Zambian Law Association chief chooses Society as role model

An executive of the Law Association of Zambia has chosen the Law Society of Scotland as the place to spend a three-week executive internship awarded under a bursary scheme.

Executive director Edward Sakala is in Scotland to learn how to build capacity in his home country, as the recipient of the inaugural LexisNexis/Institute of Law Association Chief Executives CEO Bursary in support of the rule of law.

The bursary provides the opportunity to spend time with a law society in a developed jurisdiction. Having considered several available options, Mr Sakala chose to spend time with the Society, believing it was the organisation he would gain the most from working with.

Among other topics he hopes to learn how the Society delivers online services, how it leads CPD for its current members and education and training for future lawyers, how it supports wellbeing in the profession, and about its work on access to justice and legal aid as well as its approach to cybercrime.

After arriving in Edinburgh Mr Sakala commented: "The bursary award is an excellent opportunity to learn how a larger and more developed law society operates and how we can drive improvement in Zambia. I chose the Law Society of Scotland because they seem to have succeeded in all the ways I want to do in my own jurisdiction."

Lorna Jack, chief executive of the Society responded: "I’m delighted to welcome Edward to Scotland. It was great news that of all the jurisdictions available, one of my international colleagues has chosen to spend his time learning from us in Scotland.

"Scotland is a world-leading legal jurisdiction and we aim to be the truly innovative world-class professional body it deserves. We work extensively with our colleagues across the world to share examples of best practice and develop solutions to common challenges. The fact that Edward has chosen to visit to learn from Scotland shows how our jurisdiction, our profession and us as their professional body are held in such high regard by our peers around the world."