Women Lawyers Joining Hands

Women Lawyers Joining Hands is a new Canadian charitable organization.

WLJH leverages the knowledge and skills of lawyers in Canada and other developed common law jurisdictions on a pro bono basis to work with the Nepal Bar Association, lawyers andlaw firms in Nepal to develop, deliver, monitor and assess its curriculum and related activities.

Nepali women lawyers selected to participate in the program -WLJH Interns- will receive a three year placement in a registered Nepali law firm. The three year educational program commences with an intensive one month foundation course on practical legal skills, legal English and delivers monthly 1-2 day continuing legal education seminars on basic legal skills in specific practice areas.

The number of women actively engaged in the private practice of law in Nepal is extremely low, with the obvious implications for positions into which lawyers are appointed – judgeships, senior government positions- few to choose from and few appointed An increase in the number of women in these sectors requires women to receive the same opportunities currently enjoyed by male lawyers in their society. Such opportunities include obtaining placements with established law firms and receiving international legal knowledge, training and mentoring and English language instruction. WLJH will create these opportunities for WLJH Interns by:

• 1. Engaging law firms to provide WLJH Interns with three year positions as associates ;
• 2. Engaging common law lawyers in the developed world on a pro bono basis to develop and deliver legal practice modules and provide other legal training, briefings, instruction, mentoring and information to program participants;
• 3. Engaging Nepali lawyers to work in collaboration with their international colleagues to develop and deliver the materials and services referred to in #2 above; and,
• 4. Providing an interactive website with a pool of online international experts and materials to augment the in-person training and mentorship.
• 5. Providing financial support to the programme participants during the three year period