UP 2026: Project Solutions, Practical Cases and Hands-On Experience for Future Legal Professionals

On 19–20 May 2026, the final stage of the UP 2026 International Internship for Legal Clinic Students, titled “Human-Centred Public Service: European Standards, Regional Policy and Innovative Governance Models,” took place in Kyiv. The internship was organised by the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine and the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service. Six teams that demonstrated the strongest results during the research stage of the programme advanced to the final. Over the course of two days, participants worked on practical case studies, presented project proposals, and discussed challenges related to public service delivery and community development.

The finalist teams were:

• Legal Unity UA — Legal Clinic of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs;
• Vector of Change — Veritas Legal Clinic of Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University;
• Connection Between Generations — Mykola Udod Legal Clinic of Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University;
• Drop — Veritas Legal Clinic of Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University;
• Titans of Law — Legal Clinic of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs;
• Ubuntu — Legal Clinic of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.

One of the key components of the final programme was a workshop led by Yuliia Lomzhets, Head of the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine. Participants explored the role of stakeholders in community and social projects, discussing who influences the implementation of initiatives, how cooperation between different groups can be built, and why even strong ideas often fail without effective stakeholder engagement. During the practical session, teams developed stakeholder maps and analysed their impact on project implementation.

Another important element of the final stage was a case study involving a man on the autism spectrum who encountered barriers while attempting to register as an individual entrepreneur. The case encouraged participants to look beyond a routine administrative procedure and consider broader issues of accessibility, barrier-free public services, reasonable accommodation, and non-discrimination. Teams proposed a variety of solutions: some focused on international human rights standards, while others emphasised practical improvements in the operation of Administrative Service Centres, support mechanisms, and concrete steps that individuals in similar situations could take.

Following the presentations, teams received feedback from judges and experts. Discussions focused on the specific features of public service systems that should be considered in such cases, the implementation of Ukraine’s barrier-free policy, and the importance of accessibility as a fundamental principle of public service delivery.

As part of the final, teams also presented their take-home assignments in the form of project proposals aimed at addressing community needs in the areas of human rights protection, transparency, accountability, and social cohesion.

The Legal Unity UA team proposed an online legal support platform that would enable community members to obtain legal consultations and answers to frequently asked questions more quickly.

The Vector of Change team developed the concept of a chatbot designed for internally displaced young people and students, providing easy access to information on rights, benefits, employment opportunities, education, and adaptation in a new community.

The Connection Between Generations team worked on a project focused on teaching older adults how to use public e-services and digital tools.

The Drop team proposed creating a digital map of drinking water sources containing information about water quality and available collection points within a community.

The Titans of Law team presented a project aimed at establishing a safe space for children and adolescents where they could receive psychological support, legal assistance, and safety training.

The Ubuntu team proposed a cooperation model involving local communities, local self-government bodies, and legal clinics to facilitate access to primary legal aid and consultations.

For many participants, this was their first experience not only generating project ideas but also explaining how those ideas could be implemented in practice: identifying partners, planning activities, and ensuring that proposed solutions responded to real community needs.

The teams’ presentations were evaluated by representatives of organisations and institutions working in the fields of public administration, human rights, community development, and institutional change:

• Halyna Kokhan, Programme Manager at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law;
• Yuliia Lomzhets, Head of the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine;
• Kateryna Datsko, Executive Director of the Foundation of the Institutional Development ;
• Anastasiia Myrkieieva, State Expert of the Strategic Human Resources Development Group within the General Department for Human Resources Management in the Civil Service and Local Self-Government of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service;
• Olena Kovtun, Head of the Department for International Cooperation, Economic Analysis and Strategic Communications of the Boyarka City Council.

This year, the Ubuntu team from the Legal Clinic of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv received the highest overall score based on the results of the two final days. The team consisted of Marta Matviiv and Vladyslav Fartushok. The main prize for the winners is an internship at the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.

We congratulate the winning team and thank all finalists for their dedication, ideas, and commitment to addressing the challenges faced by communities every day.

We also extend our gratitude to the judges for their professionalism and willingness to share their experience with future legal professionals.

Special thanks go to the internship partners for supporting the programme and providing legal clinic students with an opportunity to work on practical cases, discuss real public service challenges, and test their own solutions in the fields of community development and service accessibility.

The internship is implemented under RWI’s Human Rights Infrastructure for Ukraine (HRIU) Programme (2025–2027) funded by the Swedish government through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), with ALCU as the implementing partner.