Academy

The Academy of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia is a non-profit organization, that has a fund status. The Founder of the Academy is the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia represented by the Board of the Chamber of Advocates.

The Academy of Advocates:

1. Organizes and conducts professional teaching of the attendees of the Academy,
2. Organizes the graduation exams for the attendees of the Academy,
3. Organizes and conducts advocates' professional training,
4. Implements other activities stipulated by the Charter of the Academy of Advocates.

An attendee of the Academy of Advocates can be any capable physical person, who has a higher legal education, except for the cases when s/he was convicted for intentionally committed crime and his/her criminal record has not been expired or removed.

A special applicant (attendee) of the Academy of Advocates can be any capable physical person, who has higher legal education and either 5 years' professional work experience of an advocate, a prosecutor, an investigator, a judge or 5 years professional work experience of a lawyer and PhD or Doctorate degree in law, except for the cases when s/he was convicted for intentionally committed crime and his/her criminal record has not been expired or removed.

The entrance exam includes 2 phases: a test (in the written form) and an interview (orally) but for the cases with special applicants, whose entrance exam is undertaken only according to the results based on the interview.

The teaching at the Academy of Advocates is being conducted within the time frame and in accordance with the terms prescribed by the Charter of the Academy of Advocates.

The teaching is conducted with 2 phases: theory and practice.

The teaching is conducted by full time learning and distant (online) learning.

The teaching of the attendee, who has at least 3 years' professional work experience as a lawyer is being implemented by simplified procedure as prescribed in the Charter of the Academy of Advocates.

The attendees who completed their studies at the Academy are given certificates by the Rector of the Academy of Advocates within 10 days' period, which allows attendees to participate in the graduation exams.

The Academy of Advocates is managed by the Management Board of the Academy of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia and by the Rector of the Academy of Advocates.

The highest managerial body of the Academy of Advocates is the Board.

The Board is formed for a three-year term, consisting of seven members, with the following representation:

1. Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of RA (serving ex officio)

2. Three advocates elected by the Board of the Chamber of Advocates of RA.

3. A representative from the Ministry of Justice of RA (nominated by the minister of justice of RA)

4. Two legal scholars, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forht by the “Law on Advocacy”.

According to the decision number 11/5-A of the Board of the Chamber of Advocates of RA, the Management Board was formed for a three-year term, with the following members:

1. Simon Babayan-Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of RA ex officio (license № 55),

2. Martun Panosyan-advocate, license № 986,

3. Inessa Petrosyan-advocate, license № 20,

4. Taron Simonyan-advocate, license № 1092,

5. Hasmik Stepanyan-legal scholar (PhD in Law),

6. Nazeli Sukiasyan- legal scholar (Doctor of Laws, Professor),

7. Nerses Zeynalyan (representative of the Ministry of Justice of RA),

Responsibilities of the Board

The Council is responsible for:

1. The overall management of the Academy of Advocates of RA,

2. The supervision of the ongoing activities of the Academy of Advocates of RA,

Functions and Powers of the Board

The Board performs the following functions and exercises the following powers:

1. Appoints and dismisses the Rector of the Academy in accordance with the Academy’s Charter,

2. Approves the internal regulations, structure, and staff schedule of the Academy,

3. Approves the annual budget of the Academy based on the Rector’s proposal,

4. Reviews the Rector’s periodic reports in accordance with the requirements of the Academy’s Charter,

5. Approves the training plan for advocates and the academic curriculum for attendees, in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of the Chamber of Advocates,

6. Reviews and decides on attendees’ dismissals based on the Rector’s proposal,

7. Annuls, repeals, or suspends individual or internal legal acts issued by the Rector of the Academy,

8. Appoints the auditor responsible for conducting audits of the Academy,

9. Determines the tuition fees for attendees and establishes the payment procedures,

10. Establishes the fees and payment procedures for entrance exams,

11. Sets the fees and payment procedures for advocates’ training programs,

12. Approves the procedures for organizing and conducting admission exams, based on the Rector’s proposal,

13. Determines the document retention periods,

14. Establishes economic companies or decides on participation in economic companies, as well as creates separate divisions and institutions, and approves their charters,

15. Approves the symbol of the Academy of Advocates, based on the Rector’s proposal,

16. Establishes the procedure for disposal of obsolete or non-working (unsuitable for use) property of the Academy,

17. Exercises other powers and responsibilities as prescribed by the “Law on Advocacy”, “Law on Foundations”, “the Charter of the Academy of Advocates”, and any other authorities not assigned to other bodies of the Academy.

The management of the current activities of the Academy of Advocates of RA is carried out by the head of the Academy, the rector, who is appointed and dismissed by the Management Board of the Academy of Advocates of RA. The rector is appointed from the candidates with at least five years of legal experience, for a term of four years, but no more than twice consecutively.

