Testimonial


Professional Teaching & Training Experience
Trainer, From 28-29 February 2022, conducted a three-day Advocacy Skills Training for Turkish Defense Lawyers, organized by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) in Kilis, Turkey.
Trainer, From 25-27 February 2022, conducted a three-day Advocacy Skills Training for Turkish Defense Lawyers, organized by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) in Gaziantep, Turkey.
Trainer, From 22-24 June 2021, took part in the African Access to Justice Women’s Network defender skills virtual training got 100 female lawyers from 10 African countries. Topics included: Rights of a defense attorney. The training was organized by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), Geneva.
Trainer, From 18-20 June 2021, conducted a criminal defender skills training and workshop (online), training over 100 defense lawyers, from five key regions in Indonesia. Topics included: the rights and responsibilities of a legal aid attorney; examination of witnesses; and “when victims become defendants: strategies for a litigation conundrum.” The training was organized by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), Geneva, Switzerland and hosted by LBH-APIK Jakarta, Indonesia.
Trainer, From 26-30 March 2021, conducted a defender advocacy workshop (online), training 50 defense lawyers from China and Thailand. Topics included interviewing juvenile client, reviewing a case file, and case preparation. The training was organized and hosted by Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Trainer, On 25 February 2021, conducted a training on Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) Violations and Criminality, identifying how HLP disputes become criminal matters, how lawyers protect their clients’ HLP rights in criminal cases, and how they prevent custodial punishments in HLP civil cases. The training was organized by the International Bridges to Justice (IBJ).
Trainer, On 11 February 2021, conducted a Special criminal defense skills training related to military-coup related offenses (online), sharing experience of lawyering in time of emergency. The training was organized by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) in Myanmar.
Trainer, On 17-18 November 2020, conducted a Criminal justice training and workshop (online), training 30+ lawyers practicing in the northwestern region of Syria. Topics included how can lawyers prevent police human rights abuses and trial and case preparation. The training was organized by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), Geneva and International Legal Assistance Consortium, Stockholm, Sweden.
Trainer, On 22 September 2020, appeared as a guest speaker at Professor David Wilkins’ class at Harvard Law School, focusing on ethics in the legal profession.
Trainer, On 13-15 September 2019, conducted a Criminal Defense Skills Training Workshop in Kandy, Sri Lanka, training 120+ defense lawyers from the central, western, southern, north, and eastern provinces. Topics included: client interviewing skills; developing the theme and theory of a case; direct examination; and cross-examination. The training was organized by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), Geneva, Switzerland and hosted by the Bar Association of Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Trainer, On 12-13 July 2019, conducted a Criminal Defender Advocacy and Legal Skills Training Workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, training 80+ newly graduating lawyers at the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Topics included: the rights of an accused person in Cambodia; the rights, duties and responsibilities of a defense lawyer; advocacy skills (effective cross-examination, case preparation, and investigation); effective closing arguments; and defense theme and theory of the case. The training was organized by International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), Geneva, Switzerland and hosted by the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Trainer, the Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC) course material for the program entitled “Educating on the Khmer Rouge: Legal History and Practice e-Learning and Training Program.”
Trainer, From 20-21 June 2016, Michael G. Karnavas delivered a training program on Plea Bargaining and the role of Kazakhstan Procedural Prosecutors in Astana, Kazakhstan, organized by The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Kazakhstan Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO).
Trainer, On 14 June 2016, conducted a 3 hour training on drafting submissions and motion practice, as part of the Mock Trial training organized by the ADCICTY and ICLB (International Criminal Law Bureau). Focused on the technical aspects of drafting motions, responses, replies, motions for reconsideration, motions for clarification, and interlocutory appeals, the training also covered strategic decision-making in filing submissions, ethics in drafting, due diligence and perfecting errors on the trial record for purposes of appeal.
Lecturer, On 10 June 2016, lectured at an international affairs class on atrocity crimes taught by Dr. Craig Etcheson, at Pannasastra University, Phnom Penh Cambodia. The focus was on the rights of the accused and fair trial rights in the context of representing accused on charges such as genocide and crimes against humanity, before international tribunals, and in particular the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).
Instructor, From January to April 2016, provided a research and acomprehensive analysis on the principles of reasonable doubt and in dubio pro reo toassist in their application to Macedonia’s new criminal procedure code, which is civil law based with adversarial modalities.
Trainer, On 2 and 9 March 2016, provided probono ethics training at the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh, Cambodia,consisting of two three-hour sessions on the general obligations and responsibilities of a lawyer, with a particular focus on conflicts of interest.
Trainer, From February to March 2016, provided intensive cross-examination training for the Bosco Ntaganda Defence team at the ICC.
Trainer, From 25 to 30 October 2015, conducted a series of tailored full-day trainings for criminal defense lawyers of Macedonian Bar Association,Skopje, Macedonia, organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission to Skopje.
