Applications are now being accepted for a summer school in Prague for young lawyers from Ukraine

The CEELI Institute has opened applications for its fifth annual summer school «Legal skills in a time of war» The program is designed for Ukrainian law students and young lawyers. For the 32 selected participants, the organizers will cover tuition, accommodation, meals and travel expenses.

The school will take place in Prague from July 20 to 31, 2026. Applications are accepted until April 30, 2026. Program details and the registration form are available on the CEELI Institute website, where information about last year’s school is also available.

Ukrainian law students who have completed their third year of study by the start of the course, as well as young lawyers within three years of graduation, are eligible to apply, regardless of whether they are in Ukraine or temporarily residing in other European countries.

The language of instruction is English, so participants must be fluent in it and have a working knowledge of legal terminology. Selection will be based on responses in the application form.

«This is a unique full-time program designed specifically for those who seek not only theoretical knowledge but also the practical skills necessary in times of war, - noted Olena Maksymenko, the UNBA representative in the Czech Republic. - CEELI Institute programs focus on practical training, which is often lacking in academic education. Participants will take part in debates, develop practical skills, and build lasting professional connections that will last a lifetime».

The first week is dedicated to legal interviewing, client-centered counseling, case analysis, witness examination techniques, persuasive courtroom advocacy, and working with traumatized clients and witnesses.

The second week focuses on international criminal law. Participants will study the principles of international humanitarian law, war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, the crime of aggression, as well as issues of forms of liability, immunities, and other barriers to justice.

The CEELI Institute is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Prague. It implements international educational programs and projects in the field of democracy and the rule of law.