The rector is responsible for all issues related to the management of current activities of the Academy of Advocates of RA.

According to the decision of the Management Board of the Academy of Advocates of RA dated 05.10.2021, Ara Zohrabyan has been appointed as the Rector of the Academy of Advocates of RA.

Biographical Information

·       Date and Place of Birth: 1978, Armenia, Yerevan.

·       Education

1994-1999 Yerevan Gladzor University, Faculty of Law, qualified specialist

·       Academic Titles

PhD in Law, JB.00.04, 2013, Proffesional Council of Yerevan State University,

Thesis “Key issues of Evidence in the Civil Procedure of the Republic of Armenia”

·       Proffesional and Work experience

Since 2021: Rector of the Academy of Advocates of RA

Since 2020: Member of the Examination Commission of the Faculty of Law of Yerevan State University

2016-2023 Member of the Legal Advisory Council of the Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University

2013-2021 Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of RA

2013-2021 Head of the Qualification commission of the Chamber of Advocates of RA

Since 2012 Lecturere at the Academy of Advocates of RA

2012-2013 Member of the joint working group between the Police of RA and the Chamber of Advocates of RA, coordinator of the Chamber of Advocates of RA

2010-2013 Coordinator of the Scientific and Analytical Center of the Chamber of Advocates of RA

Since 2009 Head of the Law Firm "Zohrabyan and Partners" LLC

Since 2009 Lecturer at Yerevan Gladzor University

2007-2013 Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of RA

2007-2013 Member of the Board of the Chamber of Advocates of RA

2006-2010 Member of the Board of Directors of “London-Yerevan Co” Insurance LLC

2005-2011 Lecturer at Yerevan "Mants" University

2002-2009 General director of Law Firm

Since 2001 Licensed Lawyer

2000-2002 Legal Advisor at Law Firm

1999-2000 Legal Advisor at "Yerevan Machine Engineering Production Association" LLC

·       Professional Titles

2015 Honorary Member of the Paris Bar Association

2015 Honorary Member of the Montpellier Bar Association

·       Family Status

Married, has four children: three sons and one daughter

Served in the Armenian Army

The Responsibilities of the Rector of the Academy of Advocates of RA

The rector of the Academy of Advocates of RA

1.    Manages the process of learning of the attendees and the training of advocates,

2.    Approves the regulation of the organization of learning process,

3.   Approves the regulation of lawyers’ training,

4.    Estalblishes the wage rates for lecturers (trainers),

5.   Approves the curriculum schedules,

6.   Approves the subject programs,

7.    Approves internship programs,

8.   Approves training plans,

9.   Forms the commities of admission, appeals, reassignment, and internship, as well as other committees, and defines the rules for their activities,

10. Reviews appeals and internship committes’ assessments based on the complaints of attendees,

11.  Submits the curriculums of the Academy of Advocates of RA for approval by the Board,

12.  Subject the attendees to disciplinary actions,

13. Applies incentives to attendees,

14.  Manages the property of the Academy of Advocates of RA, including financial resources and concludes deals on behalf of the Academy, in accordance with the Charter of the Academy of Advocates of RA,

15.  Opens bank accounts (including foreign currency accounts) for the Academy,

16.  Represents the Academy of Advocates of RA in the Republic of Armenia and foreign countries,

17.  Acts on behalf of the Academy of Advocates of RA without a power of attorney and grants powers of attorney,

18.  Submits the internal work regulations and staff list for approval by the Board,

19.  Approves the video and audio recordings process,

20.  Approves rules related to the use of equipment, fire safety, and sanitation,

21.   Approves the procedure for the destruction of outdated documents,

22.  Approves the regulations of the Alumni Association of the Academy of Advocates of RA and appoints its president,

23.  Issues orders, instructions, decisions, and mandatory directives within his authority and ensures their implementation,

24.  Hires and dismisses employees of the Academy of Advocates of RA in accordance with established procedures,

25. Defines the functions of structural subdivisions (departments) of the Academy of Advocates of RA,

26.  Defines the scope of duties of employees of the Academy of Advocates of RA,

27.  Applies incentive and disciplinary measures to employees,

28.  Adopts internal legal acts, that are not within the competence of the Board, to ensure the proper operation of the Academy of Advocates of RA,

29.  Participates in Board’s meetings with the right to a consultative vote, as well as submits a request to convene a meeting, in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Charter of the Academy of Advocates of RA,

30.Organizes the implementation of the Board's decisions,

31.  Performs other powers defined by the “Law on Advocacy” and the Charter of the Academy of Advocates of RA.