StreetLaw Fest Finals: Youth Promoting Integrity Through Legal Education

On December 5–6, 2024, Kyiv became a hub of inspiration, ideas, and unstoppable energy as it hosted the finals of the StreetLaw Fest competition under the theme “Building integrity in business and governance through legal education for youth”. True to the nature of a final, the event was a whirlwind of peak emotions — anticipation, uncertainty, and nervousness intertwined with teamwork, mutual support, and excitement about the transformative experience unfolding. Yet, the emotions did not deter the teams from showcasing their best.

From Online Stage to the Finals

Following the online stage, 11 teams emerged as the strongest contenders. However, before advancing to the finals, they faced one more challenge: conducting a pilot lesson for school students in their cities. This marked the first real-world test of the educational materials they had developed and demanded resilience, adaptability, and the ability to engage students while explaining complex concepts in an accessible way. Only 10 teams succeeded in this task and proceeded to the finals:

“Yurfleks” (Legal Clinic of the Law School of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv)

“Juventus Legis” (Legal Clinic of the Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University, Odesa)

“JusTeam” (Legal Clinic “Veritas” of Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, Mykolaiiv)

“Chinazes Gang” (Practical Law Legal Clinic of the Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia)

“Praetor” (Legal Clinic “Astrea” of the Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University, Kyiv)

“Klinitsysty” (Clinicians) (Legal Clinic of the Law School of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv)

“Lex Femina” (Practical Law Legal Clinic of theVasyl Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia)

“Delegatsiia” (Delegation) (Legal Clinic of the State University of Economics and Technology, Kryvyi Rih)

“Potuzhni Pravnyky” (Powerful Lawyers) (Legal Clinic of the Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi Kremenchuk National University, Kremenchuk)

“Liga Pravosuddia” (League of Justice) (Practical Law Legal Clinic of the Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia)

Learning at the Finals: Expert Workshops

While the finals were the culmination of the competition, they also offered valuable learning opportunities. Participants attended expert workshops that enriched and enlivened the two-day event.  Stanislav Bronevytskyi, Senior Policy Advisor for the Pro-Integrity Program, led a workshop that guided participants through the prosecutor’s workflow, highlighting key challenges and strategies for overcoming them. Another workshop by Yurii Nikolov, editor of “Nashi Groshi” (Our Money), shared investigative journalism experiences in exposing corruption schemes, demonstrating how the fight against corruption extends beyond legal professionals to anyone willing to uncover and publicize wrongdoing.

Competition Highlights

Competition is at the heart of StreetLaw Fest, and the spirit of rivalry was palpable. Even after the results were announced, teams eagerly compared scores to see how close they had come to victory. However, this competitive energy did not overshadow the mutual respect that blossomed among participants. Phrases like, “You’re all incredible! We’re honored to be among you, and we’re grateful for the support and new friendships,” echoed throughout the venue.

The first day of the competition centered on presenting the most creative elements of the educational lessons — interactive videos or games. Teams finally had the chance to see their competitors’ projects. The submissions ranged from animated videos and quests to chatbot-enabled games and custom websites. Despite their diverse formats and execution, the judges evaluated them uniformly, focusing on clarity, thematic relevance, and the achievement of educational goals.

The second day of the finals broke all records for tension and excitement. The competition format required teams to conduct a full lesson for 8th and 9th-grade students at Kyiv Lyceum No. 304. The task was ambitious: within 45 minutes, teams had to deliver the core ideas of their lesson, captivate the students, infuse them with positivity, and engage them in active discussions and participation in activities.

Even before the lessons began, the atmosphere in the lyceum’s corridors was charged with nervous energy. Students double-checked their presentations, assigned roles, and prepared themselves to work with teenagers. Many participants admitted that this was the most challenging part of the competition, as holding the attention of schoolchildren is no easy task. What they didn’t know, however, was that the lessons would coincide with a power outage, presenting an additional challenge. The teams had to adapt to extraordinary conditions without access to the internet, multimedia tools, or the ability to display their presentations. This unexpected situation tested not only the quality of their materials but also their ability to react swiftly to unforeseen circumstances. Those who managed to stay composed and quickly adapt turned the challenge into an opportunity to showcase their creativity and resourcefulness.

 “The kids’ enthusiasm fueled us. Their energy helped us overcome our initial nervousness, and we were able to explain the topic clearly. We’re thrilled they found the lesson valuable and applicable to their lives. Thank you to the organizers for this opportunity!” — Nadiia Horodyska, “Klinitsysty”.

