The Legal Aid Society (LAS) and the Directorate of Legal Education (DLE) of the Pakistan Bar Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at transforming legal education in Pakistan. The agreement was formalized at the Pakistan Bar Council’s Committee Hall within the Supreme Court Building. LAS, a non-profit founded in 2013 by Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, is committed to assisting marginalized communities by improving access to justice.
Under the leadership of CEO Barrister Haya Eman Zahid, LAS has pioneered initiatives such as NAZ Assist, Pakistan’s first multilingual legal advisory chatbot. The Directorate of Legal Education, an autonomous body of the Pakistan Bar Council, was established to implement Supreme Court directives for enhancing legal education standards.
Led by Director Barrister Usama Malik, the DLE focuses on curriculum development, teacher training, research promotion, and ensuring compliance with quality standards across legal institutions. This collaboration aims to introduce reforms, including curriculum upgrades, educator training programs, and legal research initiatives, to prepare legal professionals for contemporary challenges.
Barrister Usama Malik emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating: “The Directorate is dedicated to elevating legal education standards nationwide. Partnering with the Legal Aid Society enables us to implement comprehensive reforms that will benefit both educators and students.” Barrister Haya Eman Zahid shared her enthusiasm for the initiative, saying: “This MoU signifies a commitment to bridging gaps in our legal education system. By enhancing curricula and investing in teacher training, we aim to empower future legal professionals to serve justice effectively.” The signing ceremony was attended by notable legal figures, including Haroon Rashid, former Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council; Barrister Ehtesham Aminduddin; Gulzar Ahmad, Secretary of the Pakistan Bar Council; and Saqib Faraz, Deputy Director of the DLE.
- Members from academia and civil society also expressed support for the partnership, which promises to establish a stronger and more equitable legal education framework in Pakistan.
