Trial Procedures before Family Courts in Palestine

In collaboration with the High Council of Family Courts, the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit University organised on 17 November 2012 a training course on Trial Procedures before Family Courts in Palestine. The training targets practicing and trainee lawyers in northern and central West Bank.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Jamil Salem, IoL Director, welcomed the audience and His Eminence Sheikh Yousef Id’eis, Chairman of the High Council of Family Courts, commending fruitful cooperation between the Council and IoL. Mr. Salem outlined training themes. “These address significant functions of Palestinian family courts, including inheritance, Khul’ (divorce in return for a monetary compensation to be paid by a wife to her husband), proceedings in family cases, and code of professional conduct for family lawyers.” Mr. Salem stressed that the training course will combine both theory and practice in a mock trial session.

His Eminence Sheikh Id’eis highlighted the distinctive working relationship between the High Council of Family Courts and IoL. “Training topics are pivotal to enhancing family lawyers’ skills and saving time and effort of both lawyers and judges in the exercise of their functions.” Sheikh Id’eis explained that the training course will focus on practical, not theoretical, family cases. Sheikh Id’eis expressed his hope that the IoL organise further training events to target family lawyers in southern West Bank. Given that universities do not focus on personal status issues, notably inheritance, Sheikh Id’eis suggested that training materials on family court functions be included within the IoL-sponsored Professional Diploma in Legal Practice.

Advocate Imad Awwad emphasised that the training event would promote skills and build capacities of family lawyers. “The training addresses procedures before family courts, paying special attention to developing, processing and documenting family court judges on the Palestinian Legal and Judicial System (AL-MUQTAFI).” Advocate Awwad explained.

In the opening ceremony, IoL researchers made a presentation on the AL-MUQTAFI Family Court Judgement Database. In this course, participating lawyers will be trained to use the database.
To take place on 17 and 24 November 2012, the training course will be concluded on 1 December 2012.