The Inter-Pacific Bar Association is pleased to announce that the IPBA Scholarship Programme is now open to prospective Scholars for 2008. This Programme enables Young Lawyers to attend the IPBA’s Nineteenth Annual Meeting and Conference which will be held in Manila from April 29 – May 2, 2009.
What is the Inter-Pacific Bar Association?
The Inter-Pacific Bar Association (“IPBA”) is an international association of business and commercial lawyers with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Members are either Asia-Pacific residents or have a strong interest in this part of the world. The IPBA was founded in April 1991 at an organising conference held in Tokyo attended by more than 500 lawyers from throughout Asia and the Pacific. Since that time, it has grown to become the pre-eminent organization in respect of law and business within Asia with a membership of over 1,700 lawyers from 68 jurisdictions around the world. Lawyers in most law firms in the Asia-Pacific region and world wide that have a cross-border practice are members of the IPBA.
What is the Inter-Pacific Bar Association Annual Meeting and Conference?
The highlight of the year for the IPBA is its annual multi-topic four-day conference. The conference has become the “must attend event” for business and commercial lawyers in the region and world wide. In addition to plenary sessions of interest to all lawyers, programmes are presented by the IPBA’s eighteen specialist committees.
The IPBA annual meeting and conference provides an opportunity for lawyers to meet their international colleagues and to share latest developments in the law and legal development in Asia. Previous annual conferences have been held in Tokyo (twice), Sydney (twice), Taipei, Singapore, San Francisco, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Auckland, Bangkok, Vancouver, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Seoul, Bali, Beijing and Los Angeles attracting as many as 700 lawyers plus accompanying persons. Next year the conference will be held in Manila from April 29 – May 2, 2009.
What is the IPBA Scholarship Programme?
The IPBA Scholarship Programme was originally in honour of the memory of M.S. Lin of Taipei, who was one of the founders and a past President of the IPBA. The purpose of the IPBA Scholarship Programme is to bring to the IPBA Annual Meeting and Conference lawyers who would not otherwise be able to attend and who would both contribute to, and benefit from, attending the conference.
Who is eligible to be an IPBA Scholar?
To be eligible, the applicants must:
(a) Be under 35 years of age and have less than five years of practice;
(b) Be fluent in both written and spoken English (given this is the conference language);
(c) Have taken an active role in the legal profession in their countries;
(d) Currently be involved in a cross-border practice or who would like to become engaged in a cross-border practice; and
(e) Have published an article in a reputable journal on some topic related to the work of one of our committees or provide some other objective evidence of committed involvement in the profession.
Preference will be given to those applicants who could not otherwise attend the conference, for example, because of personal or family financial circumstances and/or because they are working for a small firm which could not afford to send them to the conference. Applicants from multi-national firms will normally be considered only if they have a substantial part of their attendance expenses provided by their firm.
In order to spread the benefit of these Scholarships further, applicants should set out the amount you or your firm could pay towards the airfare and conference fee, taking into account your personal and family circumstances and your firm’s situation.
Procedure for Application
Applicants need to produce:
(i)
The attached application form including;
(a)
A statement of what they wish to get out of coming to the conference and involvement in the IPBA together with ideas for activities they would become involved in to promote the IPBA in their country. (No more than 200 words).
(b)
A statement covering the applicant’s and their family’s financial circumstances, and the position of their firm.
(c)
An indication of the amount towards the airfare and conference fee, if any, able to be contributed by the applicant or the applicant’s firm.
(ii) A letter of support from the senior partner in their firm or a senior member of the legal profession in their country confirming that they meet the criteria set out above.
(iii) It is important that your application is complete. Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered. Selection of scholars is at the sole discretion of the IPBA. The IPBA is not bound to provide reasons for rejection of any application.
Each IPBA Scholar will receive:
1. Return economy class transportation from the scholar’s home city to Manila.
2. Waiver of the Manila Conference registration fee.
3. Accommodation in a conference hotel for four nights.
4. Per diem living expenses of US$20 per day.
5. Waiver of IPBA annual membership fees for 2009, 2010 and 2011.
How does one apply to be an IPBA Scholar?
To apply for an IPBA Scholarship, please complete the attached application form, include the required material and return it to Yuko Haba at the IPBA Secretariat in Tokyo no later than October 31, 2008.
Please send applications to the IPBA Secretariat at:
Roppongi Hills North Tower 7F
6-2-31 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tokyo 106-0032
Japan
Telephone: +81-3-5786-6796
Facsimile: +81-3-5786-6778
E-mail: ipba@tga.co.jp
What happens once a candidate is selected?
The following procedure will apply after selection:
1. The Secretary-General will notify each successful applicant that he or she has been awarded an IPBA Scholarship. The notification will be provided at least two months prior to the opening of the conference. Unsuccessful candidates will also be notified.
2. Airfares and accommodation will be arranged by the Manila Conference Host Committee and/or the IPBA Secretariat after consultation with the successful applicants.
3. A liaison person will introduce each Scholar to the IPBA and generally help the Scholar to obtain the most benefit from the Conference.
Application for
2009 IPBA SCHOLARSHIP
Name:
(Please underline family name)
Postal Address:
Telephone: (Work) ___________________ (After hours) ___________________
Fax: E-mail:
Firm:
Birthday ___________________
Age: ___________________ Male: O Female: O
(As at October 31, 2007)
Degrees:
Years of practice:
Areas of practice:
Details of
international
experience:
Details of
professional
involvement:
– 2 –
Number and details
of articles and/or
publications:
Are you fluent in English? Yes: O No: O
What is the financial position of:
(a)
Yourself and
your family?
(b) Your firm?
Possible personal
contribution to
conference expenses:
Firm contribution
to conference
expenses:
Please provide a statement (no more than 200 words) of what you wish to get out of the Manila Conference and ideas as to how you could help to promote the IPBA in your country.
– 3 –
Have you previously received a Scholarship from IPBA? Yes / No Year:
If so, please describe in detail what you have done post-Scholarship to promote the IPBA:
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible, the applicants must:
(a) Be under 35 years of age and have less than five years of practice;
(b) Be fluent in both written and spoken English (given this is the conference language);
(c) Have taken an active role in the legal profession in their countries, please list professional involvement;
(d) Currently be involved in a cross-border practice or wish to become engaged in a cross-border practice; and
(e) Have published an article in a reputable journal on some topic related to the work of one of the IPBA Committees or provide some other objective evidence of committed involvement in the profession.
Preference will be given to those applicants who could not otherwise attend the conference, for example, because of personal and family financial circumstances and/or because they are employed by a small firm which could not afford to send them to the conference.
Notes for Applicants:
Please complete the above application form in full.
You are also required to provide a letter of recommendation from a senior partner in your firm or a senior member of the legal profession in your country confirming that you meet the criteria set out above.
Please do not supply any further information.
