Graduates of ABA-approved law schools taking the examination for the first time passed at the rate of 73.3%, while foreign-educated first-time candidates had a passing rate of 37.1%. The Board examined 3,560 candidates in February, a record 44.1% of whom were foreign educated.
The passing rate for all candidates, including U.S. domestic-educated and foreign educated candidates, both first-time and repeat takers, was 41.7%.

For California Stats for February 2009 Exams, click here.

The Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution (JLCR) is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal published monthly by Academic Journals (http://www.academicjournals.org/JLCR). JLCR is dedicated to increasing the depth of the subject across disciplines with the ultimate aim of expanding knowledge of the subject.

Call for Papers

JLCR will cover all areas of the subject. The journal welcomes the submission of manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence, and will publish:

• Original articles in basic and applied research
• Case studies
• Critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries and essays

We invite you to submit your manuscript(s) to jlcr@acadjourn.org for publication in the monthly issue. Our objective is to inform authors of the decision on their manuscript(s) within four weeks of submission. Following acceptance, a paper will normally be published in the next issue. Instruction for authors and other details are available on our website; http://www.academicjournals.org/JLCR/Instruction.htm

JLCR is an Open Access Journal

One key request of researchers across the world is unrestricted access to research publications. Open access gives a worldwide audience larger than that of any subscription-based journal and thus increases the visibility and impact of published works. It also enhances indexing, retrieval power and eliminates the need for permissions to reproduce and distribute content. JLCR is fully committed to the Open Access Initiative and will provide free access to all articles as soon as they are published.

Best regards,

Imonivwerha Ochuko,

Editorial Assistant

For

Dr.Ovunda Vincent Christopher Okene,

Editor,

Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution

E-mail: submit.jlcr@gmail.com , manuscripts.jlcr, submits.jlcr@gmail.com,

www.academicjournals.org/JLCR

ISSN 2006-9804

(Shared for public interest based on an email received from the journal. Jurists are highly encouraged to participate.)

ANLUS heartily welcomes the following law practitioners and law students who have expressed their interest in becoming member:

Mr. Shamvu Kumar Karki, Boulder, CO (720)341-8019 (shamvuji@gmail.com). Mr. Karki completed LL.M in Human Rights and Gender Justice from Kathmandu School of Law (2007) with dissertation on Application of International Humanitarian Law in Nepalese Armed Conflict (Special Reference with Arbitrary Arrest and Detention, Disappearance and Killings). He has a Bachelor of Law (B.L.) from Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara, Tribhuvan University (2002) and an Intermediate of Law (1998).  He has also attended seminars such as International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law,; Socio-economic Rights and Good Governance; 3rd South Asian Solidarity for Rivers Peoples Forum, and Fair trial & development skills of using international human rights law in domestic situation.He worked for Advocacy Forum, Water and Energy Users’ Federation Nepal (WAFED) and Education Sector Advisory Team (ESAT). He is interested in working in the field based work and give direct benefit those people who are living in grassroots level, Human rights, Child rights field and advocacy and challenging opportunity to combine with multidisciplinary skills of right based works, human rights.

Pralad Bhattarai (bpralad@yahoo.com) is an Attorney from Nepal. He is currently in NYC working as a Research Intern in Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) Manhattan, NYC. He completed Bachelor in Laws (Five-Year LLB) in International Human Rights Law, Public International Law and International Humanitarian Law from Kathmandu School of Law (KSL), Nepal in 2008. He has participated in various conferences including the Consultative Conference on International Criminal Justice, Harvard University; 2007 Phillip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, arguing before the International Court of Justice in The Case Concerning the Rotian Union; Second South Asian Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition; adjudged the “Best Memorial” and awarded with the Gold Medal; presented the paper titled “Protection of the Rights of Victims in International Criminal Justice System: Redress Mechanisms” in The Edict Conference, on the “Criminal Justice Delivery System in the Age of Globalization”; participated in the Asian Youth Conference titled “Challenges and Opportunities for Youth of Asia” organized by Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia; participated in the “Youth Seminar: Towards a Free and Responsible Society” organized by Youth Initiative Nepal, and participated in the “Fourth Human Rights Summer School Course on Human Rights and Globalization”. He is currently a Research Intern at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), Manhattan NY City, USA and is currently engaged in language rights of immigrant students in California and Bilingual School Teachers Case in Massachusetts projects.  He has also worked for the Judges’ Society Nepal; edited a Journal named “Nyaya Chautari”; been a liaison person between my office and The International Legal Foundation; researcher and a Rapporteur in the development of “Women and Children (Victim/Witness) Protection Guidelines” a joint venture of Judges’ Society, Nepal and National Judicial Academy Nepal; worked as a researcher during internship placement in International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Nepal to name a few. He has written a LLB dissertation on “Addressing impunity in Nepal, requiring ratification of the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court: Problems and Prospects” and published number of articles in Law School Journal namely on Human Rights, Constitutionalism, and Transitional Justice etc.

