Training of Legislative Drafters

The training of legislative drafters is fundamental to the success of legislative drafting offices. Different approaches are taken in different jurisdictions. Those jurisdictions with access to highly experienced drafters often use some form of on-the-job, or “apprenticeship-style” training.

There are a number of courses available to assist in the training of legislative drafters. Below is some information about the courses that CALC is aware of.

CALC is unable to provide recommendations about particular courses. Also, there may be other courses that CALC is not aware of. If you have information about other courses, please send details to Kate Hannah at k.hannah@gov.je.

Athabasca University Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting

The Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting program provides an in-depth analysis of the principles underlying legislative drafting in common law jurisdictions and a thorough introduction to sound legislative drafting practice. It is based on materials produced by the Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental organization created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. The program materials are relevant to all jurisdictions using the parliamentary system and its legislative processes.

The program consists of five courses, four of which are designed to be completed within six-months and the final one within a year.

Further information is available at Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences - FHSS | Athabasca University.

Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training, Parliament of India—International Training Programme in Legislative Drafting

The Programme consists of a series of Lectures and Practical Drafting Exercises. Themes of the Lectures include: Fundamentals of Drafting; Allocation of Business and Transaction of Business Rules; Grammar of Legislative Drafting; Role and Functions of a Draftsman; Constitutional Values in Law Making; Salient Features of the Constitution of India; Law Making: Parliament, Executive & the Judiciary; Legislative Process in Parliament; Issues and Challenges in Legislative Drafting; Plain Language Drafting; General Clause Act; Interpretation of Statutes; Common Phrases/Clauses in Drafting Bills - Emerging Trends: Draftsman's Responsibilities to Parliament; Examination of Bills by Parliamentary Committees; Private Members' Bills in Parliament; Subordinate Legislation; Drafting for Compliance with International Treaties; Drafting Electoral Laws; Anti-Defection Law; Administrative Law; Tribunalisation of Justice; Alternative Disputes Redressal Mechanism; Cyber Laws; Personal Laws-Matrimonial Disputes and Joint Family Disputes; Intellectual Property Rights; Crime Against Women: Legislative Response; and Statutes Law Revision and Social Legislation: Case Study of Interpretation Statues.

Special emphasis is laid on practical drafting exercises, so that the participants get to work on their drafting skills.

The Programme facilitates interactive sessions with senior parliamentarians and legal experts; Group Discussions in the realm of law and legislation; presentation of Country Paper by each participant; witnessing the Parliament at work; attachment with the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India; attachment with the Branches of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats dealing with Legislative Business, etc.  The participants are also taken for a 5-day visit to one of the State Legislature in India
The one month-long Course is conducted every year from mid-February to mid-March.

Further information is available at http://164.100.47.210/bpstnew/internationalpro.aspx

Commonwealth of Learning Legislative Drafting distance training programme

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) began developing a distance-training programme for legislative drafters in 1992, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division.

The curriculum for the COL/ComSec legislative drafting programme was put together by an international project advisory group of expert trainers and is based on Commonwealth legal practice. Authoring was provided by Professor Keith Patchett, a legislative drafter and trainer from the Royal Institute for Public Administration (RIPA) in London, with instructional design provided by TDA Consulting Group Ltd. of Kew, England. The guided independent study course uses print materials and audio tapes, in some cases supplemented by local mentor support, and is designed for adaptability to individual jurisdictions. It serves both as an introduction to legislative drafting as well as an upgrade for practising professionals.

Further information on the distance training programme is available at http://www.col.org/PROGSERV/SERVICES/LEGDRAFTING/Pages/default.aspx

Commonwealth Secretariat

The Commonwealth Secretariat has run a number of courses on legislative drafting.  These include a course in Africa run in conjunction with the Government of Ghana and a course in the Caribbean run under the auspices of the University of Guyana. They have also run courses in the pacific.

