The Faculty of Law has launched the Charter on the Balance Between Legal Studies and Work, an initiative aimed at strengthening the connection between legal education and professional practice, fostering students’ professional development, and ensuring the high quality of legal studies.
The Charter brings together the Faculty of Law and institutions and organizations from the legal community that commit to creating favorable conditions for students to successfully combine their studies with professional work. Charter partners will work to enhance students’ practical skills, promote mentorship and professional development, and encourage greater employer involvement in the education of future legal professionals.
For its part, the Faculty of Law commits to maintaining the highest standards of legal education, creating opportunities for students to successfully balance their studies and professional careers, strengthening practice-oriented training, and continuously improving the study process in cooperation with its partners.
“The Faculty of Law fully understands students’ desire to begin their professional careers while still studying. At the same time, it is equally important to ensure that employment does not become an obstacle to a comprehensive academic experience. We encourage students to take full advantage of all the opportunities offered by the Faculty of Law, including international mobility programmes, research activities, academic projects, and other initiatives that foster both professional and personal development. We are delighted that our social partners are actively joining this initiative, and we invite all organizations committed to the high-quality education of future legal professionals to become part of it,” says Professor Dr. Vigita Vėbraitė, Dean of the Faculty of Law.
The Lithuanian Bar Association has already joined the Charter. Its Chair, Mindaugas Kukaitis, emphasized the importance of practical skills in legal education:
“Preparing for a legal career is inseparable from acquiring practical skills, which is why many students begin working while still pursuing their studies. When legal education and legal practice work hand in hand, they create a synergy of professional experience that serves as the foundation for developing legal practice skills and shaping the future of the legal profession.”
The Charter has also been signed by the Lithuanian Chamber of Notaries. Following the signing ceremony, its President, Marius Stračkaitis, stated:
“The notarial profession requires not only a solid theoretical foundation but also a thorough understanding of the practical application of law. Through our cooperation with the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University, we aim to provide students with more opportunities to become familiar with the work of notaries, complete internships, and gain valuable professional experience. We believe that partnership between academia and legal practitioners is essential for educating competent, responsible, and forward-looking legal professionals.”
The Council of Judges has also endorsed the Charter. Highlighting the importance of partnership for the judiciary, its Chair, Dr. Danguolė Bublienė, commented:
“It is important for the courts to contribute to the professional development of future legal professionals. The earlier students become familiar with the culture, responsibilities, and work of the courts, the stronger the professional foundation they bring to their future careers. The Charter helps ensure that academic studies and practical experience within the courts complement one another in a meaningful way.”
The Prosecutor General‘s Office is also expected to sign the Charter in the near future.
The Charter on the Balance Between Legal Studies and Work is an open initiative. The Faculty of Law invites all institutions and organizations that wish to contribute to the high-quality education of future legal professionals, support students’ professional development, and promote a sustainable balance between academic studies and professional work to join the initiative.