Fund the 1st 100% FREE LL.M. Program for Ukrainian law students & attorneys

  • US$100.00
    raised of $250,000.00 goal goal
0% Funded
1 Donors
Help this ongoing fundraising campaign by making a donation and spreading the word.
Show more
Show less

In addition to the many thousands of civilians murdered, Ukraine has had over 8 million refugees forcibly displaced outside of Ukraine and another 8 million displaced within Ukraine. This includes many attorneys and law students who have left Ukraine and are without employment or opportunity for professional development. Due to the war, most of those who have stayed in Ukraine have been unable to pursue professional development either.

This is why The Center for American Studies (part of the Center for American & European Studies, an American-led non-profit foundation operating in Ukraine, Poland, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy) is raising funds to organize a 100% FREE LL.M. Program aimed at Ukrainian law students and lawyers who are interested to continue their professional development while the war continues in Ukraine.

The Program is hosted by the Center for American Studies in cooperation with West Ukrainian National University Law Faculty, Uzhhorod National University Faculty of Law and the Zakarpattian Bar Association.

HOSTS & PATRONS OF THE PROGRAM

The Program is carried out under the official auspices of:

Zakarpattian Bar Association (Uzhhorod, Ukraine)

West Ukrainian National University Law Faculty (Ternopil, Ukraine)

Uzhhorod National University (Uzhhorod, Ukraine)

American Councils Ukraine, partner organization of the United States Embassy in Kyiv

Ukrainian American House (Rancho Cordova, California)

The National Bar Association of Advocates and the President of the National Bar of Advocates of Poland (oldest Polish legal organization, operating on the basis of art. 17 of the Constitution of Poland)

Gavrilov & Brooks (Sacramento & Los Angeles)

Kielce District Bar Association of Legal Advisors (Kielce, Poland)

Cytowski & Partners (New York City, New York)

Cohen's Law (Boulder, Colorado)

Grinevich Law Group, P.C. (Roseville, California)

Law Office of Cecily E. Baskir (Bethesda, Maryland)

Law Offices of Alla V. Vorobets (Orangevale, California)

Association of Ukrainians in Poland (Warsaw, Poland)

SMM Legal (Poznan & Warsaw, Poland)

Gutowski & Associates (Poznań, Poland)

Wojciech Chrzanowski Law Office (Cracow, Poland)

Law Offices of Natalia Stojanowska (Gdansk, Poland)

Jan Kownacki Tax Law Office (Białystok, Poland)

Piotr Chodosz "The Profitable Law Firm"

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?

There are two ways in which you can contribute to the fundraiser and support legal education in Ukraine in the time of war.

1. Make your contribution via check to Ukrainian American House (UA House) headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California (a non-profit 501(c)(3) supporting organization and fiscal agent for the Center for American Studies). Checks should be marked "For Ukrainian legal education"

Your charitable contribution to the Ukrainian American House will be tax-deductible in accordance with U.S. law (www.uahouse.org).

Donations should be made payable to "Ukrainian American House", marked "for Ukrainian legal education", and sent to UA House's office in Rancho Cordova, California:

Ukrainian American House

Ukrainian Legal Education

11290 Point E Dr., Ste. 215

Rancho Cordova, CA 95742


2. Make your contribution directly to the Center For American Studies via the GoGetFunding page available under the following link:

gogetfunding.com/fund-the-1st-100-free-ll-m-for-ukrainian-lawyers/


(disclaimer: Charitable contributions made by American entities to foreign organizations via GoGetFunding are not generally tax-deductible so use the 1st method – check payable to the Ukrainian American House – if you want to seek a tax deduction)

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR CONTRIBUTION?

Thanks to you, our LL.M. Program will be offered at no financial cost to the Ukrainian students who are accepted into the Program.

Normally, American LL.M. programs cost from $70,000 to $100,000 per student (depending on costs of living). LL.M. degrees at such costs are completely inaccessible to Ukrainian lawyers. Our Program will educate fifty (50) Ukrainian students at a cost equal to that of an LL.M. program for two or three (2-3) students on American soil! Our LL.M. will be accessible to Ukrainian lawyers from all backgrounds and demographics, regardless of sex, gender, and economic status.

Our Program will be the first 100% free LL.M. program in the history of American LL.M. programs.

The Program will have a dual focus: on international private law (including International Business Transactions, Corporate Governance, Transborder Bankruptcy) and practical legal and language skills (Legal Writing, Contract Drafting, Negotiation, Commercial Arbitration, Mediation). The program will also include courses aimed specifically at post-war restitutions and combating future potential corruption in the process of using financial aid by national and local state institutions in Ukraine.