Presenter, On 16-17 July 2015, participated in the Maastricht Seminar for Members of the List of CounselbeforetheInternational Criminal Court, hosted by the Maastricht University, and delivered a presentation titled Lawyer Ethics and the work of the ICC Disciplinary Organs. To view the agenda, please click here.
Trainer,On Thursday 12 March 2015, conducted a Defence Symposium as part of the Advocacy Training at the Association of Defence Counsel Practising Before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (“ADC-ICTY”). The topic was “Evidence and Objections”.
Keynote, On November 2014, delivered the Keynote Address at the ethics training held by the Association of Defence Counsel Practising Before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ADC-ICTY) in The Hague, The Netherlands.
International Legal Expert and Trainer, OSCE Mission in Skopje, Macedonia from September to December 2014. Provided a three-day (24 hour) training of trainers in to familiarize experienced Macedonian lawyers trained in the civil law system with the principles of evidence and evidentiary objections.
Training Committee Chairman, ADC-ICTY. Trained young professionals on motion practice during the ADC ICTY/International Criminal Law Bureau (ICLB) Mock Trial from 23 – 28 June 2014. Organized a one-day ethics training focusing on ethical issues during pre-trial, trial, and appeal on 8 November 2014.
Lecturer, On 16 April 2014, delivered a lecture on Conflicts of Interest at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, hosted by the Association of Defence Counse (ADC-ICTY).
Guest Lecturer, Brown University International Organization (BRIO), 26-27 February 2014. Delivered a lecture on the International Criminal Court relevant to
events in Syria, and held a seminaronthelegalframework on the use of force in Syria in responding to Syria’s use of chemical weapons. For more on the seminar, Red Lines and Game Changers – The Legality of Unilateral or Collective Use of Force in Syria, see: http://michaelgkarnavas.net/files/BrownUSeminar_27Feb14.pdf.
Lecturer, On 24 January 2014, delivered a lecture entitled Judicial Ethics in the International Tribunals, at the ADC-ICTY's 12th Defence Symposium.
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, ADC-ICTY. Conducted three ethics lectures at defence symposiums: Judicial Ethics in International Tribunals, Conflicts of Interest, and Due Diligence: the Diligence that is Due. For more on various lecture topics and legalcommentary see: michaelgkarnavas.net/blog.
Instructor, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP), 1991 to 2013. Taught trial advocacy skills to law students.
Trainer, Public Institute Centre for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in April 2011. Trained judges and prosecutors to be trainers on war crimes andinternational criminal law and procedure, sponsored by the War Crimes Justice
Project, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE.
Trainer/Lecturer, ICC Chambers, Advocacy and Litigation Training, 2010. Conducted an eight-hour training to judicial staff on behalf of the Leiden University Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies.
Lecturer / Instructor, Training on Advocacy and Litigation before International Courts andTribunals,LeidenUniversity Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, 2009 and 2010. Conducted a week-long professional training on substantive and procedural law, and advocacy skills relevant for professionalsinInternational Courts and Tribunals.
Instructor, Leiden University Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies summer school. Taught trial advocacy skills and lecturedoninternational law andprocedure annually since 2003.
Lecturer, Joint Command Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011. Lectured to officersoncommandresponsibility, protection of prisoners, and general principles of international humanitarian law.
Trainer, OSCE Mission in Skopje, Macedonia from 2007 to 2010. Conducted four three-day intensive training sessions (100 hours intotal)forjudges,prosecutors and lawyers to be trainers in advocacy skills relevant to the new Macedonian Criminal Procedure Code.
Trainer, cross-examination seminars in Croatia, sponsored by the Croatian Bar Association, 2010.
Trainer, trial advocacy seminars in Bosnia and Herzegovina for lawyers in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009.
Lecturer / Moderator, conferences and roundtable discussions on the Rule of Law, international human rights,internationalhumanitarian law and international criminal law in the USA, Europe and Asia.
Senior Trainer, Cambodian Court Training Project, International Human Rights Group, from April 1995 to June 1996. Provided training to judges and prosecutors throughout Cambodia on substantive andprocedurallaw,including ethics,conductinginvestigations, assessing evidence in making findings of facts and conclusions of law, the role of the defence, international principles and standards of fair trial rights, and general principles on the Rule of Law.
Trial Advocacy Trainer, Cambodian Defender Project, International Human Rights Groupfrom JulytoAugust1994.Conducted a 30 day intense trial advocacy training for 25 human rights advocates undergoing a one year training program to become advocates for indigent suspects and accused. Also drafted apractical trial advocacy manual specifically tailored to the then-applicable procedures in Cambodia.
Instructor, National Criminal Defense College (NCDC), Macon Georgia, USA, 1992-1995. Taught trial advocacy skills at the twoweekintensivetrainingprogram forlawyers.