Opening Statement Presentations at the Academy

This morning I conducted the final session at the Academy of Advocates for the Fall Semester. We had presentations from six law students, including two for the prosecution and two for the defense. I awarded gift tee shirts for all presenters, but reserved special prizes for the top prosecution and top defense presenters. These were a "Prosecutor's White Hat" and a "Defendant's Black Stocking Cap." Taisia won the top award for the Prosecution and Oleg for the Defense, although there were several other presentation that could easily have won. Other presenters included Alexander, Stanislav, Viktor and Aleksay.

My experience at the Academy has been outstanding. The faculty has provided great support, with two professors in attendance for each session. The student presentations have been outstanding. I look for great things from this group in the future.

Closing Argument Presentations at the Academy

This morning I worked with the law students at the Kyiv Academy of Advocates as several of them presented closing arguments. A large number of fellow law students joined us in the large ground floor presentation hall with its round vaulted ceiling. I made particular note of the passion and focus which the presenters brought to their work. They were well prepared and very polished. I was especially impressed with Taisia (pictured on the left) and Aleksey (receiving his gift shirt, below), who presented for the Prosecution and Defense respectively, and who won the mock trial competition this past Spring. These two, in particular, show great promise as trial advocates. All of the presenters spoke either without notes or only with a small number of notes, which helped their connection with the potential jury. They were also very sharp in illuminating key details from the case file. It appears that a number of Academy students from this year will want to participate in the year end mock trial, including some participants from last year. I expect great things from a number of these fine young law students. With such dedicated members of the bar in Ukraine, the future of this awakening Democracy looks very bright.