On Monday, 20 October 2025, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Faculty of Law, in collaboration with the Turkish Bar Association, held a promotional seminar titled “Pre-Internship Legal Training Support Program under Mentor Lawyer Guidance”, following the signing of the protocols for the Pre-Professional Training of Young Lawyers with Mentor/Advisor Lawyer Support. The event was designed to support the professional growth of law students before entering the field and to offer them practical training opportunities during their preparation for the legal profession, guided by experienced mentor lawyers.
The seminar held at EMU Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall was attended by EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç, EMU Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Osman M. Karatepe, Prof. Dr. Sonuç Zorlu and Prof. Dr. Ali Öztüren, EMU General Secretary Derviş Ekşici, Acting Dean of EMU Faculty of Law Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arzu Alibaba, Vice Deans of EMU Faculty of Law Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demet Çelik Ulusoy and Assist. Prof. Dr. Emine Koçano Rodoslu, Türkiye Bar Association representatives, bar presidents, academics and students.
“A Project We Wholeheartedly Consider to Be Important and Essential”
In her speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arzu Alibaba, the Acting Dean of EMU Faculty of Law, noted; “As we approach the 30th anniversary of the EMU Faculty of Law, we take great pride and joy in initiating a project that we wholeheartedly consider to be important and essential”. Remembering the members of the faculty who sadly are not with us anymore, especially the Founding Dean of the Faculty of Law Prof. Dr. Aydoğan Özman, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alibaba conveyed her thanks and appreciation to all the academic team members of the faculty who have contributed to the development of the faculty throughout the years. Furthermore, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alibaba stated that collaboration protocols have been signed with 27 different bars with the purpose of reinforcing the professional knowledge and skills of the graduates prior their start to the professional. Thanking the Bar Association Presidents and representatives for providing such a significant opportunity to the students, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alibaba offered a special tahnks to the Vice Dean of the Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demet Çelik Ulusoy for her invaluable efforts in the making of the project. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alibaba concluded her speech by saying; “We also owe a special note of gratitude to our alumni. Guided by their sense of loyalty to our Faculty and their strong sense of responsibility toward future generations of legal professionals, they have provided us with remarkable support today”.
“A Clear Demonstration of Our University’s Contribution to Society and the Legal Profession”
Following Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alibaba, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç remarked that the signed protocol is designed to allow students to observe legal practices first-hand, become familiar with professional ethics, and prepare for the legal profession in a well-equipped manner. Prof. Dr. Kılıç underscored that for the Faculty’s students, receiving support from bar associations—esteemed representatives of the legal profession—is both a valuable asset and a very important step for their professional development. Prof. Dr. Kılıç also noted the significance of having Bar Association Presidents and representatives from 20 provinces present at the event, adding that EMU graduates are among the representatives and presidents of Turkish bar associations. He reminded the audience that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the EMU Faculty of Law and shared that the Faculty has produced more than 7,000 law graduates to date. Prof. Dr. Kılıç further stated that the signed protocol particularly aims to open new horizons for young lawyers in their professional careers. Prof. Dr. Kılıç concluded his speech by saying: “This is not merely a cooperation protocol; it is also a clear demonstration of our university’s contribution to society and the legal profession”.
“An Opportunity to Advance Their Legal Skills”
As part of the program, EMU Faculty of Law Vice Dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demet Çelik Ulusoy, provided students with information about the “Pre-Professional Training of Young Lawyers with Mentor/Advisor Lawyer Support Protocol” signed between EMU and the Turkish Bar Associations. Addressing the students, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çelik Ulusoy stated: “This protocol reflects the anxiety and uncertainty I experienced when I was a student like you, wondering how I would gain practical experience in the legal profession. It was created as a response to the question of how we can involve EMU Faculty of Law students in practice alongside the theoretical knowledge they receive”. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çelik Ulusoy explained that the project has been developed since 2023 and that she first shared the protocol with Ankara Bar Association President, Mr. Mustafa Köroğlu. She emphasized that the strong support from Ankara Bar Association provided the greatest motivation for the initiative. She noted that following this, discussions with other bar associations began, and that these associations regard the project not only as a benefit for students but also as a significant achievement for themselves. Under the said protocol, students will be paired with volunteer mentor lawyers registered with the bar association to which they apply through an online application form available on the Faculty’s website. This will allow students to closely observe legal practice, examine case files, attend court hearings, and develop a variety of legal skills. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çelik Ulusoy also highlighted that students eligible to participate in bar associations’ trainee attorney programs will receive guidance from mentor attorneys in their hometowns, combining the strength of the bar associations with that of the Faculty.
Following the opening remarks, Bar Association Presidents and representatives participated in a question-answer session, there they conducted discussions on the preparatory process for legal profession, professional development, importance of pre-internship, and the contributions to be offered by mentor lawyers. The event concluded with EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Osman M. Karatepe and Acting Dean of Faculty of Law Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arzu Alibaba presenting souvenirs to the Bar Association Presidents and representatives. Lastly, questions of the students were answered.
Protocols signed with 27 Bar Associations
Within the scope of the program, the signing ceremony for the “Pre-Professional Training of Young Lawyers with Mentor/Advisor Lawyer Support Protocols” was also held. The ceremony took place at 02:30 p.m. in the EMU Senate Hall, where the protocols were signed by EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç and the respective Bar Association Presidents or their representatives.
The signing ceremony was attended by EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç, EMU Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Osman M. Karatepe, Prof. Dr. Sonuç Zorlu, and Prof. Dr. Ali Öztüren, as well as EMU Secretary General Derviş Ekşici, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arzu Alibaba, and Vice Deans of the Faculty of Law Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demet Çelik Ulusoy and Assist. Prof. Dr. Emine Koçano Rodoslu. Bar Association Presidents and representatives also attended from Ankara, Eskişehir, İzmir, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Artvin, Ağrı, Samsun, Sivas, Adana, Antalya, Burdur, Denizli, Tekirdağ, Mardin, Muğla, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, İstanbul, and Edirne. Bar Association Presidents from Aydın, Şırnak, Bursa, Mersin, Batman, Isparta, and Kars, who could not attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts and court proceedings but had signed the protocol, expressed their intention to visit EMU at the earliest opportunity.
Making an address during the protocol signing, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Kılıç stated that the collaboration protocol prepared by the EMU Faculty of Law in cooperation with the Turkish Bar Associations will enrich students’ pre-professional practical experiences and better equip them for the legal profession. Prof. Dr. Kılıç expressed his pleasure at meeting the Presidents and board members from various bar associations across Türkiye and emphasized that within the Faculty, students will be paired with mentor attorneys through the bar associations, providing them with the opportunity to observe legal practice first-hand. Prof. Dr. Kılıç also conveyed his pride in the achievements of the Faculty of Law’s graduates during its 30th year of education and in the support the project has received from the bar associations, expressing his hope that the protocols will be long-lasting and highly productive.
The Presidents and representatives of the Turkish Bar Associations shared their delight at visiting EMU. They highlighted their bar associations’ commitment to legal education and the support they offer to aspiring lawyers, stressing that the partnership between EMU and the bar associations will provide students with valuable opportunities for hands-on pre-professional experience.
