INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION
The San Isidro Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados de San Isidro) was founded in 1965 and is ruled by law 5177. This law provides for the compulsory registration in the Province of Buenos Aires. The Bar is a non-government, not- for-profit institution. It is not subsidied and it is exclusively supported by the contributions in the form of registration fee made by the registered professionals, which at the beginning of August 2007 numbered 9,500.-
The authorities of the different bodies existing according to law are elected every two years by halves and hold office ad honorem. Said bodies are the following:
Other Committees and Departments existing for the fulfillment of the commitments of this Bar are the following: the Committees for the Administration of Justice, for the Defense of Lawyer, for Professional duties, for the Interpretation and Regulation, for General Legislation and for Legislative follow-up, Law 5177, for Young Lawyers.
The General Arbitration Board, which is presided by Marcelo A. Petrossi, attorney-at-law, has existed in this Bar ever since 1992, and its function is that of deciding disputes submitted voluntarily for settlement to said board, according to laws of arbitration.
The San Isidro Bar Association has been involved with the socio-cultural, economic and political life of the professionals.
The defense of the professional responsibilities and the constant encouragement of justice administration have set up a line of conduct both, among its members and in the community to which it belongs
The Bar provides its associates with the means for the fulfillment of their responsibilities. Moreover, ever since its creation, this Bar has gradually gained legitimate prestige by displaying its firm commitment to serious cases such as: the defense of the Rule of Law and the individual liberties through deeply difficult times for the Republic, the free legal assistance to persons who cannot afford to pay attorney's fees, the commencement of legal sanctions, an active role in the Council of the Bar, the request for removal of the judge from office pursuant to the constitution, the commitment of academic quality and excellence for its associates, the constant encouragement for the creation of the COADEM Colegios y Órdenes de Abogados del Mercosur -Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay), the creation of an Arbitration Board.
These milestones in the life of this Association and the determination shown by the authorities currently in office to defend the Rule of Law and the government of the laws as emblem of Justice, have made of this Bar, an example for the Legal Profession in Argentina and the society as a whole.
SOCIAL AREA:
- TO DEFEND POOR PEOPLE FREE OF CHARGE
This expression is part of the formula of the oath taken by lawyers of the Province of Buenos Aires when enrolling as professionals. The San Isidro Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados de San Isidro), faithful to this order, has created an area related to social matters, in charge of answering the needs of those people who cannot afford to pay attorney's fees.
The activity is carried out by a Group of Legal Advisors, directed by Norma Sciarrone, attorney-at-law, an Office for the Public Conservation of Minors, working for the defense of children's rights, whose director is Flavia Valgiusti attorney-at-law and a Body of Mediators, whose purpose is to offer social alternatives in disputes.
The purpose of this Social network is to give poor people the opportunity of having justice administered and is backed by the solidarity spirit of a group of colleagues who collaborate freely.
ACADEMIC, CULTURAL AND SPORT AREA
The lawyers' formation is based on an education founded on justice and the knowledge of Law. This BAR , looking for the excellence in post graduate courses and academic training, has created an Academic Area, directed by Gustavo F. Capponi, attorney-at-law. This area tends to satisfy the needs related to updates in legal issues and to training of lawyers for an ever demanding society in matters of knowledge and efficiency.
This BAR operates as an academic council, where classes are given daily.
Hundreds of lawyers attend our classes every year as regular students, and the subjects covered are many and diverse.
We organize seminars, lectures, updating courses and post-graduate courses.
Regarding post-graduate courses, the Colegio has entered into an exclusive agreement for the transfer of technology with the School of Law of the University of Buenos Aires.
It comprises degrees in: Legal counseling for companies, tax law, criminal law and all its degrees are granted by the University of Buenos Aires.
Our faculty is formed by outstanding professionals of national and international record.
The Area also organizes meetings, conferences, seminars, national and international conventions, places for the debate of current issues.
Classes are complemented by research carried out by Institutes of various fields related to Law, many of which have been working with us since our very beginning. Language courses are also organized at different levels.
Our Library, open to the public, is free and makes our updated books available to the community.
Our Choir, Literary Workshop and Drama Workshop complete the offer of cultural activities for our members.
Our BAR ("Colegio") is one of the most outstanding in the field of Sports.
DIFFUSION
Information, research and requests are expressed written and orally, both locally, nationally and internationally, by means of the presence of lawyers specially appointed to assume institutional representation, or by means of elaborate material which is printed in-house, such as books, magazines and newspapers.
Our opinions have placed this BAR in the lead of law related organizations in Argentina.
SAN ISIDRO HISTORICAL REVIEW
On the eleventh day of the month of June, year 1580, Don Juan de Garay founded the city of Trinidad, currently Buenos Aires, capital city of the Argentine Republic.
And on the twenty-fourth day of the month of October of that year, he distributed the wheat-lands among the seventy -seven founding neighbors. This distribution was aimed at giving the neighbors a plot of land enough to make a living according to the lifestyle of those times.
Eighteen out of those first settlers owned acres of land in San Isidro, fifteen of them in Vicente López and two in San Fernando.
When the first settlers established themselves, small villages rose with their traditional features: a chapel or parish, a civil or judicial authority with jurisdiction upon the community, and minimum rules governing human relationships.
Years went by until on October 15, 1706 Domingo de Acassusso, a fervent devotee of San Isidro Labrador, erected a chapel in the saint's name. The chapel became a parish in 1730.
Three thousand and forty-seven inhabitants were living in this area in 1778. In those times San Isidro was habitually referred to as Pago de Monte Grande o Pago de la Costa (Region of Monte Grande or Coastal Region), and included Vicente López and its surroundings.
In 1779 Juan Francisco Zacarías was appointed first.
Alcalde de la Hermandad (Fraternity Magistrate). Magistrates served their annual terms of office until 1884, when they were replaced by the Justices of Peace.
vested in a Major, a system that is still in force; the Deliberative Council acts as deliberating body, and Petty Offence Judges enforce municipal law.
The arrival of a large immigration flow by the end of XIX century, the setting up of rail ways with the opening of the North Railway station, the everlasting attraction of its coastal slopes as well as every type of nautical activities, made of San Isidro and its environment a fast growing area.
Later, in compliance with the Municipal Organic Law, government over the town was .
By the second half of the tumultuous XX century, prompt solutions were required in order to channel such unrestrained development.
Law professionals were also worried, because it was very troublesome for them to attend Law Courts at La Plata city for their litigations.
This separation took place with the creation of the Judicial Department of San Isidro, which ab initio included San Isidro, Vicente López, San Fernando, Tigre, Pilar, San Martín, and San Miguel districts.
Later on, and in answer to similar claims, another separation took place, and only the five districts mentioned in the first place remained within the present jurisdiction.
Courts growth was also overwhelming. In spite of their efforts, the first civil, commercial, criminal, petty offence and labor courts were unable to attend to each and every action filed. Therefore, the number of courts had to be increased and it was necessary to erect a special building, suitable to the level of legal activity developed. This became a reality when the present Court Building was opened.
Faced with this growing activity the Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados) was compelled to promptly, effectively and permanently offer both institutional and academic answers.
As far as its facilities were concerned the Bar chose an ancient large house located in the old sanisidrense area, a typical ancient house: brick walls, windows looking to the street, corridors, ample rooms, an entrance for coaches with parking space, ancient trees in the park. The challenge was therefore to make it apt for present needs without altering neither its warmth nor its style. Today it is our home, the lawyers' home.
