Structuring KSC Counsel\u2019s Independent Representative Body: a template<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In Part 1<\/a> I shared some thoughts and offered suggestions for the working-group<\/em> and Counsel qualified to appear before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers<\/a> (KSC) to consider on whether to form an Independent Representative Body<\/em> (IRB) tailored to their needs and expectations. In this post I will suggest a possible structure for the IRB and will provide a template for the Constitution. Suffice it to say, I am immeasurably grateful to many colleagues who over the years have enriched me with ideas on the structuring and functioning of professional associations.<\/p>\n Keeping it simple<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n My advice is to keep it simple. Set up a nimble association that is formally registered under Dutch law and formally recognized by the KSC. There is an issue of costs and fees, but these should not be debilitating factors in deciding whether to form an IRB. There are creative ways of finding funding, office space and basic office equipment could be provided by the KSC, and, as I\u2019ve noted in Part 1<\/a>, if the IRB delivers the goods and services, Counsel will join. For what it\u2019s worth, here is a schematic and some thoughts on how it could be structured.<\/p>\n Basic structure of an IRB for the KSC\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n General Assembly<\/u><\/em>. The General Assembly is the membership. It is the supreme body: all Committees and administrative staff report to it. A General Assembly meeting should be held annually for the Committees to present their annual reports, for future planning to be discussed and approved by the General Assembly, and for elections to take place.\u00a0Ad hoc<\/em> Special Assembly meetings should also be permitted subject to specified criteria set out in the Constitution.<\/p>\n Executive Committee<\/u><\/em>. The Executive Committee oversees the day-to-day operations and management of the IRB in matters such as: preparing the agenda of the General Assembly meetings, submitting the IRB programs for approval to the General Assembly, implementing approved programs and other decisions of the General Assembly, preparing the annual budget, monitoring matters related to the annual budget, and submitting an annual report on activities and an audited financial report. Internal directives should be adopted as necessary. It is generally composed of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Secretary, elected by the General Assembly. There should be term limits such as one year with eligibility to serve two additional consecutive terms.\u00a0Some consideration should be given to the overall make-up \/ representation of the Executive Committee, factoring in, for instance, Specialist Counsel, Victims\u2019 Counsel, gender, and ethnicity (e.g., a minimum of one seat could be reserved to Counsel from Kosovo and Serbia, respectively).<\/p>\n Head of Office (or Executive Director)<\/u><\/em>. The Head of Office \/ Executive Director assists the Executive Committee in running the day-to-day affairs of the IRB. It is a paid position that must be full-time and exclusively dedicated to the IRB. The Head of Office is the primary administrator of the IRB and is the focal point between the Executive Committee, the Committees, and the members. He or she assists and monitors the implementation of the strategies and activities undertaken by the Executive Committee and other committees on behalf of the General Assembly.<\/p>\n Specialist Counsel and Victims\u2019 Counsel Committees<\/u>. <\/em>These two Committees oversee and coordinate the discrete needs of Specialist and Victims\u2019 Counsel, which, depending on the matter involved (say, in proposing input to a rule change), may have different interests. The Specialist Counsel and Victims\u2019 Counsel Committees\u2019 are tasked with assisting Counsel in representing their respective clients\u2019 (suspects, accused, and victims) interests, through commenting and making proposals to the Legal Advisory Committee, and advising the Executive Committee and the General Assembly on matters affecting Specialist and Victims\u2019 Counsel.<\/p>\n Counsel Support Staff Committee.<\/u><\/em> The Counsel Support Staff Committee represents the interests of consultants, case managers, assistants, translators, interns, and other members of Specialist and Victims\u2019 Counsel\u2019s teams.<\/p>\n Legal Advisory Committee<\/u>. <\/em>The Legal Advisory Committee is responsible for commenting on proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and other legal texts, and proposing and drafting amendments in the interests of the IRB\u2019s members.<\/p>\n Professional Standards Advisory Committee<\/u><\/em>. The Professional Standards Advisory Committee\u2019s main task is to provide Counsel with advisory ethics opinions. Occasionally, it may be consulted by Chambers or the Registry on a matter concerning discipline or contempt. It may also be consulted by Counsel on matters of disputes on the potential existence of conflicts of interest. It also assists in ethics training.<\/p>\n Training Committee.<\/u> <\/em>The Training Committee plans and organizes training in coordination with the Executive Committee. Its members are not elected trainers; they merely suggest topics for training and, in principle, are expected to plan and facilitate training.