 

“The students were fantastic — active, friendly, and sharp. We enjoyed the experience despite some technical issues. Our game, designed to engage them, worked wonderfully. These kids are incredibly smart, and I’m confident they’ll benefit from what they learned today”, — Oleksii Myronov, “Juventus Legis”.

Judging Panel

The judging panel for the StreetLaw Fest finals brought together representatives of anti-corruption agencies, experts in integrity and anti-corruption, members of the legal clinic community, and educators. This ensured an objective and multifaceted evaluation of every aspect of the teams’ performances.

Among those evaluating the lessons were representatives from Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, including Viktoriia Skorobohata, Deputy Head of the Education and Training Programs Department at the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP); Aliona Khylko, Project Manager at the NACP Office of Integrity; and Olesia Marenych, International Lawyer at tha National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

Other lesson evaluators included Oksana Vozniuk, Judge of the Bila Tserkva District Court of Kyiv Region; Mariia Tsypiashchuk, Head of Transitional Justice at ABA ROLI in Ukraine and HEAL Project; and Serhii Movchan, Lawyer and expert at the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.

Representatives from the Foundation for Institutional Development also participated as judges, including Kateryna Datsko, Executive Director of the organization; Anna Fedorenko, Deputy Chair of the Board; and Olena Karpova, an expert at the Foundation. Additionally, Mykhailo Sahaidak, Doctor of Economics, Professor, and Head of the Management Department at Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University, contributed to the panel.

The judging panel also included members of the legal clinic community, such as Mykola Malii, Head of the “Phoenix” Legal Clinic at Kyiv University of Law, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; and Natalia Lata, Director of the “Legal Protection Center” Legal Clinic at the State University of Trade and Economics. Representatives from Kyiv Lyceum No. 304 also joined, including Deputy Director for Educational Work Yuliia Zhezhera, along with teachers Pavlo Panteleienko and Svitlana Strelnik.

The judges assessed the teams’ work based on clear criteria, taking into account the challenges and unforeseen circumstances they faced. Their evaluations were decisive in determining the winners.

Winners and Special Mentions

The winners of the StreetLaw Fest competition were Yelyzaveta Hrabova, Viktoriia Kucheruk, and Ivan Korol from the team “Chinazes Gang” (Practical Law Legal Clinic of the Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia).

The second place was awarded to the team “Potuzhni Pravnyky” (Legal Clinic of the Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi Kremenchuk National University, Kremenchuk), represented by Taras Yakymets and Alisa Vysotska.

The third place went to the team “Juventus Legis” (Legal Clinic, Odesa Mechnikov National University, Odesa), consisting of Yana Yurova, Ihor Ziberov, Oleksii Myronov, and Vladyslav Kondratiev.

The winners in the category “Best Educational Video or Interactive Game” were members of the team “Klinitsysty” (Legal Clinic of the Law School of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv) —Tetiana Hladunets, Nadiia Horodyska, Emiliia Honcharova, and Oleksii Kavyn.

As part of the rewards for their outstanding efforts, the top teams of StreetLaw Fest will receive unique opportunities to enhance their professional development and gain practical experience in the legal field.  The winners of the competition will be awarded an exclusive opportunity to participate in a two-week internship at the renowned Arzinger law firm in 2025. The team that secured second place will enjoy a one-day introductory visit to the Business Ombudsman Council in 2025, offering them valuable insights into its operations and initiatives.

The StreetLaw Fest Finals proved that integrity is a topic close to the hearts of today’s youth. Participants combined legal expertise, creativity, and passion to achieve meaningful results. The event became a turning point for all teams, equipping them with invaluable experiences and motivating them to advance legal education and promote integrity in their communities.

The materials developed by the finalist teams will soon be available to the public, enabling others to use them for youth educational sessions. More about the competition, its workshops, and resources can be found at https://streetlaw.com.ua.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants of the StreetLaw Fest for their energy, creativity, and unwavering determination to make society better. You are a true source of inspiration for all of us!

Special thanks to our partners who supported the idea of the competition and made its realization possible: the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Foundation for Institutional Development, and the Ukrainian Network of Integrity and Compliance (UNIC).

Our deepest appreciation goes to the UNODC Program Office in Ukraine for its support, belief in our shared values, and contribution to the successful implementation of StreetLaw Fest. Your assistance is a vital step toward building a society where the rule of law, transparency, and mutual respect are fundamental principles.

The StreetLaw Fest competition, “Building integrity in business and governance through legal education for youth” is organized with support from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Ukraine (UNODC) and funded by Siemens business integrity Initiative.

 

Photo by Vitalii Shevelev