The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Baku State University (BSU) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the development of a new Maritime and Energy Law LLM program within the Law Faculty at BSU in preparation for the 2013-2014 academic year. Michael Greene, USAID/Azerbaijan Mission Director, and Abel Maharramov, BSU Rector, signed the memorandum.

Under the MoU, the parties declared their intent to cooperate on developing and implementing the new LLM program, introducing new courses and curricula for the program, and training of law faculty in curriculum development and teaching techniques. They will also begin to build a library of textbooks and other learning materials to support the subject matter of the new LLM program. The Maritime and Energy Law LLM program will be a two-year master’s program with an entirely new set of courses that focus specific attention on areas of the law which have special relevance to Azerbaijan. The intent is to enroll the first class of students into the program in the fall of 2013. Initially, the LLM will be taught in the English language.

USAID is providing a grant to its implementing partner, the American Bar Association (ABA) to provide technical assistance to BSU during the next eight months. In the development of the new LLM program ABA and BSU will seek to establish a strong partnership with an American university (Tulane University School of Law - an American law school already conducting LLM programs similar to the Maritime and Energy LLM).

U.S. Ambassador Richard Morningstar, who attended the signing ceremony, said that “This is another excellent example of the cooperation between the United States Government and the Azerbaijan Government to enhance legal education, strengthen the legal profession and, ultimately, enhance the rule of law in Azerbaijan”.

BSU Rector Maharramov expressed his appreciation to Ambassador Morningstar and USAID, saying “We appreciate your efforts to improve the quality of legal education and are looking forward to developing a new and strong Maritime and Energy Law LLM program at Baku State University in cooperation with USAID, ABA and Tulane University.”