) will be charged in addition to the fee. Payment in full must be received by PAI no later than 19 March 2012. 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, 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 (for example a 4 star hotel) will need to allow approximately £175 per person per day.Discount
We offer a 10% discount on the tuition fee if a funding organisation sponsors more than three participants in any one calendar year. Please ensure that when you book your fourth participant (in any one calendar year) you let us know so that we can apply the discount.
Insurance
Participants are advised to arrange travel and health insurance cover before leaving their home country.
Public Administration International (PAI)
PAI specialises in management consultancy and development services for organisations in and associated with the public sector worldwide. 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. The promotion of good governance and best practice are our key objectives. This programme is one of a number of specialist UK-based study programmes designed to meet the needs of public services worldwide.
We also have extensive experience of designing tailor-made programmes (from one day to two or three weeks) which can be run in your own country or in the UK to meet the specific needs of groups or individuals at all levels within your organisation. Please contact us if you would like further information.
Programme Director
The Programme Director will be Roger Rose, a barrister and formerly Director of the Commonwealth Legal Advisory Service; currently an independent consultant in law and legislative drafting.
Other key contributors to the programme will include:
Funding/sponsorship
Several international funding bodies may consider applications for support. Limited sponsorship may also be available for Commonwealth nationals from the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC).
For consideration for CFTC support, applicants need to be nominated through the Governance and Institutional Development Division Points of Contact (POC) in their own country and must complete the GID/1 nomination form, available from the POC. Applications from suitably-qualified women are particularly welcome. Completed nomination forms should be sent to:
Director
Governance and Institutional Development Division
Commonwealth Secretariat
Marlborough House
Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX
T + 44 (0)20 7747 6349
F + 44 (0)20 7747 6335
How to apply
Please follow the link to complete an online application form, alternatively you can download the brochure for this study programme and complete the attached application form. Please post or fax it to:
Clare Walters
Programme Manager
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
How to contact us
If you would like to discuss the programme or to find out more about Public Administration International and our services, please contact:
Claire Cameron
Director
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
Public Administration
International Ltd
10 Bayley Street London WC1B 3HB
Registered in Cardiff Number 2687571
Vat number 668 071 711
© 2009 Public Administration International