Further information is available at http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/34581/210063/240609legaldrafting.htm

The Honorable Society of King's Inns

This diploma is a unique one semester part-time evening programme offering legal practitioners, law graduates and those with relevant legislative drafting experience the opportunity to obtain an Advanced Diploma in Legislative Drafting. This programme is expressly designed to train participants in the skill of drafting legislation and regulations, thereby fulfilling a very important role in the delivery of legal education for a vital area of governance.

A PDF course brochure is available to download here

Online course application and further information about the Honorable Society of King's Inns is available at http://www.kingsinns.ie

International Association of Legislative Drafting and Law Reform Lawyers (in association with Kiit University) India—Diploma in Legislative Drafting

The International Post Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting offers an in-depth analysis of the principles and techniques of legislative drafting applied in the drafting of international legislation, treaties, national legislation and regulations within common law, civil law, Islamic law, Customary law and European Union jurisdictions.

August is the start date for Kiit University, India. Online and distance learning students can enrol at their own individual time.

Further information is available at http://www.legislativedraftingjournal.com/diploma-in-legislative-drafting.php

International Centre for Parliamentary Studies

The International Centre for Parliamentary Studies runs a number of drafting-related programs. Courses are usually held in London and run for 5 days, but some intensive 3 day courses are also run and the courses can be requested, and tailored, for elsewhere in the world.

The upcoming courses are at Upcoming Courses | International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (parlicentre.org).

The full course list is at Course List | International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (parlicentre.org).

International Law Institute

The International Law Institute runs a number of programs.

Further information is available at  http://www.ili.org/training.html and information on training programs run by global affiliates is available at http://www.ili.org/global-affiliates.html

International Legislative Drafting Institute, Tulane University Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana

The Public Law Center (TPLC) launched the International Legislative Drafting Institute in 1995 in response to increasing global demand for training of legislative drafters.  The Institute is a two-week summer program that responds to the worldwide demand on legislative drafters for new laws to support the emergence of free market economies and democratic forms of government. The Institute draws together diverse domestic and international faculty members experienced in the legislative process.

Further information is available at http://www.law.tulane.edu/ildi/

Nigeria: National Institute For Legislative Studies (Masters Programmes in Parliamentary Administration, Legislative Studies And Legislative Drafting)

The National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) in affiliation with the University of Benin, offers the NILS/UNIBEN Masters Programmes in Parliamentary Administration, Legislative Studies And Legislative Drafting.

The University of Benin awards the degrees while NILS administers, provides the facilities and the academic staff of the two institutions offer tuition.

The duration of the full-time Master’s Degree programmes is a minimum of 4 semesters and a maximum of 6 semesters.

The Master’s Degree Programmes are delivered using the traditional face-to-face model at NILS’s facilities in Abuja. The end of semester course examinations are to be written in NILS.

For further enquiries regarding admission and application, please contact the following: www.nils.gov.ng or www.uniben.edu.

Nigeria: National Institute For Legislative Studies (ONLINE Postgraduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting)

The National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) in affiliation with the University of Benin, offers an ONLINE Postgraduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting (PDGLD).

The University of Benin awards the degrees while NILS administers, provides the facilities and the academic staff of the two institutions offer tuition. The PDGLD programme also receives technical support from the Commonwealth Secretariat, London, United Kingdom.

The PGDLD programme adopts ICT Supported Blended Model. It is delivered online and on e-learning platforms through a series of lectures, continuous assessment, assignments, end of semester course examinations and final projects (dissertations). The end of semester course examinations are to be written in NILS.

The duration of the Online PG Diploma programme is 12 months or a minimum of 2 semesters and a maximum of 4 semesters.

For further enquiries regarding admission and application, please contact the following: www.nils.gov.ng or www.uniben.edu.

Paul Salembier: Legislative Drafting Training & Services

Paul Salembier offers on-site and in person training, as well as an online course. You can find links to the course at www.legislativedrafting.co (not .com).

The course page itself is https://legislativedrafting.co/collections/frontpage/products/course-1-legislative-drafting.

