Greetings my friends!
I'm just back from two weeks in Turkey and three days of coma-like jet lag after coordinating the Istanbul Legal Skills Conference along with Touro Law Prof. Tracy McGaugh. The conference, sponsored by the Legal Writing Institute and Bahcesehir University's Institute for Global Understanding of Law, was by all accounts an unmitigated success.
We heard from Turkish judges, lawyers and academics who spoke about changes being made to Turkey's legal system as a result of its efforts to join the EU, including the shift from a civil law to a common law system. Turkish law schools are responding to the change by exploring ways to integrate common law skills training into the curriculum.
Nearly 20 American law profs offered their insight on various US 
training models, 
and presented on such topics as the principles of IRAC, dealing with adverse precedent, and the use of narrative in pedagogy and law. Of the many highlights was a mock mediation session - a novel means of dispute resolution for most Turkish lawyers.
Research, writing and skills courses, though mandatory in US law schools, have not been part of the Turkish system. Until now. Upon the conclusion of the conference, Bahcesehir announced that it will soon implement its own legal writing program - the first of its kind in Turkey.
A special thanks goes out to Diane Edelman of Villanova and Steve Johansen of Louis & Clark for their organizing, scheduling and all around logistical help.
And to our friend and host Dr. Feridun Yenisey, whose gracious welcome confirmed all that's said about Turkish hospitality. Dr. Yenisey, who spearheaded the effort to re-draft Turkey's criminal procedure code just a few years back, arranged a visit to Istanbul's top terrorism court guided by its former chief judge and prosecutor. But I think it was the boat ride to his island home on Heybeliada, the homemade Turkish feasts and faculty dinners on the moon-lit Bosporus that got many of us looking for a Turkish real-estate agent.
If you know of any, let me know.
Meanwhile, mark your calendars for the 2010 US/Turkey legal conference now in the planning. This one will take place at a number of law schools across Turkey, and will include both a skills and doctrinal component. If you've ever dreamed of visiting the crossroad of civilization here's your chance! Details to follow . . . .
-Kathleen A. Bergin
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