# Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University

50°00′18″N 36°14′52″E﻿ / ﻿50.004935°N 36.247811°E﻿ / 50.004935; 36.247811
Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (Ukrainian: Національний юридичний університет імені Ярослава Мудрого) is a self-governing state higher law educational establishment of the IV level of accreditation, a national university, located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, named after Yaroslav the Wise. National Law University is the largest law school in Ukraine, which includes 10 faculties, institutes and colleges located in Kharkiv and Poltava.
In the rankings of national universities, National Law University is consistently ranked among the top three law schools in Ukraine.

## History

As a separate law school, the institution was established in 1930 as Kharkiv Institute of Soviet Construction and Law. However, its heritage could be traced back to 1804 with establishment of the main city university, the Kharkiv University.

### Imperial Kharkiv University

The history of the school began in the 19th century by the order of Alexander I with the establishment of the Imperial Kharkiv University on 17 November [O.S. 5 November] 1804 and the department of morality and politics as its part. In 1835 it was officially renamed as the Law Department of the Imperial Kharkiv University.
At different times famous lawyers worked here, such as professors M.M. Alekseyenko, L.E. Vladimirov, M.A. Hredeskul, V.P. Danevskyi, I.I. Ditiatin, L.N. Zahurskyi, D.I. Kachenovsky, O.V. Kunitsin, M.O. Kuplevaskyi, O.I. Paliumbetskyi, A.M. Stoianov, M.O. Taube, I.F. Timkovskyi, M.P. Chubinskyi and others.

### Institute of National Economy/Institute of Soviet Construction and Law

In 1920 by the decision of the Soviet government of Ukraine the Kharkiv Institute of National Economy was established on the basis of the Kharkiv Commercial University. The former law department of the Kharkiv Empire University was transferred to the newly created university.
It was the basis of the Law Institute which trained lawyers for state and economic bodies. The first lecturers of the law faculty – the founders of the Institute – were law professors: V.M. Hordon, V.M. Koretskyi, O.D. Kisilev, V.F. Levitskyi, M.O. Maksimeyko, M.I. Palienko, V.I. Slivitskyi, V.S. Trakhterov and others who worked at the Kharkiv University before. They were holding scientific and teaching positions for many years and made a great contribution into formation and development of law science, lawyers' education and training.
In 1930 The Institute of National Economy, taking into consideration its status of an institute of higher legal education, received a new name: the Institute of Soviet Construction and Law. In May 1933 the institute was renamed into the Ukrainian Communist Institute of Soviet Construction and Law.

### Kharkiv Law Institute

In 1937 for the purpose of improvement of lawyers' training it was rearranged into the Kharkiv Law Institute of Felix Dzerzhinsky. Throughout the history of the Institute it's rectors (directors) were P.I. Fomin, Ya.O. Sokolin, N.I. Levikov, E.O. Kustolian, K.K. Brandt, M.M. Eminnik, F.M. Tsarehradskyi, S.M. Kanarskyi, V.O. Barakhtyan, S.I. Vilnyanskyi, O.A. Nebotov, V.P. Maslov; pro-rectors – V.M. Koretskyi, K.K. Brandt, V.V. Krivitskyi, E.O. Kustolian, G.V. Sodin, G.V. Eminnik, D.K. Piatak, M.I. Levikov, S.L. Fuks, S.I. Vilnianskyi, M.V. Hordon, A.l. Rogozhin, I.M. Danshin.

### National Law Academy of Ukraine

In accordance with the resolution of Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR of 20 March 1991 the Kharkiv Law Institute was rearranged into the National Law Academy of Ukraine. Under the president's decree of 30 March 1995 No. 267 the academy was given the status of the national self-governed (autonomous) state higher educational establishment and by decree of 4 November 1995 the name of Yaroslav the Wise. In accordance with the decree of the president of Ukraine No. 457 21 May 2001 «The question of Yaroslav the Wise National Law Academy of Ukraine», recognizing its considerable role in training specialists for bodies of state authorities, law enforcement organs, various fields of law practice, considering the necessity of keeping and further development of generated scientific schools in the academy, it was given additional rights with the approval of statute by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In accordance with the decree of the president of Ukraine No. 485 25 May 2009 and the resolution of Cabinet of Ministers No. 796 29 July 2009, «The question of Yaroslav the Wise National Law Academy of Ukraine» the academy was given the status of a self-governed (autonomous) scientific national higher educational establishment, which carried out their activity in accordance with its statute with the right to:
* set up a research institute of legal science;
* take final decisions on awarding scientific degrees and titles;
* realize experimental educational plans and programs for training specialists for state authority bodies, organs of local government, law enforcement organs, various fields of legal practice, research and educational staff.
In accordance with the decree of the president of Ukraine #1194/2010 24 December 2010 and the resolution of Cabinet of Ministers # 2213-p of 8 December 2010, Yaroslav the Wise National Law Academy of Ukraine was renamed into National University "Yaroslav the Wise Law Academy of Ukraine".

