Today, graduation diplomas were awarded to the graduates of the Vilnius University Faculty of Law at St. John’s Church. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of the graduates, featured congratulatory speeches and the traditional student anthem Gaudeamus Igitur, and offered words of encouragement to the new generation of legal professionals as they embark on their careers, urging them to retain their curiosity, sense of responsibility, and connection to their Alma Mater.
The ceremony began with the entrance of the Vice-Rector for Organizational Development and Community Affairs of Vilnius University, Prof. Dr. Vilmantė Pakalniškienė, and the Dean of the Vilnius University Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Vigita Vėbraitė, into St. John’s Church, both wearing academic gowns. Following the Dean’s opening remarks, the graduates were congratulated by Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Vilmantė Pakalniškienė, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania Prof. Dr. Tomas Davulis, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania Rita Tamašunienė, Vice-Rector of the University of Szczecin Prof. Dr. Kinga Flaga-Gieruszyńska, and representative of the Vilnius University Faculty of Law Alumni Association Gintautas Bartkus.
In his address to the graduates, Prof. Dr. Tomas Davulis emphasized the importance of law for society and encouraged them not to fear change: “Law is of particular importance to society because it teaches us how to live together. Be courageous, because when we are courageous, we can change the world.”
Meanwhile, Gintautas Bartkus reminded the future lawyers of their responsibility to uphold the principles of justice: “You are guardians of justice, and each of you carries a strong sense of justice within. It is extremely important to protect and listen to that voice of justice. Being just is the duty of every person.”
On behalf of the graduates, Guoda Baubaitė addressed the audience. In her speech, she reflected on the responsibility that comes with the legal profession and reminded those present that legal principles gain meaning only when applied in real-life situations.
“People often say that law is objective. But objectivity is not something given – it is a choice that must be made over and over again. Every time there is a case file on the desk instead of a textbook. Every time a decision affects a life we do not see. Today, we assume that responsibility ourselves,” said G. Baubaitė.
This year’s graduation ceremony was special not only for the graduates. During the event, greetings from the Rector of Vilnius University were presented to Professors Valentinas Mikelėnas and Jonas Prapiestis, who are concluding their long-standing academic careers at the Faculty of Law. As Dean Vėbraitė noted in her address to the graduates, this was a symbolic meeting of generations: “Today, you begin your professional journey. They are passing on the baton.” The professors’ academic and professional contributions have left a significant mark on Lithuanian legal scholarship and the wider legal community.
As is tradition, awards were presented to the authors of the best final theses of the academic year. This year, six institutions and organizations granted awards.
The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania awarded three prizes for outstanding works in the field of public law. The awards were presented by the President of the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania, Skirgailė Žalimienė.
First place was awarded to Lėja Volodkovičiūtė for her Master’s thesis “Freedom of Expression as the Foundation of Journalistic Activity: The Legal Status of Journalists in Europe”.
Second place was awarded to Kamilė Narbutaitė for her Master’s thesis “The Role of Morality in the Interpretation of Human Rights in Legal Theory and Practice”.
Third place was awarded to Greta Jaksebogaitė for her Master’s thesis “The Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups as an Obligation of the Rule of Law: The Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights”.
The Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Lithuania awarded Inga Skužinskaitė for the best Master’s thesis in criminal justice, titled “Espionage as a Criminal Offence and Its Legal Assessment”. The award was presented by Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė.
The law firm WALLESS presented awards for the best commercial law theses to Nedas Rauluševičius, Erika Vičaitė, and Ieva Mozochinaitė. The awards were presented by Managing Partner Dovilė Burgienė and Partner Gediminas Dominas.
The law firm CONSTAT awarded Povilas Lekarauskas for the best Master’s thesis on dispute resolution, titled “Class Actions in Lithuanian Civil Procedure: Current Situation and Possibilities for Improvement”. The award was presented by Managing Partner Donatas Petrauskas.
The AGATA Association awarded Jokūbas Jurkevičius for the best Master’s thesis in copyright law, titled “Issues of Collective Administration of Copyright and Related Rights in the Field of Music”. The award was presented by AGATA Director Agnė Begetė.
The Association of District Court Judges awarded Viktorija Popovaitė for the best Master’s thesis on courts, titled “The Court in Civil Procedure”. The award was presented by Laura Spalvienė and Kristina Imbrasienė.
During the ceremony, a Doctor of Law diploma was also awarded to Justinas Drakšas, who defended his dissertation “Civil Liability of Internet Intermediaries for Intellectual Property Rights Infringements”. His supervisor was Prof. Dr. Vytautas Mizaras.
Following the awards ceremony, Dean Prof. Dr. Vigita Vėbraitė addressed the graduates. She emphasized that graduation does not mean saying farewell to the University:
“For nearly four centuries, the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University has been shaping the Lithuanian legal community. Therefore, today you receive not only a diploma. You gain membership in a community. A community that will accompany you throughout your professional life.”
Following the Dean’s speech, the diploma award ceremony commenced. This year, 187 graduation diplomas and one Doctor of Law diploma were awarded.
Magna Cum Laude diplomas were awarded to Gabija Beglecovaitė, Ditė Elzbergaitė, Domantas Mažrimas, and Liudas Tauperis.
Cum Laude diplomas were awarded to Ugnė Budrytė, Deividas Česynas, Nedas Rauluševičius, and Dainius Timukas.
The ceremony also featured performances by VU Jazz Voices, who performed Sentimentai and I Smile.
We warmly congratulate all graduates of the Faculty of Law and wish them every success in their professional careers and the courage to embrace new challenges. We also invite them to stay connected with the Faculty of Law community and to take an active part in the activities of the Vilnius University Faculty of Law Alumni Association.
Photos: Edgaras Kurauskas.