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Proyecto
ACCESO is promoting the
rule of law throughout the Americas.
The ACCESO team works with all the sectors in the administration
of justice. We are judges, prosecutors, public defenders,
legal educators, and journalists. We are building new
systems for conflict resolution that are fair, efficient
and transparent.
By training legal innovators, together we are srengthening
the rule of law in our Hemisphere.
For more information contact us
[email protected]
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California Western Law Students Study
Judicial Reform and Free Trade between Chile and the United
States
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California
Western law students Alan Macina and Elizabeth Pietanza spent January
to April 2004 interning in Chile and working to promote the rule
of law in the country.
On March 5 and 6, 2004, they met in Santiago with ACCESO director
James Cooper to attend
a seminar called "Topics in Comparative Legal Reform".
Attempting to find the connection between penal procedure reform and
other legal reforms and the establishment of free trade agreements,
the students visited top Chilean law firms and met with members of
the Poder Judicial and the Public Prosecutors’ Office.
For Al, "it was a great class, resolving some of my academic
inquiries." Jamie was enthusiastic about the experience as well.
"I learned a ton too," explained the Canadian Barrister,
"We covered everything from corporate governance issues, to civil
rights protection, to environmental standards.
We live in an era of harmonization and there is a real race going
on as to whose rules are going to be followed." The seminar lasted
14 hours over two days, making it quite a marathon. "I am exhausted,"
admitted Cooper.
The seminar put into context the two very different experiences Al
and Elizabeth are enjoying during their four months in Chile. Al has
been working with ACCESO legal representative and trainer Claudio
Pavlic, a former National Public Defender, now practicing in Temuco
in the Ninth Region of Chile. Researching and investigating cases
to defend people accused of passing false currency, terrorism and
murder, Al is learning all about the law from those on the front line.
The Public Defenders Office was created as part of the Criminal Procedure
Reform process in the late 1990s and began its work in December 2000.
Elizabeth is interning with the international tax practice of Deloitte,
formerly Deloitte Touche, one of the major accounting, auditing and
consulting firms in the world.
This is not the first experience for the pair working, living and
learning in another country. The two law students met while volunteers
in the U.S. Peace Corps in the late 1990s. Working in Mali, Africa,
they learned first-hand about the importance of the rule of law as
a fundamental principle for sustainable development. Upon their return
to the United States, they started law school at California
Western School of Law in San Diego, Elizabeth’s home town,
and got married.
In 2003, Al started working with Proyecto ACCESO, undertaking research
and coordinating ACCESO Capacitacion
programs in Quito, Ecuador and Santiago de Chile.
To
read the weekly diary postings from Al and Elizabeth, please click
onto the website at California Western School of Law.
Starting in September 2004, Elizabeth will be clerking at the U.S.District
Court of Southern California with the Hon. James Stiven, a member
of the Board of Trustees of California Western School of Law and a
future speaker for ACCESO in Chile in 2005.
Watch this website to learn more about Judge Stiven’s visit
to Chile. Al will follow his interest in defense work. "First
we have to write the Bar Examination," he explains.
As for the seminar on "Topics in Comparative Legal Reform, both
Al and Elizabeth enjoyed their time. "I really enjoyed the class
this weekend," said Elizabeth, "Thanks again for all the
organization, insight and fantastic food. We really appreciate all
your efforts on our
learning experience here."
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