## Campuses and buildings

The main academic premise is of 22,000.00 square meters, located in Kharkiv on Hryhorii Skovoroda Street, 77; architect Alexei Beketov built it in 1893. There are 26 departments, 8 lecture halls, sports premises and halls, 2 computer rooms, and library with reading rooms, equipped with computer networks, 2 halls of the Academic Council and the administrative units of the university.
Criminalistics Department building is of 3,000.00 square meters, located on Hryhorii Skovoroda Street, 84; it has 3 lecture halls, 4 photo-laboratories, 2 computer labs, Internet-studio video center, museum and forensic testing ground,
These educational buildings are architectural monuments. The educational building located on Hryhorii Skovoroda Street, 79/2 (2,700.00 square meters) has 5 lecture halls, classrooms, computer lab.
Premise of Crimean Law Institute with total area of 4,000.00 square meters has 4 lecture halls, lecture rooms, conference hall, library, food catering premises, hostel, sports premises, etc.
Total area of Poltava Law Institute premise is 13,917.00 square meters. There are six lecture halls, classrooms, lab for distance education, two conference rooms, two computer labs, a library, museum of criminology, 9-storied hostel of 5,607.00 square meters adjacent to main building, etc.
Currently University has premises with total area 246,611.07 square meters: 18 premises for education of 111,820.57 square meters including sports and cultural centers; 16 hostels of 113,684.00 square meters for 6861 persons; administrative buildings of 10,793.00 square meters; medical and food catering premises of 10,313.10 square meters.

## Profile

The academy has significant research and educational potential. Teaching, research and tutorial work are realized by 34 departments, employing more than 800 lecturers. Among them 100 Doctors of Law, professors, about 600 Juris Doctors, associate professors; 1 Full Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; 15 Full Members of the National Academy of Law Sciences of Ukraine; 20 Corresponding Members of the National Academy of Law Sciences of Ukraine; 15 Honoured Science and Technology Workers; 2 Honoured Art Workers of Ukraine; 1 Honoured Higher School Worker; 15 Honoured Public Education Workers of Ukraine; 14 Honoured Lawyers of Ukraine; 1 Honoured Lawyer of Russia; 1 Honoured Builder of Ukraine; 7 Honoured Professors – Elders of the National Law Academy of Ukraine named after Yaroslav the Wise; 5 Honoured Culture Workers of Ukraine; 5 Honoured Artists of Ukraine; 10 State prize laureates.

### Research

The university carries out scientific research concerning fundamental and applied problems of jurisprudence, apparently 17 targeted complex programs are being developed on four scientific directions, famous scientific schools known in Ukraine and abroad have been formed.

### Contribution

The university makes a major contribution to the perfection of a jural state in Ukraine, improvement of legislative and law enforcement processes. The university's scholars took direct participation in the development of the Constitution of Ukraine currently in force and other laws and normative legal acts, are actively influencing law enforcement practice in the country. The university cooperates with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Office of the President of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, ministries and departments, bodies of local government in the legislative field. Many of the university's scholars are consultants, members of consultative councils of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, Higher Economic Court, General Prosecutor's Office, Ministry of Interior Affairs, Central Electoral Commission of Ukraine and others government bodies.

### Reputation

The university takes a leading position in national legal education. It is confirmed by the results of Ukrainian rating of higher educational establishments «Compass», which taking into account the rating of employers and graduates, according to which, the university is the leader among legal educational establishments of Ukraine. The university has been awarded by the Gold Medal of XIII International Exhibition of educational establishments "Modern Education in Ukraine 2010″ in the nomination «Innovations in using IT technologies in the educational process» for the innovative project «Modern architecture of informative educational environmental» (foresight-project); has taken the first prize and awarded by Diploma in the nomination of «Innovation in higher education» for the innovative project «Semantic informative educational portal of the National University "Yaroslav the Wise Law Academy of Ukraine"» in the international exhibition-presentation «Innovation in the education of Ukraine»; has taken the Grand Prize «The Leader of the higher education of Ukraine» in the international exhibition «Modern educational establishments 2010».

### International relations

The university has wide international contacts. It established cooperation and signed agreements with educational establishments of Great Britain, Vietnam, Spain, Germany, Poland, Russia (until 2014), United States, Uzbekistan, France and other countries. It is a participant of joint European projects in the network of «Tempus-Tasis» program and many other international projects.
On 18 September 2004 the university signed the Bologna Process.
On 14 December 2007 the university became the member of the European University Association.
On 20 November 2011 a chapter of the International Law Students Association was established on the basis of the university's international law society.

