TIES is a collaborative program between the U.S. government, U.S. and Mexican educational institutions, and the private sector designed to advance the objective of the Partnership for Prosperity, a key Presidential initiative in 2001.

The TIES initiative facilitates pursuit of a common development agenda between the U.S. and Mexico by enhancing the capacity of higher education institutions of both nations to examine mutual development problems, work in strategic alliances to develop solutions, and create the basis for Mexico’s benefiting more fully from NAFTA. Training from these institutions will give Mexican participants the skills and the collaborative links necessary for them to respond more effectively to development challenges and opportunities.

The University Partnership component establishes training, internship, exchange, and scholarship relationships between U.S. and Mexican universities to address common development problems identified by Mexican higher education institutions and their public and private partners. Participation in this component requires significant implementation and financial contributions from all partners and is determined by a competitive proposal process conducted by a peer committee.

 

University partnerships

Rule of Law (Merida-funded)

 

“Emory and Panamericana University Partnership to Establish a Mexican Institute for Trial Advocacy.”

Emory University/Universidad Panamericana (UP)

Award Date: November 2, 2009

Award Amount: $577,991

Proposed Cost Share: $223,503

• Establishing a Mexican Institute for Trial Advocacy to develop and institutionalize adversarial trial and advocacy curricula to train Mexican lawyers and law students;
• Designing and publishing a “train the trainers” methodology;
• Teaching one “train the trainers” adversarial advocacy skills program in Atlanta to coach Mexican trial instructors to become part of the Institute’s cadre of trainers and one in Mexico City for Mexican attorneys and law professors;
• Developing and teaching a semester-long trial techniques program;
• Enhancing UP School of Law’s current legal clinic to provide training for its staff attorneys and additional opportunities for student involvement.

 

“USD-UABC Legal Education Program”

University of San Diego/Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)

Award Date: December 21, 2009

Award Amount: $450,000

Proposed Cost Share: $299,071

• Developing materials to enhance the legal education curriculum at UABC;
• Providing training and support for Mexican law professors for instruction on the nature and functioning of accusatory criminal procedure;
• Providing opportunities for continuing educational exchange among the practicing lawyers and judges from Mexico and the U.S.;
• Strengthening existing programs for hands-on training in legal practice under the supervision of UABC professors and lawyers practicing in Baja California.

 

“UNL-UNAM Rule of Law Partnership”

University of Nebraska-Lincoln/Univerisdad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Award Date:  June 22, 2010

Award Amount:  $449,384

Proposed Cost Share:  $464,119

• Training UNAM law faculty in emerging skills necessary to teach substantive knowledge and advocacy skills;
• Revising and adapting the UNAM law curriculum and incorporating legal clinics so that graduates will be able to function as effective practitioners in the new legal environment;
• Developing and implementing a continuing legal education program for practitioners and judges.

 

“Chicago-Kent and ITESM-Mexico City.”

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law/ Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey – Campus Mexico City (ITESM)

Award Date: November 1, 2010

Award Amount: $185,000

Proposed Cost Share: $131,350

• Developing and incorporating at ten ITESM campuses (Santa Fe, Toluca, Chihuahua, Morelia, Puebla, Saltillo, Estado de Mexico, Monterrey, San Luis Potosi, and Guadalajara) an advanced curriculum with courses in the reformed criminal procedure, with courses being tailored depending upon their respective jurisdictions;
• Developing and teaching a “train-the-trainers” program to coach a group of law professors in substantive and procedural law and pedagogical techniques to prepare them to teach the advocacy curriculum;
• Establishing a program for LL.M. scholarships for ITESM students to study criminal litigation activities at Chicago-Kent for one year.

 

Rule of Law (Non Merida-funded)

 

“Chicago-Kent and ITESM-Mexico City.”

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law/ Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey – Campus Mexico City (ITESM)

Award Date: June 2, 2009

Award Amount: $449,291

Proposed Cost Share: $192,340

• Developing and incorporating at ITESM-Mexico City an advanced curriculum with courses in the reformed criminal procedure, focusing on alternative resolution of minor crimes, pre-trial practice, and trial practice (“advocacy curriculum”);
• Developing and teaching a “train-the-trainers” program to coach a group of law professors in substantive and procedural law and pedagogical techniques to prepare them to teach the advocacy curriculum and the diplomados;
• Developing and teaching 6-month continuing legal education diplomados in oral advocacy skills and criminal procedure for practicing lawyers in Baja California, Mexico City, and Chihuahua;
• Launching an in-house criminal law clinic at ITESM-Mexico City where students work with experienced attorneys on real cases and receive hands-on training in advocacy techniques and in-court administration;
• Establishing a program for diplomado scholarships and LL.M. scholarships to study criminal litigation activities at Chicago-Kent for one year. The law school curriculum and the clinical model potentially will be modified for use in all nine law schools of ITESM in Mexico.

“Establishment of a Center of Excellence in Advocacy Training at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey”

Southwestern University School of Law/ Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey – Campus Monterrey (ITESM)

Award Date: April 17, 2009

Award Amount: $250,000

Proposed Cost Share: $184,497

• Establishing a self-sustaining Center of Excellence in Advocacy Training to support Mexican law students and professionals;
• Teaching trial advocacy courses for law students at Technológico;
• Offering diplomado courses focused on trial advocacy, criminal procedure, and human rights;
• Holding an interscholastic regional trial advocacy competition with accompanying courses to prepare students to participate;
• Hosting an academic conference on areas related to procedural reform with a resulting publication;
• Producing teaching materials, including case files for trial advocacy competitions and educational videos.