On May 16, 2013, Kyiv hosted the award ceremony celebrating finalists and winners of the Third Scholarship Contest presented by Students League of the Ukrainian Bar Association, traditionally initiated by Vasil Kisil & Partners to support development of legal education in Ukraine.

The contest organizers have once again succeeded in attracting talented students from leading law schools of the country to explore one of the proposed legal topics and write papers expressing their original views on the conflict of law and the development of legal thought.

This year the organizers suggested particularly relevant legal issues that were of great interest to young lawyers who sent in more than 70 submissions from all over Ukraine. Each of them has been carefully studied by the members of the scholarship judge panel that included such renowned legal practitioners as VKP’s Managing Partner Oleg Makarov, firm’s Senior Counsellor Dr. Belyanevych, Partner Andriy Stelmashchuk and Senior Associate Viacheslav Pieskov.

The members of the jury noted the high level of this year’s submissions, deep theoretical knowledge demonstrated by the students in their research, as well as practical focus of the papers. As a result of the collective discussion ten best works were selected and their authors were invited to Kyiv to partake in the award ceremony and gala reception.

The official announcement of the winners held in the office of Vasil Kisil & Partners law firm was inaugurated by VKP’s Senior Partner Vasil Ivanovich Kisil and Managing Partner Oleg Makarov, who praised the work of students. Than firm’s Senior Associate Viacheslav Pieskov joined in congratulating the finalists stating that in his opinion participation in such contests constituted a good start for aspiring legal professionals.

On behalf of the Ukrainian Bar Association the finalists were congratulated by Alexandra Egert, Executive Director, Inna Bondarenko, organizer of the Third Scholarship Competition and head of “The seminars, conferences, legal contests and competitions” division for 2012-2013, Anna Gluschenko, chairman of UBA’s Students’ League, and Natalia Stotskaya, retired chairman of the League.

The authors of best papers in 2013 are:

  • Valeria Goshkoderya, Mykola Rudenko – the Yaroslav Mudriy National Law Academy of Ukraine;
  • Ilya Chernogorenko Stepanida Badovska, Andriy Izraylo, Oleksandr Malenko – the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv;
  • Olena Koch – the Odessa I.I. Mechnikov National University.

The winners of the Third Scholarship Contest:

  • 1st place – Tetyana Polischuk, the National University of Ostroh Academy
  • 2nd place – Ivanna Koval, the National University of Odessa Law Academy
  • 3rd place – Anna Kolivoshko, the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv

All finalists have been recommended for an internship at Vasil Kisil & Partners law firm. All winners received cash prizes and valuable gifts from the organizers of the event.

Concluding the official ceremony, Oleg Makarov urged those present to continue to take an active part in public and scientific activities, since it's this pro-active approach guarantees a law student the ability to make the right choice of professional and successful career path development.

During a celebratory reception, participants had the opportunity to socialize and network with VKP’s representatives, the finalists and the organizers of the event.

Winning submissions of this year’s competition are available here http://www.kisilandpartners.com/content/files/winners_works.doc