Advocate Kabita Pokhrel (730) 314-8738 (kabpokhrel@gmail.com)is currently pursuing MBA studies in International Business Management in the US. She has practiced law at Law and Society Counseling and Research Center in Kathmandu, Nepal. She has moderated 3 days workshop on Child Rights in different district, organized by Central Child Welfare Board; conducting ‘Market Analysis for the Expansion of Rugmark Program’, Nepal Rugmark Foundation; worked as a Legal Research Officer with UNICEF’s Global Study on Child Poverty and Disparities, as a consultant for project review of NaLAN’s Prisoners’ Legal Aid and Paralegal Service project ; conducted Series of Human Right Training in different Districts, Nepal Bar Association; facilitated 4 days workshop on Principle of Federalism, organized by ICJ Nepal; oriented medical professionals of Star Hospital Pvt Ltd on” Legal and ethical issues in hospital management”; conducted School awareness program on child right, trafficking child abuse in different District organized by World Mobilization; Legal Research Officer Freedom Forum; prepared   Child right, Human Trafficking, CEDAW based documentation for different organizations; translated and done Rapporting on Public Security Reform in Nepal organized by Nepal Bar Association in collaboration with Enabling State Program Nepal. She also worked as a Program Officer (Legal) for The Daywalka Foundation (TDF), an INGO working for the prevention of human Trafficking especially of Women and Children. She has also conducted various workshops and Trainings ion the field of law. In addition she has also assisted in compilation and editing of the book named “Collection of Supreme Courts Verdict on Human Trafficking” published by TDF, Nepal, as well as on research project ‘A Study on Male Trafficker Prisoners’ conducted by TDF, Nepal. She worked as a Part time Lecturer with Lord Buddha Education Foundation teaching Business Law, Entrepreneurship Development, and Human Resource Management for B.Com.,BBA and MBA. Likewise she worked as a Volunteer Legal Officer with Legal Aid and Consultancy Center (LACC) and as a Lecturer with Marryland Higher Secondary School. She has a Masters in Law from Nepal Law Campus (2008), Masters in Business Studies from Central Management Department (2006), Bachelor in Law from Nepal Law Campus (2004) and a Bachelor in Business Studies from National Campus for Business Studies (2001)

Advocate Ganesh Shrestha, Pennsylvania (571) 236-3910 completed his Intermediate and Bachelor in Law from Nepal Law Campus, Tribhuwan University and a LLM from Purwaanchal University, Kathmandu School of Law (Criminal law and Justice). He has been in the legal profession since 1999. His expertise is in Criminal law and Forensic Science.

Advocate Basundhara Thapa Magar (UK) has been in legal practice in Nepal for almost 12 years. She has a LLM degree in Criminal Law from Kathmandu School of Law (2008) and is currently in the United Kingdom.

Advocate Bidur Dhungana is also currently in the US since July 2009.

Advocate Biswo Jit Khadka, Washington DC, completed Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Purbanchal University, Kathmandu School of Law (2009). He has conducted a one month research on ‘role of electronic media (on Televisions) in strengthening democracy and peace process in Nepal”; research on ‘Socio-economic, political situation and rights of marginalized communities’ in Far Eastern part (Ilam, Jhapa, Udaypur districts); ‘Advocacy and awareness program for active participation in Constituent assembly election’ for marginalized community in western Nepal (Banke and Bardia); observer in Constituent Assembly election for Bhaktapur district through election commission Nepal; conducted research on ‘crime trends and ratio in Kathmandu valley, after 2005/2006 people’s movement in Nepal’; supervised LL.B. students for research on ‘crime trends in Kathmandu valley and interned and researched in “Clinical legal education program” at Kathmandu School of Law under the USAID project. He is also a member of world society of victimology, an active member of Law Student society, Kathmandu school of Law, ‘Student Lawyer’ on Clinical legal education program at Kathmandu School of law on support of USAID; general member of International law student Association (ILSA) and  American Society of International Law (ASIL).

