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International
Senior Lawyers Project
Serving the World Community
Black South Africans are actively responding to these new opportunities, yet there is a dearth of programs to help them become full and equal players in their chosen professions. Additionally, in the legal field many young black lawyers lack the historical advantages of connections to successful law firms or business enterprises that their white counterparts frequently enjoy. Thus, they must often establish new firms that do not have senior lawyers to train and mentor them. The
Black Lawyers Association (the "BLA") of South Africa
has identified a critical need for affordable commercial law training
The International Senior Lawyers Project ("ISLP"), a U.S.-based international pro bono organization, and the Senior Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association have responded to the BLA's request for assistance by working with it and a South African law firm to develop a curriculum and to identify highly experienced and qualified lawyers willing to offer their services on a pro bono basis to meet this need. Purpose of the Program The purpose of the program is to meet a critical need for affordable training and mentoring in commercial law subjects for young black South African lawyers. The long-term goal is to promote the successful participation of black South African professionals in the economic and professional life of their society, thereby promoting their development as leaders in the community and helping to address some of the issues of racial inequality and lack of opportunity that are the continuing legacy of colonialism and apartheid. Project Overview The sponsors have developed the program with the pro bono assistance of a local South African law firms. The course to be given in Johannesburg Cape Town and Durbin that will provide instruction to approximately 40 to 45 participants selected by the BLA. The various subjects will be taught by a team of American lawyers. They will be joined by four South African attorneys, each with experience in the practice of commercial law. The South African instructors come from highly regarded local firms. The program now in its fourth year has expanded from Johannesburg to a nation-wide basis. The program anticipates a continuing relationship between the students and the American volunteer instructors whereby the instructors will continue to advise and mentor the students after the training has ended via email. Botswana Program The Materials on This Web Site
Anticipated Outcomes It is anticipated that the participants in the program will be better prepared to represent their commercial clients, whether small or large businesses, and consequently more successful in their law practices. They will be exposed in the course of the instruction to both the broad perspective that experienced lawyers can offer and practical issues related to different commercial law subjects, including, for example, types of business organizations, drafting and negotiating contracts, tax consequences of various activities, international transaction issues, dispute resolution alternatives and procedures, and a number of other subjects. The American instructors are also expected to establish ongoing mentoring relationships with some or all of the students. They will be available to provide consultation and advice, on a pro bono basis, via the Internet and other means of telecommunication. Successful business lawyers are often leaders in many ways, including in government service, working with civic organizations and promoting access to justice through pro bono work and support for legal services programs. In the longer term, the success of black professionals, particularly lawyers, will be crucial to broadening the participation of black South Africans in the economic, political and civic life of the country. |
The
end of apartheid opened the way for black South Africans to fully
participate in South African's economic and professional life. 
programs
for young black lawyers and has reached out to both South African
and American lawyers to help them meet this need. 
The
Commercial Law Program has been expanded to Botswana this year,
for the first time. The same group of U.S. volunteers who teach
in South Africa have agreed to assist the Botswana Law Society to
supplement the Commercial Law education of the black lawyers of
that country. The program will be offered to approximately 40 predominately
young, black lawyers who could be the future leaders of the country.
The subject matter will be similar to that taught in South Africa
and experienced members of the Botswana Law Society will participate
as co-instructors. 
Materials
on this site have been furnished by numerous donors including large
and small law firms and the American Bar Association and its many
Divisions and Sections. They are not intended to be used without
revisions to each individual set of facts and the local law. Hopefully
they will serve as a guide to various areas of commercial law for
future reference.