“Tomorrow’s Lawyer” Changed the Perception of My Work” – Vira Mykhailenko
Tomorrow’s Lawyer Launches a Series of Interviews with Graduates and Program Speakers on Various Topics of Public Interest.
This time we talked to a graduate of the first hundred of the Program – Vira Mykhailenko, who has recently became a judge of the High Anticorruption Court of Ukraine (HACU). The interview was published by Yurydychna Gazeta Weekly.
Since 2007, she has been practicing law. Two years ago, she tried herself in a competition for the selection of judges of first instance. At the same time, she decided to test the procedure for the selection of HACU judges. Unexpectedly, she made it to the finals.
Is the Court ready to begin work on September 5, how judges resolve their jurisdictional issues and cope with the pressure of responsibility before the public? Answers to these questions in an interview with Vira Mykhailenko.
– Vira, at what stage today is the preparation for the High Anti-Corruption Court launch?
– Speaking of judges, we are ready to start hearing cases. With regard to the readiness of the court premises, this is a lengthy process. We received new premises not too long ago (08.07.2019 – ed.). The premises of the Kyiv Pechersk District Court (42a Khreshchatyk St.) are not designed to accommodate all judges and court staff.
The premises at Khreshchatyk street are designed for courtrooms, but they are not properly equipped, while facilities at Peremogy Avenue are not equipped at all. That is why repair is going on in both premises (on Khreshchatyk Street and Peremohy Avenue – Ed.). Khreschatyk has almost finished the formation of a regime-secret department that guasrantees protection of state secrets. The law stipulates that investigating judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court give permission for unspoken investigative and search activities with “secret” label.
– You participated in the “Tomorrow’s Lawyer” Program. How has it affected your future career?
– The “Tomorrow’s Lawyer” Program changed my perception of what I do. Previously, I focused on providing clients with legal assistance in compliance with legislation, worked out a strategy and tactics, but paid attention only to the process to achieve results. Having completed the Program, I started to pay attention to communication with the client, with other participants in the process. Perhaps the communication skills I received during the course are helping me feel comfortable in the new environment of lawyers and judges. The program also helped to feel the strength of the Bar as a “legal corporation” and to become part of a community with the right values, ideals and aspirations.
Full text is available by the link (Ukrainian)
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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the “Tomorrow’s Lawyer” Program, the Ukrainian Bar Association, the Bar Association of Legal Aid Providers, the Quality and Accessible Legal Aid in Ukraine Project, the Canadian Bureau for International Education, or the Government of Canada and the Law Enforcement Section of the United States Embassy in Ukraine.
“Tomorrow’s Lawyer” is a powerful network of lawyers uniting opinion leaders in the legal profession, who provide legal assistance in accordance with the highest ethical standards, act as agents of change in society and leaders in the professional community.
The “Tomorrow’s Lawyer” Program was launched in 2016 and first implemented within the “Quality and Accessible Legal Aid” Project, carried out by the Canadian Bureau for International Education with the support of the Government of Canada in cooperation with the Legal Aid Coordination Centre. It is currently being implemented and developed with the support of the US Embassy’s Law Enforcement Section in Ukraine, the “Tomorrow’s Lawyer” NGO, in partnership with the Ukrainian Bar Association and the Bar Association of Legal Aid Providers.
