Armenian Lawyers' Association (ALA) (Իրավաբանների հայկական ասոցիացիա (Իհա))

The Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA) NGO was founded in 1995, by a group of students from the faculty of law at Yerevan State University with other young lawyers. It has been registered as a non-governmental organization in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia on 14 March, 1995, and re-registered on 23 May 1997, 14 December 1999, and 27 December 2002 respectively. The organization was established having the aim of coordinating the efforts of its members and supporters, as well as of the new generation of lawyers, to promote the establishment of Armenia as a sovereign, democratic, legal and social state. After its establishment, ALA rapidly started to realize its goals and objectives and actively got involved in the public life of Armenia. The association initially implemented activities aimed at clarification of Armenian law, as well as carrying out advocacy activities. The organization realized several projects aimed at the establishment of the legal field, which would then regulate the NGO sector. It also provided legal assistance to NGOs. Later ALA implemented projects to support socially vulnerable groups by providing free legal services and further protecting their rights and interests.