The USAID Rule of Law Program, through its Batumi Rule of Law Hub, continues to support thematic talks titled "Career in the Legal Profession."

This time, the Program, Legal Aid Service (LAS), and Shota Rustaveli Batumi State University hosted an event that gathered over 90 students from the University's law faculty, as well as students from various public and private schools in Batumi, accompanied by their civic education teachers.

During the event, students had the opportunity to meet and engage in discussions with prominent figures in the legal field, including Batumi City Court Judge Khatuna Bolkvadze, LAS Director David Simonia, Head of LAS Batumi Bureau Iamze Zandaradze, and USAID Rule of Law Program Chief of Party Giorgi Chkheidze.

The event commenced with a welcome from Rusudan Tabatadze, the Rule of Law Project Management Specialist at the Democracy, Rights and Governance Office of USAID/Caucasus. She emphasized the key role that the young generation plays in building a rule of law state, ultimately contributing to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.

The participants heard about the legal profession and the significant roles played by judges and lawyers in constructing a just society. The information shared with the students will help empower them to make well-informed career choices based on their interests and capabilities. Notably, student-paralegals from the Rule of Law Program’s "Make Justice Accessible to All - Paralegal Initiative," Nino Gugesashvili and Ia Gorgadze, actively participated, sharing insights into the activities and benefits of the Paralegal project.

Following the presentations by the speakers, students engaged in a lively question-and-answer session. They expressed keen interest in various topics, such as the essential skills for a successful career in law, the transition from being a lawyer to becoming a judge, the fundamental principles of lawyers' roles, and ethical considerations within the legal profession.

The "Career in the Legal Profession" events are designed to facilitate informative meetings between local judiciary representatives and youth, providing education on relevant topics and fostering open dialogue for meaningful discussions. This is the twelfth Career Talk supported by the Rule of Law Program, 11 in the Adjara region and one in Kutaisi.