<\/p>\n Amicus Committee<\/u><\/em>. The Amicus Committee drafts amici curiae<\/em> briefs on matters approved by and in coordination with the Executive Committee. The members are expected to have the requisite skills, knowledge, and inclination to draft high quality briefs under relatively short deadlines.<\/p>\n Membership Committee.<\/u><\/em> The Membership Committee assesses applications for membership (e.g<\/em>., Full, Associate, and Affiliate).<\/p>\n Audit Committee.<\/u><\/em> The Audit Committee inspects the accounting books, delivering a report to the General Assembly for transparency, accountability, and future planning.<\/p>\n Ad hoc Committee(s)<\/u>.<\/em> As may be needed, either the Executive Committee or the General Assembly may set up temporary committees with a limited remit and life span to deal with important or imminent matters.<\/p>\n Not all committees are necessary. Some committees can be rolled into others. For instance, the work of the Membership Committee can be done by the Head of Office. The Legal Advisory Committee could fold into the Specialist Counsel Committee and Victims\u2019 Counsel Committee, since in any event, the discrete interests of the Specialist and Victims\u2019 Counsel will be funneled through these two Committees whenever the IRB is consulted. The work of the Amicus Committee could be done on an ad hoc basis (without having to formally set up a committee), since experience has shown that those elected to the Amicus Committee are often too pressed with other matters to devote the requisite time, energy, and creativity (pro bono), and that it is often more effective to seek (target) volunteers on a case-by-case basis. Also, the Training Committee can fold into the Executive Committee, since much of the work is done by the Head of Office (finding and contacting trainers, arranging the logistics etc.).<\/p>\n Notably, by participating in committees and being actively engaged in an IRB\u2019s activities, members can meaningfully contribute to the integrity of the tribunal or court, and, if the opportunity presents itself, are better poised to handle an assignment or appointment. Since at the KSC it is likely that only a few Counsel will end up with clients, committee participation is an excellent opportunity to stay active and current. Ultimately, if an IRB is formally established by KSC Counsel, in adopting the Constitution the membership (General Assembly) will decide how active or passive it will wish it to be.<\/p>\n Another Option<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n An alternative to forming an official association, Counsel could opt for an improvisational ad hoc working-group <\/em>to liaise between Counsel and the Registrar, and to call upon Counsel to volunteer on an as-needed basis, such as when there may be a need to draft an amicus brief, provide an ethics advisory opinion, or training, etc.<\/p>\n The benefits of this approach are that there would be no need to go through the tedious efforts of drafting a Constitution, no need to register it with the Chamber of Commerce, no need for staff, and no costs to the members. The drawback is that without an organized IRB as a professional association there is a good likelihood that not much will be accomplished; there will be a constant struggle to get meaningful input in a timely manner. Counsel, especially when busy and not working within a framework such as a committee, tend to be lackadaisical and non-responsive. Also, the administrative work involved will require a dedicated person to assist the working-group <\/em>on a full-time basis. Unpaid interns can be of assistance, but then there is no institutional memory and there is a constant learning curve.<\/p>\n It all comes down to preference. In any event, no matter which option is selected, some <\/em>members will have to step-up, roll-up their sleeves, and be prepared to spend lots of time and effort for the benefit of the many.<\/p>\n Parting Suggestion \u2013 a template for an IRB\u2019s Constitution<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n For the benefit of the working-group<\/em> and others who may be interested in establishing an IRB, here is a template<\/a> as a potential point of departure in drafting a constitution.<\/p>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/us.123rf.com\/450wm\/blamb\/blamb1609\/blamb160900003\/63913056-a-cartoon-office-worker-man-holds-a-confusing-tangled-org-chart-.jpg?resize=219%2C180&ssl=1\")
The life span and scope of the KSC\u2019s IRB will be limited. Its purpose will be to aid the Specialist Counsel and Victims\u2019 Counsel<\/a> (Counsel) in meeting their professional obligations towards their clients. As stakeholders in the process, Article 19(4)<\/a> of the Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor\u2019s Office (KSC Statute) and the Registrar\u2019s letter<\/a> of 29 May 2018 envisages Counsel\u2019s participation through an IRB in providing input on substantive, procedural, and administrative matters. As a collective, an IRB could assist Counsel in advocating for their professional needs such as: shaping the legal aid policy, obtaining adequate facilities (work space within the KSC\u2019s premises, computers, trial management tools, lockers, and so on), training, providing advisory ethics opinions, submitting amici curiae<\/em> briefs, etc.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/michaelgkarnavas.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/KSC_IRB_Chart.jpg?resize=623%2C480&ssl=1\")
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