"The immediate purpose of establishing an Academy of World Law is to teach world law to Russian lawyers, legal scholars and law-trained public servants," said Berman. "We anticipate that eventually some Russian jurists who have successfully completed the program will conduct joint activities and joint research with American and other non-Russian lawyers and legal scholar on practical and theoretical legal problems. We also expect that the Academy of World Law in Moscow may in the future serve as a model for eventual establishment of similar academies in other cities of the world."
Berman said that a smaller group of about 20 people, who will form the basis of a steering committee, met after the conference to make specific suggestions on the formation of the academy and to lay plans for its future. "The next step is preparation of a statement or brochure that will outline exactly what we propose to do and how we propose to do it," said Berman. He said the academy will be a membership organization, with financial support coming from member attorneys and corporations. "This will be an effort to educate practicing lawyers on legal developments, legal changes and legal information on the many aspects of world law, from world organizations and world trade and finance, to human rights and environmental protection."
-- Elaine Justice