Each course, depending on the subject matter, will last between 10 and 40 hours. The planned time frame for the first edition of the Program is September 2023 – June 2024. For logistical reasons, we will admit a maximum of 40-50 students to the Program. A group of this size will enable the interactive format of the courses.

Because the Program is 100% free for Ukrainians, the criteria for admission will be: (a) the need for professional development presented in the application letter, and (b) the desire to support Ukraine during and/or after the war (e.g., through pro bono legal assistance to war victims).

The entire Program, due to the geographic spread of Ukrainian refugees, will be carried out online in English. In order to verify the acquired knowledge, individual courses will end with relevant exams, leading to the LL.M. Diploma.

LL.M. STRUCTURE

FOUR MAIN COURSES:

  • Legal English and Legal Writing (40 hours)
  • Legal Analysis and Advanced Legal Writing (40 hours)
  • Drafting Contracts (40 hours)
  • Civil Law and Civil Procedure: Terminology, Drafting and Litigation Skills (40 hours)

TWELVE 5-DAY COURSES (15 HOURS EACH):

  • International Sales and Commercial Contracts
  • International Trade
  • International Litigation in American Courts
  • International Tax Law
  • Business Organizations and Business Formation
  • Startups and Venture Capital Financings
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Corporate Governance
  • Negotiation Skills & Strategies
  • Mediation Skills & Strategies
  • Client Interviewing and Witness Questioning
  • International Commercial Arbitration
  • American Securities Regulation

EXTRA COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM:

  • Post-War Reconstruction and Restitutions (15 hours)
  • White-Collar Crime (15 hours)
  • Corruption and Mismanagement of Foreign Aid (15 hours)
  • Real Estate Transactions (15 hours)
  • Transborder Bankruptcy (15 hours)
  • Secured Transactions (15 hours)
  • Cryptocurrency and the Law (15 hours)

SELECTED FACULTY

Eric Alden, J.D.

Susanna Frederick Fischer, LL.B., LL.M.

Frank Sullivan, Jr., J.D., LL.M.

Cecily Baskir, J.D., LL.M.

Hal Abramson, J.D., LL.M.

Christopher Kelley, J.D., LL.M.

Uché Ofodile, LL.B., S.J.D., LL.M.

Jim Alfini, J.D.

Jim Chester, J.D., LL.M.

Jacquelyn Nolan-Haley, J.D., LL.M.

Jennifer Kreder, J.D.

Tytus Cytowski, LL.M.

Francis J. Mootz, J.D.

Rick Bales, J.D.

Morgan Cline, J.D., LL.M.

Gabrielle Lynn Goodwin, J.D.

James Cooper, J.D.

David Opderbeck, J.D.

Stephen Szrom, J.D.

Valery Loumber, J.D.


WHY DOES YOUR SUPPORT MATTER?

Because attorneys are integral to the functioning and build-up of any democratic society governed by the rule of law, and Ukraine is no exception, the professional development of Ukrainian attorneys during the war will assist Ukraine tremendously in its post-war reconstruction efforts, fighting for post-war restitutions and indemnifications, and combating future potential corruption in the process of using financial aid by national and local state institutions in Ukraine now and for years to come. Moreover, a strong legal community of Ukraine will be conducive to Ukraine meeting all necessary criteria of being accepted as a member of the European Union.

All faculty teaching in the Program will be the best American attorneys and law professors, graduates of leading American law schools (Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, etc.), many of whom regularly teach for the Center. This guarantees excellence in teaching. All American faculty will teach in real time, connecting with students directly from the United States.

WHERE IS YOUR MONEY GOING?

Establishing and operating the Program carries substantial costs, such as U.S. law faculty compensation, setting up a learning management system, record keeping system, cybersecurity/data privacy system, marketing the program, as well as paying tech-support personnel, accountants, coordinators, and other support staff for the duration of the program (one year).

The budget for the program is estimated to be 250,000 USD.

The initiative is not, in any way, financed by public institutions (state or local government) of any state.

At least three coordinators will be employed to run the program and five assistants will help them run every-day operations.

THE HOSTS OF THE PROGRAM:

The Center for American Studies

An American-led non-profit first established in Poland, the Center For American Studies operates in Ukraine, Italy, Spain, and DACHL (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein), and provides high quality practical education for lawyers whose native legal education systems are overly domestic law-based and detached from practice.

Zakarpattian Bar Association (part of the Ukrainian National Bar Association)

Fusing experience and energy, the Zakarpattian Bar attracts young lawyers who help their distinguished mentors achieve excellence in legal education and advocacy. Operating as a model for other bar associations across Ukraine, the Zakarpattian Bar is on the forefront of safeguarding the rule of law and unity within the entire Ukrainian legal community in the turbulent times of war.

