NYANZA - The newly opened Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD) is set to unveil a professional post-graduate program for legal practitioners.

The course which will be the first of its kind in Rwanda, will start with a total of 36 legal professionals. The number is expected to rise to 150 per year within the next three years.

The course is for one academic year and the training program consists of nine modules of two weeks each on various topics, an internship and a research paper.

The modules cover a variety of topics such as legal drafting, interviewing, negotiating, pleading and judging. This course that is seen as an important step forward in raising the quality of justice and law practiced in Rwanda has been developed by teams of Rwandan and international experts.

The training course will be conducted at the ILPD campus in Nyanza, in the buildings of the former National Centre for Judicial Training and Development (CNFDJ).

In preparation for the smooth running of this program, a new building is under construction and it is expected to be completed by May 2009.

The new course will be officially launched by the Minister of Justice Tharcise Karugarama on July 21.  

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