Strengthening the institutions of justice.
I help courts, governments and donors strengthen the judiciary and the rule of law, advising on the questions that decide whether people trust their courts.
That experience is the foundation of Oleg Shakov International Consulting (OSIC), my practice for advising those who are strengthening judicial institutions of their own.
Twenty-five years of work with judicial institutions.
Much of it meant building what didn't yet exist: new courts, new judicial offices, and the laws to support them.
Select a country to see what each engagement involved
A note on these examples
The examples above summarize selected international judicial cooperation and justice sector reform work led or directed in prior public-sector and donor-funded roles. They are presented as professional background and do not imply endorsement by the Government of Canada, the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada, Global Affairs Canada or any partner institution.
From Ukraine to China, from Peru to Mongolia, and from Jamaica to Ghana, Oleg's judicial reform projects have left a lasting mark on many emerging democracies, always guided by a deep respect for the cultural realities and specific needs of each country.
Courts the public can trust
How courts earn public confidence: the credibility, transparency and responsiveness judicial authority rests on, and the reforms that rebuild trust where it has been lost.
Independent and accountable judges
The balance at the centre of every credible judiciary: protecting judicial independence while supporting genuine accountability, judicial ethics and institutional integrity.
Courts that open their doors
Demystifying the courts through judicial communications, public outreach and the open court principle, so that justice is visible and understood, and people are not intimidated by the institutions meant to serve them.
Twenty-five years working with judicial institutions, as a senior Government of Canada executive.
My focus has been the judiciary: helping courts strengthen their independence and accountability, open themselves to the public, and earn the confidence their authority rests on. What I bring is rarely a ready-made model. It is judgement, and respect for the institution and the country in front of me.
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If your work touches the judiciary or the rule of law, get in touch. I'm glad to talk through the context, the aims and the practical shape of a possible assignment.
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