West Ukrainian National University Law Faculty

West Ukrainian National University (WUNU) is a leading Ukrainian educational institution, which shapes the academic spirit, passion, and discipline of Ukrainian intellectuals, professionals, and leaders. While WUNU is a stalwart of Ukrainian identity formation, it embraces modernity and retains a competitive spirit among its students.

Uzhhorod University Faculty of Law

The Uzhhorod University Faculty of Law is a leading Ukrainian legal education institution known for its excellence in the fields of Jurisprudence, International Law, and Law Enforcement. Striving to advance values such as tolerance and freedom of inquiry, the Faculty actively implements programs that allow students to integrate into the legal academic space and legal profession.


Let us know if you have any questions at [email protected] and we will gladly answer!

Check out our website to learn more: www.cfasofficial.com

Best regards,

Luke Darby Bartosik, LL.M.
President of the Center For American Studies
Polish-American Activist and Supporter of Ukraine


Valery Loumber, Esq.,

Partner at Gavrilov & Brooks

2315 Capitol Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95816

Full-service Business and Litigation law firm in the heart of California www.gavrilovlaw.com

Bulgarian-American Attorney and Supporter of Ukraine


Prof. Christopher Kelley, LL.M.

Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Program

Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law

Professor at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv


Lilya Kurii, Ph.D.

Country Director

Center For American Studies Ukraine

__________________________________

The Center For American & European Studies is a foundation registered in the Registry of Associations and Other Social and Professional Organizations, Foundations and Independent Public Health Care Institutions of the National Court Registry, kept by the Poznań-New Town and Wilda District Court in Poznań, VIII Commercial Division of the National Court Registry (Court Registry Number: 0000985006, Tax Identification Number: 7812019909), headquartered at Stobnicka 5b, 60-480 Poznań, Poland.

The Center For American & European Studies conducts its mission on grounds of the provisions of the Polish Law on Foundations of April 7, 1989 (JoL from 1984, No. 21, item 97), the Polish Act on Publicly Beneficial Activities and Voluntary Work (JoL from 2003, No 96, item 873), notarial deed on the establishment of a foundation (repository number 4145/2020), Judicial License no. PO. VIII NS-REJ.KRS/033304/20/143, and its Bylaws. The overseeing authority of the Center For American & European Studies is the Polish Ministry of Education.

Rewards

Title of the Bronze Sponsor of the Program

Donations between 500-2,000 U.S. dollars will qualify you as a Bronze Sponsor. Perks: honorable mentions on the CFAS website, Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram.

Title of the Silver Sponsor of the Program

Donation between 2,001-5,000 U.S. dollars will qualify you as a Silver Sponsor. Perks: 1. Honorable mentions on the CFAS website, Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram. 2. Official Silver Sponsor Certificate of Recognition from the Center For American Studies Ukraine for noteworthy support of legal education in Ukraine.

Title of the Gold Sponsor of the Program

Donation between 5,001-10,000 U.S. dollars will qualify you as a Gold Sponsor. Perks: 1. Honorable mentions on the CFAS website, Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram. 2. Honorable mention in an official Program Video. 3. Official Gold Sponsor Certificate of Recognition from the Center For American Studies Ukraine for outstanding support of legal education in Ukraine.

Title of the Diamond Sponsor of the Program

Donation higher than 10,001 U.S. dollars will qualify you as a Diamond Sponsor. Perks: 1. Honorable mentions on the CFAS website, Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram. 2. Honorable mention in an official Program Video. 3. Official Diamond Sponsor Certificate of Recognition from the Center For American Studies Ukraine for exceptional support of legal education in Ukraine.

Fundraising Team

Sebastian Rogalski, Marketing Director of the LL.M. program. He has several years of experience in co-organizing international academic programs.

Sebastian Rogalski, Marketing Director of the LL.M. program. He has several years of experience in co-organizing international academic programs.

Liliya Kuriy, Ph.D. As the Center For American Studies Ukraine Country Director, Liliya will manage and oversee the execution of the Program.

Liliya Kuriy, Ph.D. As the Center For American Studies Ukraine Country Director, Liliya will manage and oversee the execution of the Program.

Donors

  • Eliezer Cohen
  • Donated on Jul 18, 2023
Amount Hidden

No updates for this campaign just yet

Donors & Comments

1 donors
  • Eliezer Cohen
  • Donated on Jul 18, 2023
Amount Hidden

Followers

0 followers
No Followers Just Yet...
US$100.00
raised of $250,000.00 goal
0% Funded
1 Donors

Help this ongoing fundraising campaign by making a donation and spreading the word.

Not Ready to Donate?

Did you know a 10 second Facebook share raises an average of $25?

Share on Facebook