Ural Summer School of Human Rights, Ekaterinburg
Strategic litigation: Experience of lawyers from US, Europe, Russia
16 - 20 September 2014

Sutyajnik is a non-governmental human rights organization founded in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 1994 to help citizens and organizations realize rights guaranteed in the Russian Constitution and international treaties by litigating public interest cases, educating in human rights, and informing the public about the mechanisms for human rights protection. One of Sutyajnik’s principal goals is to defend human rights by working to bring domestic legislation and practice into conformity with international and constitutional standards. Sutyajnik is organizing weeklong training on building and managing strategic litigation campaigns.

The interactive training will be held for 25 lawyers in large and small groups on the following topics:
• Introduction to strategic litigation as a means to achieve public interest objectives and legal reform (how to initiate lawsuits, build a defense);
• Elements and methods common to strategic litigation proceedings, and how it differentiates from ordinary judicial disputes;
• Planning and development of effective strategies for conducting cases; pros and cons of strategic litigation proceedings;
• Strategic approaches to the construction and advancement of lawsuits, objections, arguments and petitions;
• Integration and coordination of strategic litigation with other forms of advocacy and advancement of public interest law;
• Master-classes where organizers, teachers and participants will demonstrate their work experience in specific cases, as well as develop practical strategic defense skills by working on hypothetical cases in small groups;
• A senior attorney from the European Court of Human Rights will present European standards for a fair trial; share a vision from Strasbourg on how to successfully bring a case to ECHR; demonstrate how to attract attention to the structural problem of ECHR (using 'pilot' ECHR rulings); and also hold informal meetings in small groups for those wishing to learn more about how to deal with the ECHR.

Throughout the school round tables will be held with representatives from government, law, and public organizations.

The School’s trainers are prominent lawyers from Russia, the US, and Europe, with experience in conducting strategic litigation.

Who should attend?
• Staff attorneys of non-governmental organizations and ombudsman office, professors of law clinics;
• Lawyers with considerable experience in litigation in order to achieve changes in law and practice;
• Teaching experience (university, NGO seminars) is welcomed and will be an advantage in the competitive selection.

English proficiency is welcomed and will be an advantage in the competitive selection.

The full training programme, a profile of the lecturers and the conditions for participation can be found on the Sutyajnik website.

How to apply?
Applications should emailed in Word format to urals.human.rights.school@gmail.com.
The application form is available here. Selected participants will be sent a personal invitation. Applications are still being taken into consideration, notwithstanding the passing of the original deadline!