RIPA International, Legislative Drafting: A New Blended Learning Approach, London

RIPA International deliver the Legislative Drafting Blended Learning Programme, which provides delegates with a unique distance learning experience. Differing from the traditional academic setting offered by other distance learning programmes, RIPA International’s Legislative Drafting Blended Learning programme embraces a “learning by doing” approach. Like all RIPA International courses, the online programme is designed for immediate application in the workplace. Furthermore, participants are offered crucial 1 to 1 mentoring support to assist in the progress through the Units of each module.

The Legislative Drafting Online Programme now offers a highly economical, flexible and intrinsically practical opportunity for drafting students to become legislative drafters in practice.

The blended learning programme starts with a 2 week classroom based workshop in London where participants will complete the first module before being required to complete the remaining modules within the following 9 months from their own local environment using the Online Learning Centre set up by RIPA International.

Further information is available at  http://www.ripainternational.co.uk/Training-courses/Justice-Sector-and-Parliamentary-Reform/Legislative_Drafting_Blended_Learning

South Africa Legislative Drafting Program

To meet South Africa’s goals for bringing about democratic social, political, and economic transformation, in keeping with the new Constitution of December 1996, much new, revised and amended legislation is necessary. The demand for experienced legislative drafting professionals is great. The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Law is collaborating with Indiana University’s Center for International Education and Development Assistance and its School of Law to administer the “Legislative Drafting Program for South Africa”.  

Over the course of three years and with funding from the U.S. Department of State, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Office of Citizen Exchanges, the project will engage in the following activities:

Annual Legislative Drafting Workshop in South Africa for legislative drafters.

Internships for South African professionals in the United States.

Experts Network of South African and Indiana academic and legislative drafting professionals.

Further information is available at http://indianaintheworld.indiana.edu/SouthAfrica/

University of London, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Sir William Dale Centre for Legislative Studies

The first course is taught in intensive daily lecture and tutorial sessions over a period of 4 weeks. The Course in Legislative Drafting was first offered in 1964, under the name of “The Government Legal Advisers Course”. Since then it has been attended by more than 600 legal officials from 60 countries, mostly within the Commonwealth, but many outside it. Some of these officers have attained posts of great distinction either in the service of their Governments in countries as diverse as Nigeria, India, Singapore and Cyprus or in international organisations. It has created a distinctive school of legislative drafting which is reflected in the training that it offers and the teaching technique that it employs.

Further information is available at http://ials.sas.ac.uk/postgrad/courses/cls_legislative_drafting_course.htm

The second course is the LLM in Advanced Legislative Studies, which examines issues related to the legislative process, constitutional law, the methods of drafting in a modern democratic context, legislative ethics and law reform. It is designed for postgraduate students with a background in law or social sciences as well as professionals and academics who wish to enhance their drafting skills. The LLM is divided into 2 directions: the Common law Direction and the EU Direction. This is a one year degree of the University of London. Contact: Dr Constantin Stefanou, constantin.stefanou@sas.ac.uk.

The third course is the LLM in Advanced Legislative Studies via Distance Learning, which is offered on a home study basis with a compulsory week-long intensive residential course in London. Teaching methods for the remainder of the course include extensive online materials per session, such as PowerPoint presentations, hand-outs, and a number of academic sources for essential and further reading; online discussions with tutors and fellow students on the traditional LLM and the LLM via DL; private reading and independent research; individual tuition and support via email for coursework and dissertation for which a dissertation supervisor is assigned. The content for the course being offered via Distance Learning is  fundamentally the same as the content of the LLM in Advanced Legislative Studies which is taught by traditional teaching methods. The LLM is divided into two pathways: the Common Law Direction and the EU Direction. This is a two-year degree of the University of London. Contact: Dr Constantin Stefanou, constantin.stefanou@sas.ac.uk.

More information on the LLM in Advanced Legislative Studies is available at http://ials.sas.ac.uk/postgrad/courses/cls_MA.htm

University of Ottawa - Masters in Legislative Studies

A new Masters in Legislative Studies (LLM) offers law graduates an opportunity to specialize in the art of preparing normative instruments (such as statutes, regulations, guidelines, international agreements, codes of conduct and governmental contracts) and in the development of public policy. The program will begin in the Fall of 2017 and is offered on both full-time and part-time bases.

