On July 14–16, 2016, the Stein Center was honored to host over 400 participants from nearly 60 different countries for three days of panel discussions about the ethics and regulation of the legal profession, including presentations on topics such as technology, legal education, access-to-justice, rule of law, globalization, the judiciary and prosecutorial ethics. The panels covered every imaginable topic, from ethics in human rights litigation to comparative judicial ethics in the digital age, from building defense bar capacity to ensure equality of arms to international ethics and transnational governance issues and from innovation and the practice of law to quality control of professional conduct.
With representatives from close to 60 countries in attendance at the International Legal Ethics Conference (ILEC) VII, the geographical diversity came close to matching the variety of issues discussed: Abu Dhabi • Argentina • Australia • The Bahamas • Belgium • Brazil • Cambodia • Cameroon • Canada • Chile • China • Colombia • Czech Republic • Dominican Republic • Ecuador • Egypt • Finland • France • Georgia • Germany • Hong Kong • Iceland • India • Iran • Ireland • Israel • Italy • Japan • Jordan • Kenya • Kosovo • Kyrgyz Republic • Lithuania • Macedonia • Mexico • Nepal • Netherlands • New Zealand • Nigeria • Norway • Pakistan • Palestine • Peru • Poland • Qatar • Russia • Singapore • Slovakia • South Africa • Spain • Sri Lanka • Sweden • Taiwan • Thailand • Turkey • UK • Ukraine • Uruguay • United States.
The quantity and diversity in topics and attendees, in addition to multiple opportunities for informal interchanges, resulted in extended and engaged dialogues over the course of the conference. Here are experts from some of the feedback received by the Stein Center:
All previous ILECs have been excellent, but this featured an exceptionally rich collection of people, ideas, and opportunities to connect.
I found almost all of the programs useful and fascinating. The participant perspectives were thoughtful and overall quite sophisticated. (Qatar, Pakistan, Lithuania—amazing voices in the audience.) I think two collaborations or projects will emerge for me from the hallway conversations. It was everything one could hope for from a conference.
I enjoyed attending it and participating in the panel discussion as one of the speakers from Pakistan. Thank you for having me as one of the speakers. It was wonderful to learn about the different views on and approaches to teaching legal ethics around the world.
I just wanted to thank you and your colleagues for organizing the conference, which was such a great opportunity for me to exchange ideas with others which will help our progress back home [in Jordan].
The conference is sponsored by the International Association of Legal Ethics and held every other year in a different part of the world. Stay tuned for more information on ILEC VIII, which will take place in Australia in 2018.
You can read more about ILEC VII here.