## Structure
### Institutes and faculties

* Faculty of the Prosecutor’s Office
* Faculty of Law and Economic Security
* Faculty of Investigative and Detective Activities
* Faculty of Justice [uk]
* Institute of the Security Service of Ukraine [uk]
* Institute of Military Law [uk]
* Faculty of International and European Law [uk]
* Faculty of Advocacy
* Poltava Law Institute
* Poltava Professional College

### Departments

* Department of Administrative Law and Administrative Activity
* Department of Business Law
* Department of State Building
* Department of Environmental Law
* Department of Land and Agricultural Law
* Department of Foreign Languages
* Department of History of State and Law of Ukraine and Foreign Countries
* Department of Constitutional Law of Ukraine
* Department of Forensic Science
* Department of Criminal and Legal Policy
* Department of Criminal Law
* Department of Criminal Procedure
* Department of Cultural Studies
* Department of International Law
* Department of Tax Law
* Department of European Union Law
* Department of Theory and History of Law
* Department of Labour Law
* Department of Physical Education
* Department of Philosophy
* Department of Financial Law
* Department of Civil Legal Policy, Intellectual Property Law and Innovations
* Department of Civil Law
* Department of Civil Procedure, Arbitration and Private International Law
* Department of Civil Justice and Advocacy
* Department of Administrative Law
* Department of Reserve Officers Training
* Department of Human Rights and Legal Methodology

## Honorable doctors and famous alumni

* Mikhail Alekseyenko
* Dmitri Kachenovsky
* Mikhail Taube
* Ilya Timkovsky
* Hennadiy Kernes
* Mikhail Alekseyenko was Russian lawyer, professor of finance law, public figure, member of the State Duma of the Russian Empire of 3rd and 4th convocations (by the list from the Union of October 17), and rector of the Kharkov University (1890–1897).
* Dmitri Kachenovsky was a famous Russian jurist.
* Mikhail Taube was a famous Russian international lawyer, statesman and legal historian.
* Ilya Timkovsky, Lawyer, professor and dean of the moral faculty of Kharkov University.
* Vladimir Koretsky, Head of International Law and Director of the Institute of State and Law of the USSR Academy of Sciences; graduated in 1916.
* Vladimir Stashys, Honoured professor of the National University «Yaroslav the Wise Law Academy of Ukraine», honoured professor of National Academy of Internal Affairs, honoured doctor of National University of «Kyiv-Mohyla Academy», honoured academician of International Solomon University, honoured academician of National University of Ostroh Academy, member of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, member of Lawyers' Union of Ukraine, member of the International Association of Legal Methodology in Canada, London Academy of Diplomacy, European Association of Legislation (EAL), European Society of Criminology.
* Violetta Konovalova, Honored scientist of Ukraine (1981), winner of the prize Yaroslav the Wise, for outstanding achievements in field of science education (2001) and in nomination «For series of works on criminalistics» (2003).
* Vasyl Tatsiy, Soviet and Ukrainian scientist in the field of jurisprudence. Doctor of Law, Professor. Rector of the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (1987–2020). President (1993–2016) and honorary president (2016–2022) of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, member of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (1998–2022). One of the authors of the Constitution of Ukraine (1996), Hero of Ukraine (2004).
* Oleksandr Lavrynovych, Minister of Justice of Ukraine.
* Vitaliy Boiko, Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
* Fedir Hlukh, Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
* Vasyl Onopenko, Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
* Petro Pylypchuk, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
* Hennadiy Kernes, Mayor of Kharkiv.
* Ekaterina Zgurskaya, Minister of Justice of Ukrainian SSR.
* Stepan Havrysh, Ukrainian politician, Doctor of Law, Professor. Academician of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine (2004), Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine (2003); People's Deputy of Ukraine III and IV convocations.
* Tetyana Kahanovska, Ukrainian lawyer, Doctor of Law, Professor of administartive law. Rector of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.

## Rectors

* 1930—1931 Brandt Karl Karlovich [ru]
* 1931—1932 Mark Yeminnyk [ru]
* 1932—1934 Semyon Tsarehradskyi [ru]
* 1934—1937 Sergey Kanarskyi [uk; ru]
* 1937 Mykola Levikov [ru]
* 1937—1939 Yevheniy Monastyrskyi [ru]
* 1939—1948 Vasily Barakhtyan [ru]
* 1948—1950 Solomon Vilnyanskyi [uk; ru]
* 1950—1962 Olexander Nebotov [uk; ru]
* 1962—1987 Vasily Maslov [uk; ru]
* 1987—2020 Vasily Tatsiy [uk; ru]
* 2020—present Anatoly Hetman [uk; ru]