The Training Program in the field of pleading has started at the National Institute of Justice

Today, December 16, 2025, at the National Institute of Justice, the in-person trainings of the Advocacy Training Program began. The activity takes place over three days and follows the preparatory stage that included online sessions held in November.

Organized by the National Institute of Justice in partnership with the British Embassy in the Republic of Moldova, the program is an initiative of the Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) in the United Kingdom. It contributes to the strengthening of the rule of law by developing the practical skills essential for a performance at the highest standards of representation in the courts.

Sarah Clarke KC (King's Counsel), judge, member of the Inner Temple in London and trainer of national and international renown in the field of pleading, Bob Easton, deputy head of the mission of the British Embassy in Chisinau, and Ramona Strugariu, director of the National Institute of Justice, took the floor at the opening of the event.

The course is delivered by a team of prestigious trainers from the Inns of Court College of Advocacy, established experts in the field of advocacy, including: Grahame Aldous KC, Peter Birkett KC, Sarah Clarke KC, Kitty Colley, James Gray, Jaime Hamilton KC, Richard Honey KC, Peter Melleney, David Temkin KC and Iulia Stinga.

The program is addressed to a group of specialized prosecutors from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases, the Chisinau City Prosecutor's Office, as well as from the territorial prosecutor's offices in the vicinity of the capital (Anenii Noi, Criuleni, Ialoveni, Străseni).

The training activity places a strong emphasis on the practical component, addressing fundamental techniques such as hearing witnesses, examination-in-chief and cross-examination, preparing and delivering speeches. Also, ethical aspects in complex criminal cases and the resolution of challenges in the courtroom are analyzed. The sessions are based on the Hampel method, a structured approach to providing feedback to ensure continuous improvement, and include process simulations (mock trials) to provide participants with a realistic framework for practicing the acquired skills.