The joint project of the Kazakhstan Bar Association and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which centered on the development of the “Judicial Room” service ended with the awards ceremony. For six months, students of university in Almaty (Almaty Management University), under the supervision of the advisers of the project (members of the KazBar) gave advice to people on how to communicate with judicial authorities in electronic format.
The pilot project was implemented in the nine district courts of Almaty and encountered certain challenges, but the joint efforts of young professionals and experienced colleagues helped make the project quite a success. As a result, students took part and assisted in achieving the important goal for the country – increase of government online services.. Students said that they got the chance to consult not only ordinary citizens but also lawyers and judges and described their experience as unique.
Also, an equally unique opportunity presented itself during the final event, students lead by Mrs. Zhanetta Kalisheva, AlmaU’s associate professor and law faculty dean, got personally acquainted with the Members of the Managing Council of the KazBar. Zhumageldy Sakenovich Yelyubayev shared his memories of as a student and presented his new work, “Problems of Legal Regulation of Subsoil Use,” to the participants of the project. Janat Alimanov, an associate professor at the KIMEP School of Law, advised the participants to give profound consideration to the pro bono principle. Aigul Kenjebayeva,The managing partner of the law firm DENTONS and the chairman of the Governing Council of the KazBar, commended the commitment and active civic attitude of the students present and called on all young lawyers to join the Republican Association and to build their own reputation.
Letters of gratitude, books, and gift certificates were awarded by Sofiya Zhylkaidarova, the managing partner of the SIGNUM Law Firm, to the participants of the project.
Letters of gratitude and gifts were presented to third- and fourth-year students of Almaty Management University: Bolat Bolatbekov, Tahir Khusainov, Akmaral Shorabekova, Guzaliya Khaziyeva, Aisholpan Kabyken, Alima Tokusheva, Jantore Tashkaraev, Aigerim Mamayeva, Alisher Sambet, Almas Sarsekeev, Anna Peredereeva, Janiya Zhakenova, Arna Abdrasheva, Adil Adenov, Malika Amraeva, Julia Shevskaya, Temirlan Kalybekov, Bayan Ahmadieva ,Elzhan Kabyshev as well as to their coaches – practicing lawyers.
The greatest achievements the students got are the new skills they gained and the new credential they could add to their CV for participating in this project, which bears state significance. All the members of the Governing Council of the KazBar stressed that this whole experience would be an advantage to the students when they apply for a job in the future. Interaction with the students, nonetheless, continues even until now. Many experienced lawyers have expressed their desire to accept the most active and talented students as interns in their law firms.
KazBar will also continue its cooperation with universities. In the near future, counselling responsibilities on the “Judicial Room” service will be borne by the KIMEP Legal Clinic. To date, nearly five hundred thousand applications to the courts of Kazakhstan have been filed electronically, and the service has been improved and simplified in accordance to the wishes of its users.