Kyiv students geared up for law competition (03/21/04)

Kyiv students geared up for law competition

KYIV - For the fourth time, Ukraine will be sending young English-speaking international law students from Kyiv International University to Washington to compete in the international rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Competition (www.ilsa.org).

The Jessup Competition was hosted in Ukraine by Magister & Partner Law firm on February 20-22 at the premises of the Supreme Commercial Court of Ukraine.

The Jessup is a public law advocacy competition in which teams of law students present oral and written pleadings before a simulated International Court of Justice. This year's Jessup case focuses on the issue of state sovereignty versus the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, an international body, the statute whereof Ukraine has signed but not yet ratified.

The Ukrainian Jessup Competition was conducted entirely in the English language; and the team from Kyiv International University - consisting of Anton Korobeynikov, Oleksiy Sereda, Roman Stepanenko and Viktoriya Polyakova, and coached by Albina Petrosyan - displayed strong command of English, as well as outstanding knowledge of international law. This team was ranked the highest out of five other Ukrainian universities: Donetsk National University, Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University, Kyiv University of Law, Odesa National Academy of Law and Yaroslav the Wise National Law Academy of Ukraine.

For these Ukrainian law students, the Jessup can become a fantastic opportunity to test their skills against those of their colleagues from across the country, and around the globe. For the team from Kyiv International University preparation for the Jessup began in the summer of 2003, as the team was researching and preparing arguments, drafting and editing their written pleadings, and practicing their oral arguments. In other words, a tremendous amount of work has been done.

Almost as difficult as putting together their ideas and work is the ongoing struggle to raise the funds needed to attend this prestigious event since the university has no resources to cover all the necessary expenses this year. Thus far, because of the lack of funds it is doubtful whether the team from Ukraine will be able to get experience in U.S. and international law and whether the Ukrainian team, via its participation in the finals of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, will benefit from this educational tool, which promotes the importance of the rule of law among future leaders and educators.

Readers interested in financially supportint Ukrainian law students for the competition, which is scheduled for March 28-April 2 in Washington, may conact Ms. Petrosyan, team coach, at petrosyan_aa@yahoo.com or 380-50-510-0056 (cellphone).

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