“Integrity Action” International Non-Governmental Organization and “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm LLC in cooperation with the Armenian Young Lawyers Association NGO organized an Educational-practical training (Internship) for the students. The following students were involved in the second and third (joint) group of the training project, which was conducted in March, April and May 2013:
1. Mariam Zadoyan (French University Foundation in Armenia, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
2. Marine Adamyan (Armenian State University of Economics, Financial Faculty, Post Graduate Student).
3. Gohar Vardanyan (Yerevan State University, Law Faculty, Post Graduate Student).
4. Mariam Antonyan (Russia-Armenian (Slavonic) University, Law Faculty, Post Graduate Student).
5. Narine Sargsyan (Armenian National Agrarian University, Agribusiness and Marketing Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
6. Hripsime Asatryan (French University Foundation in Armenia, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
7. Gayane Asatryan (French University Foundation in Armenia, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
8. Samvel Mkoyan (Yerevan State University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
9. Stella Yengibaryan (“Gladzor” University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
10. Hayk Hayrapetyan ((“Gladzor” University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
11. Lilit Hakobyan (European Regional Educational Academy, Law Faculty, Post Graduate Student).
12. Nune Soghomonyan – (Northern University, Law Faculty, Undergraduate Student).
These students were selected among the 100 students who had applied for the internship.
In the Course of the 32 hours training the students attended:
1. On 15.04.2013 the students met with Mr. Harutyun Aleksanyan, Programme Manager, Europe & Central Asia Integrity Education “Integrity Action”; Mr. Karen Zadoyan, Advocate, Managing Partner of “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm LLC; and Mr. Marat Atovmyan, Coordinator of the Internship (Educational-Practical Training).
During the meeting Mr. Zadoyan introduced the goals of the internship (Educational-Practical Training), the history of “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm, its values, principles and directions of its activities and attached special importance to the role and importance of the professional ethics.
Mr. Aleksanyan introduced detailed information on the history of the “Integrity Action” International Non-Governmental Organization, its mission, values, all activity directions and referred to the aim of the Internship (Educational-Practical Training) as well.
Mr. Atovmyan introduced to the students’ attention the curricula of the internship and the methodology of implementation:
The official ceremony of completion of the first group and the opening of the joint group of the internship was held on this day as well. The ceremony of handing Certificates to the student participants of the first group of Internship program took place. The students of the first group were very much impressed with their on-line Skype conference and conversation with Ms Ellen Goldberg, which had taken place prior to this event.
2. On 16.04.2013, the students attended the lecture on good governance, integrity, the essence of corruption, its types, and reasons for its occurrence, detrimental effect, means and successful models for struggle against this occurrence. Expert Marat Atovmyan conducted the lecture.
3. On 17.04.2013, attended the lecture on Human Resource Management. The lecture was organized in the office of the Law Firm. During the lecture the students asked a lot of questions to the lecturer Mr. Karen Kocharyan, Legal Advisor of “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm.
4. On 18.04.2013, the students visited the National Assembly of the RA where they met with Mr. Vrezh Gasparyan, Chief Advisor to the Speaker of the RA NA, and Ms Kristine Grigoryan, Legal Counsel to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia. During about 2.5 hours’ meeting Mr. Gasparyan and Ms Grigoryan introduced to the attention of the students the order of formation of the NA and its activities. They spoke about the issues of organization of good governance, the mechanisms of exception to work in the NA, and the activities of the Ethics Committee of the Assembly. Mr. Gasparyan urged the students to study well, as it was the main guarantee for the professionalism. He noted the importance to keep the rules of ethics and to be honest as well. They organized a tour for the students in the building of National Assembly and in its park, as well as provided opportunity to the students to visit the session hall of the Parliament. This was a really great occasion for the students, because this was an exception for the students – participants of our internship program. The students visited the library of the NA as well and had a conversation with the librarian.
5. On 19.04.2013, the students attended a lecture in the office of “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm. The lecture touched the themes of the history of establishment of the international organizations, their types, and functions. The theme of integrity and its importance in the activities of the international organizations was noted as well. Expert Marat Atovmyan conducted the lecture.
6. On 22.04.2013, the students visited the U.S. Alumni Association of Armenia, where they met with the USAAA representative Mr. Alexander Shagafyan. He introduced to the students’ attention the history of the establishment of the NGO, its mission, values, activity directions, procedure for membership and the current project.
7. On 23.04.2013, the participants visited one of the Notary Public Offices in Yerevan and learnt the functions of the notary public. The Notary Public answered to the question of the students, and provided legal consultancy. In addition, upon the consent of a client, the students were present at the notary transaction.
8. On 26.04.2013, the students met with Miss Syuzanna Soghomonyan, AYLA Board Member, and the journalists of Iravaban.net legal portal Mr. Zaskar Iskandaryan and Miss Nune Hovsepyan. The meeting took place in the AYLA Central Office. Miss Soghomonyan introduced to the students’ attention information on overall activities of the AYLA and especially spoke about the Ethics Committee that functions in the Association. Representatives of Iravaban.net introduced the legal portal.
9. On 02.05.2013, attended the lecture on Labor Relations. The lecture was organized in the office of the Law Firm. During the lecture the students asked a lot of questions to the lecturer Mr. Karen Kocharyan, Legal Advisor of “LEGAL ALLIANCE” Law Firm:
10. On 06.05.2013 the students carried out practical work, dealt with situational examples on integrity. Each student was provided 3 situational practical exercises on integrity and certain time to get ready. Further they answered to the practical questions provided at the end of each exercise. Then they participated in the discussion of the questions. Mr. Marat Atovmyan organized and carried out the work.
11. On 07.05.2013, the students visited “Elite Plaza” Business Center where they met with Mr. Tigran Kocharyan, the Manager of the Center. The Manager organized a tour in the Business Center and spoke about the peculiarities of contacts with the clients, as well as about the business ethics. The Business Center was recently opened in Yerevan and currently it is the only “A” class business center in the region.
12. On 08.05.2013 the students visited OSCE Yerevan Office where they met with Ms. Gopher Avagyan, the Head of Public Relations Department. The latter familiarized the students with the activities of OSCE in general and about the activities of OSCE Yerevan office as well and provided thematic literature.
13. On 16.05.2013, the group visited the Prosecutor General’s Office of the RA and met with Mr. A.Yesayan, Head of the Prosecutor General’s Office Staff, with Mr. Sh. Tonoyan, Head of the Public Relations Department of Prosecutor General’s Office of the RA, and Mr. Mnatsakan Sargsyan, Deputy Prosecutor General of the RA. Mr. Sargsyan introduced to the attention of the students the functions of the Prosecutor’ Office, their viewpoints on the adverse nature of corruption, as well as noted the importance of mutual cooperation between the public and the prosecutor’s office. Marat Atovmyan, Legal Expert participated in this meeting as well.
All meetings and lectures were carried out in interactive methods and the students were free to express their opinions and ask questions of their concern to the lecturers.
After the internship all 12 participants were provided opportunity to have individual practice in companies and organizations, where they were directly involved in the work, perform the tasks in practice and master all elements constituting part of the information on the integrity and experience.
All students received certificates of participation at the end of practice.
On the assumption of the fact that the interest for participation in the internship among the students is really great, the internship will be continued during the summer months for 15 students.