Advocate Dhani Ram Sapkota (201) 779-6394 is currently in Jersey City, NJ. He completed his LL.M. from Nepal Law Campus in 2001 and a Masters of Arts in Human Rights from Bangkok in 2008.

Ms. Amrita Chiluwal, Franklin Pierce Law Center, J.D. 2011, is a Nepali law student in the US looking to network with other Nepali lawyers.

Ms. Shrishti Kharel, undergrad South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD will be joining Law school for JD in 2010. She wants to network with Nepali Women Attorneys and Law Students in the US.

James Ugbogu is a young Nigerian Lawyer based in Nigeria, interested in becoming a member of ANLUS.

The New York Times quotes the Director of the USCIS “We are under way to prepare for [giving legal status to millions of illegal immigrants]“. The NY Times article further quotes the USCIS Director “Mr. Obama has told immigration officials that a legalization program would be part of legislation the White House would propose”.

There are no official estimates of the number of illegal immigrants who would apply for legal documents. The Pew Hispanic Center and the Center for Immigration Studies, two research groups in Washington, estimate that at least 10.8 million illegal immigrants live in this country. But a large number of those would not be eligible for legal status for many reasons, including past immigration violations.

For the full story, see here.

Former SC Justice Laxman Aryal dies of kidney failure at the age of 75. He was one of the key drafters of the Constitutions of Nepal and was well known as a progressive justice. Nepal has lost one of the most open minded and liberal personality.

Center for Reproductive Rights
www.reproductiverights.org<http://www.reproductiverights.org

ANLUS congratulates Advocate Ratna Bahadur Bagchand for being appointed as an Appellate Court Justice at Appellate Court of Nepalgunj.

The appointment was made pursuant to Article 109 of Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007, §4(1)(b) of Judicial Council Act 1990, §5(1) of Judicial Council Procedures Regulation 2001. The provisions stipulates appointment of Justices who are qualified based on 10 years of legal practice, seniority, knowledge of subject matter, working ability, education, honesty, impartiality, moral character, prestige in legal profession, people’s desire, popularity and boldness and ability to perform.

Hon. Justice Bagchand has been working for the justice of the marginalized, disadvantaged and discrimitnated Dalit community in Nepal through an organization Lawyers National Campaign against Untouchability-Nepal (LANCAU-Nepal). LANCAU has played a vital role in drafting laws against untouchability, pressuring the government to formulate and execute appropriate laws to curb racial discrimination and implement Durban Declaration to put an end to the Untouchability Aparthied in Nepal. He was also awarded the Best Lawyer Award by Nepal Bar Council earlier.

With appointment of Justice Bagchand, Nepal’s judiciary has appointed a person from the Dalit Community for the first time in its history.

The list of newly appointed Justices in Appellate and District Courts can be found here:

http://supremecourt.gov.np/appeal.pdf

The First BNLA Election took place on August 29, 2009. The newly elected committee members include:

1. Patron- Prof, Dr. Surya Subedi
2. President- Raju Thapa, Solicitor
3. Vice President- Devendra Singh Shrestha, Advocate
4. General Secretary- Yog Upadhaya, Advocate
5. Joint Secretary-Amrit Prasad Kharel, Advocate
6. Treasurer-Umesh Bikram Shah, Advocate
7. Member- Kriti Bilas Pant, Advocate
8. Member-Umesh Moktan, Advocate
9. Member-Kabita Karki, Advocate
10. Member-Dipesh Shrestha, Advocate

BNLA thanks election committe members:

1. Nabin Paudel-Advocate,
2. Prakash Paudel-Advocate,
3. Supak Malla-Advocate.

BNLA also thanks ex-president Surya Subedi and Ex-Vice Presidet Sunil Adhikary who addressed and promised to support the organization in future.

Reported by: Amrit Prasad Kharel, Joint Secretary-BNLA, UK

www.bnla.org.uk

Contact: 00447737463824