Islamabad, December 28, 2024 — The Legal Aid Society (LAS) and the Directorate of Legal Education (DLE) of the Pakistan Bar Council have formalized a partnership aimed at elevating the standards of legal education across the country. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today at the Pakistan Bar Council’s Committee Hall in the Supreme Court Building.
LAS, founded in 2013 by Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving marginalized and underprivileged communities by reducing challenges in accessing justice. Under CEO Barrister Haya Eman Zahid, LAS has launched initiatives like NAZ Assist, Pakistan’s first multilingual legal advisory chatbot.
The Directorate of Legal Education, an autonomous body housed at the Pakistan Bar Council, was established to implement the Supreme Court’s directives to improve the standard and quality of legal education in Pakistan. Led by its Director, Barrister Usama Malik, the DLE focuses on curriculum enhancement, teacher training, legal research, and regulating legal education institutions to ensure adherence to prescribed standards. ?
This collaboration will introduce initiatives such as curriculum enhancement, educator training, and research promotion to equip legal professionals to meet modern challenges.
Barrister Usama Malik highlighted the significance of this collaboration by saying, “The Directorate is dedicated to elevating legal education standards nationwide. Partnering with the Legal Aid Society enables us to implement comprehensive reforms that will benefit both educators and students.”
Barrister Haya Eman Zahid expressed her optimism, stating, “This MoU signifies a commitment to bridging gaps in our legal education system. By enhancing curricula and investing in teacher training, we aim to empower future legal professionals to serve justice effectively.”
Key stakeholders from the legal fraternity attended the signing ceremony, including Haroon Rashid, Member and former Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council; Barrister Ehtesham Aminduddin; Mr. Gulzar Ahmad, Secretary of the PBC; and Mr. Saqib Faraz, Deputy Director (DLE). Other members from academia and civil society also attended, expressing support for the initiatives outlined in the MoU. This partnership marks a pivotal step towards a more robust and equitable legal education framework in Pakistan.
