Ms Ketevan Jeladze and Ms Maia Meskhi, founders of the School of American Law (SAL program), who are on a visit to Azerbaijan, had a meeting with the Azerbaijani Bar Association on March 30.

Welcoming the guests, the Chairman of the ABA, Mr Anar Baghirov, provided detailed information about the activities of the organisation headed by him and noted that in recent years, a lot of beneficial cooperation had been achieved by signing the memorandums of understanding with almost all the universities that have law schools/faculties, as well as with international organisations, and stressed that increasing the professional training of lawyers is one of the essential elements for the ABA.

Expressing their gratitude for the cordial meeting, the guests defined their pleasure in visiting our country and spoke about the advantages of cooperation with the Azerbaijani Bar Association.

The SAL program lasts two semesters in Georgia for the first year. After completing the two-semester program, graduates can continue their Master of Laws (LLMs) studies at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Across the United States, the Chicago-Kent College of Law rates 7th in Trial Advocacy, 12th in Intellectual Property law and 39th in Legal Writing.

Consequently, the Azerbaijani Bar Association and the School of American Law signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

According to the MoU, the members of the ABA receive the following benefits:

1. Preference to the ABA members during admission;
2. Additional 10% discount for SAL program training to the ABA members (instead of USD 6 950 fixed tuition for SAL USD 6 255);
3. Free Online Legal English course by an American teacher;
4. Special training and master classes for members of the Azerbaijani Bar Association by American professors.

Afterwards, at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, the benefits offered are as follows:

1. SAL graduates can complete their Master's degree and earn their LLM Diploma in one semester instead of one academic year and pay a fixed USD 10 000 instead of USD 43 800;
2. SAL graduates with a GPA above 3.8 receive a full 100% tuition scholarship;
3. SAL graduates are exempted from IELTS/TOEFL exams;
4. LL.M semester can be continued in any semester immediately after SAL or within three academic years after completing SAL; 
5. Hands-on experience through the innovative clinics at Chicago-Kent’s in-house Law Group;
6. Externships within the Chicago legal community, top private law firms, corporations, and a wide variety of advocacy organisations;
7. Students spending two semesters at Chicago-Kent have access to the OPT in the USA (12-month post-study work permit);
8. After two semesters at Chicago-Kent, graduates can take the bar exam in the USA.

Additional information:

1. The SAL program is organised for 2 semesters and provides 10 credits for a Master's degree at the Chicago-Kent College of Law;

2. After completing the 2-semester program, during 3 years, graduates can apply to the Chicago-Kent College of Law and continue their Master of Law (LLM) degree there;

3. Classes of the SAL program can be taught online or in person, in auditoriums in Baku / Tbilisi; once a month, classes are planned to be held on weekends;

4. TOEFL / IELTS is not required;

5. The tuition fee for the ABA members is USD 6 255 (with the possibility of payment in instalments).

Selection criteria for applicants:

1. Bachelor's degree in law;

2. Good written and oral communication skills in English (TOEFL / IELTS is not required);

3. Successful participation in the interview.

Required documents:

1. Curriculum vitae - CV in English (with the name and contact details of the referee);

2. Copies of the diploma and amendment to the diploma translated into English and notarised;

3. Copy of passport or identity card;

4. Copy of the lawyer's membership card.

Note that the deadline for applying for the SAL program for the February – December 2024 semester is set for December 23, 2023.

For those wishing to apply for the SAL program, the required documents in electronic (scanned) format should be redirected to saladmissions@kentlaw.iit.edu and admission@chicagokentlaw.ge e-mail addresses or registered via the online application link.

In addition, you are asked to inform the ABA about the application by sending a letter to our email address (office@barassociation.az). Upon receipt of the letter from the applicants, the ABA will officially forward the relevant information to the founders of the SAL program, and the tuition fee benefits will be applied to the applicants.

Additional information will be provided on Legal English courses, special training and master classes for candidates.