Belgrade – On March 27, 2015, Bar Association leaders and Justice-sector Civil Society representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia came together for a two-day regional leadership conference. Participants discussed ways to enhance Bar Association services and strengthen the role of local Bar Association Chambers in advancing the rule of law – including potential project ideas for the Bar Associations in the region.

On March 28, Bar Association representatives signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together and support each other in strengthening Bar Association capacity and the independence of the legal profession.  Also on March 28, key note speeches by William Hubbard, the President of the American Bar Association, and Maria Ślązak, the President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, addressed how local Bar Association Chambers help establish the rule of law and how regional networks like BRRLN can support the rule of law in the Balkans. 

The conference was organized by the Balkans Regional Rule of Law Network (BRRLN) Program, which promotes the rule of law by building mechanisms to allow Bar Associations as well as Justice-sector Civil Society organizations from member countries to collaborate and share knowledge and best practices. The Program is implemented by the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).