Building skills in the Rwanda law and justice sector
As the world’s eyes turn to Rwanda once again 21 years after liberation, Rwandans are proud of the significant progress that has been achieved in the justice sector especially home grown solutions in the administration of justice. Credit goes to the efforts put in developing legal skills among legal professionals and practitioners.
The Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD), with a mission of contributing to the development of justice in Rwanda and the region by offering practical legal training to professionals, specifically by offering postgraduate programs to legal practitioners to raise their standards of practice to meet international levels.
“We have a vision to become the leading practice institution for legal professionals in the spirit of excellence, independence and service to the community, drawing from the diversity and richness of civil and common law traditions,” says Aimable Havugiyaremye, Ag. Rector of the institute.
The institute is a hub for know-how to transfer in legal practice. It is located in Nyanza, and aims at being authentically African and an international institute for legal practice and development. “As an overall objective, ILPD provides practical skills to human resource playing a role in the justice sector,” says Aimable Havugiyaremye.
ILPD runs two major postgraduate Diplomas: Legal Practice (DLP) for judges, prosecutors and lawyers, and Legislative Drafting (DLD) for government lawyers and other legislative draftspersons. Over 600 professionals have graduated from the institute since its inception.
ILPD also runs a wide range of continuing legal education courses (short courses) to ensure that all legal professionals are kept up-to-date and have opportunities to refresh and develop their skills. ILPD courses are approved by the Higher Education Council of Rwanda.
ILPD courses run in Nyanza, Kigali and other parts of the country. Lectures are also given by ILPD’s external faculty of trainers who are experienced legal professionals, and by international trainers.
ILPD is now a research centre of the justice sector, conducting funded research projects on a range of issues relating to justice policy, legal practice and law development.
Today, 8 years on, ILPD is a major player in the Justice Sectors of the Region; now attracting world-wide attention with its innovative approaches to training and reputation for effective and high quality courses, where East African students and beyond are attending its courses. ILPD receives students and trainees from Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroun, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Institute will grow from Strength to strength. The Infrastructure will be expanded, renovated and the mission and vision expanded. ILPD will become the place to go for lawyers in Rwanda and beyond.
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