SP "Law"

Specialist Program in Law Studies

Specialty 8.03040101 - Law Studies

Qualification Granted

Specialist in Law Studies

Qualification Level

Specialist.

Special Requirements for Admission

None. General conditions apply.

Special Regulations for Prior Education Recognition (formal, informal, non-certificate)

None.

Program Profile

The one-year training program, based upon the students' basic knowledge in a wide range of law areas, provides specialized legal training for students within their chosen fields of private and public law, and thus further deepening their professional knowledge and skills in these areas. Given the above, the program includes only elective subjects with less academic load than Bachelor programs (not exceeding 5.5 credits), taught during one semester only. A number of the program subjects aim at further familiarizing future specialists with specific features of individual and the most significant legal professions (for example, advocate activities), strengthening the values ​​and philosophical foundations of a future expert (professional aptitude of a lawyer), and ensuring a lawyer with the skills necessary for future practical activities and work with people (negotiation and mediation, language of law, legal psychology). However, most subjects are a kind of continuation of the general courses taught at bachelor programs in various areas of law that provide concretized consideration of institutions and institutional and legal mechanisms for private (such as international business transactions) and public law (e.g., customs law, criminal and enforcement law, currency regulation and currency control). Given the traditional importance of the "Specialist" qualification within the national system of employment - primarily, for working in public administration bodies - much of the course is dedicated to specific aspects of the branches in public law and related areas (legal regulation of public service, accounting and accounting expertise, the right to social protection). Also, part of the subjects is designed to consider the problematic issues of the theory of law and constitutionalism.
In total, the curriculum offers 60 ECTS credits, including 1 credit of normative subjects, 48.5 credits of selective professionally-oriented subjects, as well as professional internship before the diploma defense (3 credits) and writing a qualifying thesis  (7.5 credits).

Key Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge in the Subject Area

· in-depth knowledge of basic principles and trends in the development of the national legal system;
· skillful ability to use the full arsenal of legal means to protect the rights and interests of citizens and legal entities protected by law and international legal mechanisms of protecting human and civil rights;
· obtaining thorough professional knowledge and skills in the process of studying specialized disciplines - according to specific institutions in the fields of public and private law (inheritance, land, entrepreneurial law, legal aspects of real estate, etc.);
· navigation in the specific functions of certain legal institutions and, based upon relevant norms, organizational and legal mechanisms for resolving legal relationships;
· familiarization with the legal system of the European Union in accordance with the trends of harmonization of legislation and considering the political course of European integration, as well as the resulting necessity to adjust the legal system and legislation of Ukraine in compliance with the law and legal system of the European Union.

2. Cognitive Skills in Subject Area

· master the concepts and categories that are included in the theoretical and methodological arsenal of human political and legal culture;
· rethinking of the theory of law taking into consideration the problematic concepts and controversial doctrinal principles;
· study the specific features of the structure, legal status and order of formation of public service in the states of Europe - as a result of appropriate processing of regulatory base and doctrinal sources.

3. Practical Skills in Subject Area

· perfect navigation in the system of current legislation;
· obtaining the skills of participation in court trials proceeding from simulating trials within the program training subjects;
· skills of prompt and high quality doctrinal search and processing of applied ways to settle problematic issues within the law industry, its institutions or according to specific practical situations;
· ability to provide comprehensive and valid description of the form of a state, the structure of its public administration and the ratio of power between political centers at the highest level;
· preparation of procedural documents in accordance with electoral legislation of Ukraine, including complaints;
· preparation and proper formatting of documentation in the areas of accounting, banking law and foreign trade.

4. General Skills

· skills of independent research of theoretical and practical issues;
· skills of negotiation and mediation, conflict management and seeking compromise between conflicting parties; skills of pre-trial settlement of disputes;
· skills of appropriate formatting of qualification and other research papers in accordance with the standards of the Ukrainian language and correct use of legal terminology.

Professional Profiles of Graduates and Potential Positions

The focus of professional activities of a Specialist in Law Studies will be on specific norms, regulations and institutions of law, as well as (based upon such norms and institutions) organizational, legal and political mechanisms of regulating legal relations in specific areas of private and public law. The program offers groups of subjects for different problematic, theoretical or practical (applied) aspects of international law, and in particular, EU law; public law areas, especially financial and administrative, as well as general theoretical and introductory subjects; and the courses, relevant to law studies, which promote practical efficiency of future lawyers.

Access to Further Education

A Specialist in Law Studies can continue education at the next qualifying level of higher education (Master Level) under Law Studies specialty (8.03040101).

Regulations for Examinations, Assessment and Grades

NaUKMA’s Tentative Provisions for Knowledge Assessment and Rating System for Students under Credit and Module System of Education Process

Graduation Requirements

Complete academic curriculum of 60 credits; successfully passed and defended research practice; successful defense of a qualifying paper to obtain Specialist’s qualification.

Form of Education

Full-time

Head of Program

Andriy A. Meleshevych, Dean of the Faculty of Law; PhD in Political Science (Syracuse University), Professor