In recent years, the roles of legal and legislative counsel have evolved considerably. Legal norm-creating functions are now exercised by numerous actors ranging from the State to international organizations and including Aboriginal governments, municipal bodies, NGOs, professional and industrial associations and various regulatory bodies. The Masters in Legislative Studies is at the forefront of these emerging realities, aiming to educate the different actors involved in the creation, interpretation and application of normative instruments. It will also provide training for those who work in the development of public policy across all areas of law, whether they be aboriginal or environmental law, new technologies or international relations.

This program is unique. Although law programs generally involve the content of legislation and other normative instruments, this Masters in Legislative Studies focuses on the forms, structures, styles, efficiencies and social impacts of these instruments as a matter of governance. It includes, but is not strictly limited to, legislative drafting; it also includes an examination of the principles and rules underlying the creation of norms and the choice of policy instruments, which are rarely considered in the study of particular areas of law.

For further information on this program, please contact Professor Sophie Thériault, Vice-dean of Graduate Studies in Law at Sophie.Theriault@uottawa.ca or Professor John Mark Keyes at jkeyes@uottawa.ca.

University of Pretoria, Certificate in Legislative Drafting

This course is aimed at legislative drafters and provides the basic knowledge, skills and experience required to begin or continue a career in legislative drafting. The current course runs from 14 July 2009 - 03 November 2009

Further information is available at http://scarlacc.up.ac.za/CEatUP/Courses/CourseDetail.aspx?dcxCourseID=78

University of the South Pacific, Professional Diploma in Legislative Drafting

The Professional Diploma in Legislative Drafting is a two-semester programme designed for the novice as well as for the seasoned legislative drafter to acquire knowledge in the art and science of legislative drafting. The aim of the programme is to introduce the participants in a progressive manner to the legislative drafting process. It is based on materials produced by the Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental organization created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. The program materials are relevant to all jurisdictions using the parliamentary system and its legislative processes. The Commonwealth of Learning has also supported the offering of the programme through the provision of scholarships to students in Commonwealth regional countries. Emphasis will be laid on the syntax and training will involve the linking of sentences into meaningful units. The training will involve the drafting of statutes and regulations including amendments and penal provisions. The students will acquire skills through 'hands-on' practice.

Further information is available at http://www.usp.com.fj/index.php?id=2012

University of the West Indies, Legislative Drafting Programme

The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, West Indies, offers a Postgraduate Legislative Drafting Programme.The Programme is expressly designed to train lawyers and other suitably qualified persons in the skill of drafting legislation to cover every conceivable area of human affairs subject to regulation. In addition to instruction in the technical skill of drafting ‘traditional’ legislation, the Programme aims to provide the candidates with a basic understanding of Treaty Drafting, Constitution Writing, and the preparation of the Appellate Brief.

Further information is available at https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/Law/programmes/postgraduate/legislative-drafting.aspx 

Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting

The Legislative Drafting course is intended to equip lawyers with practical skills and knowledge required for drafting legislation and rendering quality legal advice. It is directed to achieve an intelligible and confident style of drafting legislation to support the emergence of free market economies and democratic forms of governance. The course emphasis is on the individual development of practical skills. It is centred on practical exercises and gives the participants the opportunity to apply the techniques and know-how of legislative preparation, which they acquire in class. Exercises are followed up in individual and joint tutorials, and class critiques given at the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

The training is conducted by means of lectures and legislative drafting in live files at the Ministry of Legal Affairs. All class work is assessed and counts towards the student’s final mark. Visits to Parliament are also undertaken regularly.

Participants will be attached to the Department of Legislative Drafting in the Ministry of Legal Affairs for the entire period of study.

The legislative drafting course covers a period of five months and is held once a year.

Further information is available at http://www.ziale.org.zm