On May 25-26, the USAID Rule of Law Program (the Program) arranged for Professor Jason Desanto of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, USA, to conduct an in-depth training of trainers (ToT) for 7 GBA members on Effective Persuasion, Presentation and Public Communication.

The two-day training was a step along the path to creating a team of proficient trainers within the GBA who will teach critical communication skills to lawyers.

This Program initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance the professional conduct of lawyers in public communication, to help bring them in compliance with the rules of collegiality, give due respect to the court, and effectively communicate with parties involved in proceedings, the media, as well as properly use social media platforms.

Professor Desanto first conducted preparatory online meetings with GBA representatives to tailor the training content to the specific needs of the Georgian context.  Then, he conducted the ToT for the seven trainers in Tbilisi.

While still in Georgia, on May 28, Professor Desanto delivered a “masterclass” to 40 GBA lawyers at the GBA headquarters, which focused on effective and ethical public communication. The masterclass also reinforced the importance of ethical standards in public communication and provided practical guidance on how to uphold these standards.