Stories about those who will put on a judge gown of the higher authority of the judicial branch of government for the first time

Ukrinform continues the project, which acquaints Ukrainians with the new faces of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, tells about those who for the first time will wear judge gowns, who came to the country's higher judicial body from scientific and educational institutions, from the bar and other spheres of social activity.

Doctor of Law (2008), Professor (2014), Professor of the Department of Land and Agrarian Law of the Yaroslav the Wise National Law University. The sphere of scientific interests: problems of agrarian and land law, legal regulation of agrarian reform in Ukraine, legal status of agricultural producers, legal guarantees of food security of Ukraine, organizational and legal issues of anti-crisis measures in the agricultural sector.

Urkevych was born in the city of Kharkiv on October 23, 1976. In 1998, he graduated with honors from the Yaroslav the Wise National Law Academy of Ukraine.

Vitaliy Urkevych about himself and his scientific path

The interest in scientific activity appeared somehow unwittingly, probably, even in the senior courses of the law academy. First I visited a circle of agrarian law, then, at the Department of Agrarian Law, I attended postgraduate courses and defended first my candidate thesis and then my doctoral thesis.

The agrarian law is something not very clear to an ordinary citizen, but we face the results of agricultural activity almost every day. First of all, this is the soil on which we walk every day, which we cultivate for our needs. The agrarian law is precisely intended to streamline in the legal field the processes taking place in agriculture.

I think that a teacher of a higher educational establishment cannot teach properly if he does not conduct research. The point is not just to put the knowledge into the minds of students, but to give them tools for finding information. In our country the legislation is changing at an incredible speed, the laws are often contradictory, and the lawyer's task is to be well-orientated here.

About his students

Working with people or working with documents? I would choose the first option. Students are very interesting people who are always in the center of events. With them you can check your own watch, whether you meet the requirements of the time, or you have already hopelessly lagged behind. In addition, they always make you stay in good shape.

I try to teach students to have a decent attitude to other people, because everyone has the same rights as you, and they need to be respected.

About reasons for participation in the competition

Why did I take part in the competition? This is a chance to do something really good for the country, join the reform of the legal system of our state. I have the right knowledge and skills, and I'm sure I can be useful.

One of the missions of scientists in the Supreme Court is an educational function. Roundtable meetings, scientific seminars, various scientific methods can be used in the work of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court in Ukraine should become more open to society. It is necessary to explain to people why a certain decision was made, even if this decision is painful for society.

About the main challenge in the new post

The biggest challenge for me in this work is that I do not have any practice of working in court. But I have a wide range of legal practices in other areas, with a wealth of experience in legal services for enterprises that will be needed during this work.

My first court hearing, where I acted as a legal counsel, left unforgettable impressions. I understood that the court is a very respectable and very cautious institution. Here you will be given a bunch of questions that you must be ready to answer quickly, but the judge himself will not hurry with his decision. At that time I did not even think that I would once become a judge.

Honestly, when I found out that I was the first in the ranking of judges of the Cassation Economic Court, part of the Supreme Court, I was not surprised. I am confident in my knowledge, but I understand that now I will have to make great efforts to apply it in practice.

I am inspired by the positive evaluation of my work. Then I understand that everything that I do is not in vain. After all, the best marker of work is the opinion of society.

My credo is to live so as to maximize your potential. Only if you fully devote yourself to your business, you can achieve the desired results. If you do not do this, you live in vain.

About judge's principles

A judge should not close in four walls. It would be wrong, because the person who executes justice cannot be cut off from social processes and should understand what the social life is. But there are Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, and according to them, a judge should always weigh his or her actions and look at them as an observer.

I am a person who plans everything in advance. Sometimes I suffer from this. As I get older, there are fewer spontaneous decisions in my life.

About an active way of life

In general, I prefer an active way of relaxation. I rest even when I simply change the place or type of activity, for example, when switching from mental to physical activity.

I like cycling. I cycle at the first opportunity. I try to go on long cycling tours of about 20 kilometers. Sometimes I have such cycling marathons with my son.

I am a responsible person, and I do not like to be late. Teaching activity makes itself felt - the lecture should begin at the appointed time under all circumstances, even if you have a force majeure.

When it is possible to escape from the city rhythm, I am tempted to walk in the park near a springhead (in Kharkiv). There is an incredible aura there that helps make a "reboot" and streamline your thoughts.

I want to admit that sometimes it is much more interesting and useful to talk with a casual stranger on the street who is not currently experiencing the best time in his life than with a successful person.

I like travelling. Due to participation in various scientific conferences, I can not only be in the center of scientific events, but also get acquainted with new places.

I dream to see some places in the world where I have not been. I like mountains. My mother was born in Zakarpattia region, so I like to be in those parts. There are wonderful people and incredible nature there.

Nine dissertations for obtaining a scientific degree of a Candidate of Law were prepared and defended under his scientific guidance.

He received a scholarship from Kharkiv Regional State Administration in the field of law named after Vasyl Pylypovych Maslov (2011) and awarded an honorary diploma of Kharkiv Regional Council (2015).

A member of the editorial boards of the Bulletin of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, the Bulletin of the Yaroslav the Wise National Law University ("Economic Theory and Law"), the Scientific Bulletin of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine ("Law"), an electronic scientific publication "Theory and Practice of Jurisprudence," the scientific magazine "Law and Innovation" of the Research Institute of Legal Support for Innovation Development of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine.

Yulita Ran. Kharkiv