The USAID Rule of Law Program is committed to providing ongoing support to the Legal Aid Service (LAS), including bringing in international experts and providing technical assistance as needed. Recently, on March 21, 2023, the first fellow from the International Legal Foundation (ILF), Kate Conyers, arrived in Georgia to begin working with the LAS.

Over the next three months, Ms. Conyers will be based in Kutaisi and work extensively with the Kutaisi Bureau of LAS, as well as other bureaus in the western part of Georgia. Her primary role will be to provide direct mentoring to LAS lawyers and share her extensive experience as a trial attorney.

Partnered with the ILF, the USAID Rule of Law Program has already brought Allan Dahl, ILF Program Director in Georgia, to the country. Since his arrival, he has been working with the LAS to improve its quality appraisal system and provide direct mentoring to LAS lawyers in the eastern part of the country.

On March 22, Kate Conyers and Allan Dahl met with LAS Director Davit Simonia before traveling to Kutaisi for Ms. Conyers' assignment. On March 27, Ms. Conyers visited Kutaisi and Zestaponi Bureaus to discuss expectations for the upcoming cooperation.

Ms. Conyers is a seasoned attorney who previously served as an ILF Fellow in Myanmar. She has extensive experience in criminal and civil cases, including representing clients in family legal matters, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes. She has also served as a small claims judge for six years and has received numerous awards for her professional work.