The following article speaks for itself and needs no further elaboration. In a country where the measuring stick for professional competence has been more in form than in substance, the implementation of a BAR examination for young attorneys is truly a step forward worth applauding. While it would be naïve to claim victory for rule of law in Armenia, a competent pool of legal professionals is certainly a strong leap forward.

ABA Rule of Law Initiative – Armenia
www.abanet.org
09.06.2007

The Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia, with technical and financial support from the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, conducted its second annual bar examination on August 25, 2007. ABA ROLI support included the organizing of monitors for the exam and the underwriting for the computer program at the exam. It was Armenia’s first anonymously scored bar exam, with each applicant being identified using a bar code. The exam was administered to one hundred and ninety-five students who took either the criminal or the civil examination. Two candidates were disqualified during the exam. Of the remaining candidates, approximately fifty percent passed the exam with successful candidates equally divided between the two specializations. The exam lasted six hours and was computer-scored. The results were posted at the office of the Chamber of Advocates in Yerevan. To be fully licensed, each successful candidate must also complete an oral exam to be held in September.