Description
The EU and other judicial organisations have emphasised the need for investment in human resources of the judicial system of the Republic of Lithuania (RoL) to improve efficiency. The aim of the Project is to improve the quality of work in the National Courts Administration (NCA) through training programmes and internships and enhance public trust in the judicial system. The project activities are targeted at the staff members of the RoL judicial system and the NCA. As a result of the project 500 legal professionals and staff of the above institutions will be trained and ten courts will be selected to implement the newest and most effective means of quality management proven by European judicial institutions. The donor partner is the Norwegian Courts Administration. The partner contributes to exchange of experience through training, study visits, preparation of manuals and internships. Enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two countries is expected.
Summary of project results
The EU and other judicial organisations have emphasised the need for investment in human resources of the judicial system of the Republic of Lithuania to improve efficiency. The aim of the Project was to improve the quality of work in the National Courts Administration (NCA) through training programmes and internships and enhance public trust in the judicial system. The project activities were targeted at the staff members of Republic of Lithuania the judicial system and the NCA. The project was successfully completed and all set goals reached by implementing the newest and most effective means of quality management proven by European judicial institutions. While project implementation Quality Management Systems aimed at improving the client service have been implemented in 10 courts as well as publication of „Client Service Standard for Courts‘ (1,000 copies) designed and published. 831 members of staff completed training on the improvement of the quality of service and the introduction of the Client Service Standard, furthermore an international seminar „Quality of Court Services: Experience of Lithuania and Foreign Countries“ was organized. Representatives of courts familiarized themselves with the client service practices applied by Norwegian courts while study visit to Norway. Sociological studies and Secret Client investigations have been conducted in order to determine the level of the client service quality, weakness and areas to be improved. During the project over 20 training events for court staff on legal argumentation, mediation, leadership, modern management methods, accounting, public procurement, etc. were organized, resulting over 5000 people trained. In addition, court staff successfully applied international practices learnt from their foreign counterparts: 14 advanced training visits for a period longer than two weeks organized, where court staff gained knowledge in such areas as mediation, communication, physical and psychological safety, etc. 4 study visits to Norway for 35 representatives of Lithuanian courts were organized. Measures for increasing public trust on courts were taken: international conference organized, publication on communication with media for court staff members developed and published (2,000 copies) as well as training on communication with media was organized (over 260 people trained).
Summary of bilateral results
Project partner contributed to the implementation of project administrator and experts for carrying out project activities like preparation of the content of manuals and participation in international conferences (expertise part), coordination of the implementation of study visits, internships, reassuarance of smooth communication and cooperation with experts while preparing the manuals or participating in international project activities. The named support from project partner promotes more successful implementation of project activities, the achievement of project outcome and outputs. Envisaged cooperation between project promoter and project partner fosters biletaral relations and share theirs experience not only between institutions, but also between Lithuania and Norway in the level of country. The partnership created conditions for the participants of international project activities to make direct official contacts and facilitate the communication process and the dissemination of information between the countries in the future. The international networking encouraged additional partnership and interinstitutional cooperation in preparing and implementing projects related to the improvement of the European judicial systems.