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About BUILD

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The BUILD Initiative (Building Ukrainian Independence and Lasting Democracy) is based on the principle that Ukraine will achieve an enduring and stable democracy only through the education and development of its rising generation of leaders, lawmakers, and law enforcement.

 

While it is critical to put proper democratic systems in place with existing Ukrainian leadership, doing so makes little sense without working to develop the character traits and skills in future leaders necessary for sustainable democracy. The BUILD Initiative empowers the future generation of Ukrainian leaders with democratic ideals and understanding. BUILD aims to effectuate a shift toward greater freedom and democracy for Ukraine’s future. For that purpose, BUILD has established relationships with Ukraine’s top law universities and has contracted with them to teach a fullyear university course in democratic principles, advocacy skills, and ethics. Thousands of Ukrainian law students benefit from this instruction, which helps them become the next generation of influential legal minds in Ukraine.

 

 

BUILD has three main goals:

• To provide a forum for discussion and collaboration with university students for civic education—ethics, civic virtue, and professional responsibility, all of which are necessary

elements for sustaining a lasting democracy

• To offer adversarial legal training for university students, faculty, and reform-minded professionals, in order to develop crucial legal skills including persuasion, fact analysis, team building, collaboration, and advocacy

• To provide law students and professionals with a forum where they can collaborate and provide synergy for the development of an adversarial system in Ukraine

 

 

To accomplish these goals, BUILD brings seasoned American legal professionals to Ukraine for a two-week segment to teach in Ukrainian partner universities. These professionals come from around the United States and have diverse experience. Students learn from experienced instructors and better understand the principles of democracy.

 

To accomplish these goals, BUILD brings seasoned American legal professionals to Ukraine for a two-week segment to teach in Ukrainian partner universities. These professionals come from around the United States and have diverse experience. Students learn from experienced instructors and better understand the principles of democracy. Additionally, the BUILD Initiative curriculum culminates each year as students put into practice what they learn through participation in regional adversarial proceedings competitions.

The winners advance to a national competition. These competitions allow students to demonstrate learned skills such as cross examination and closing argument, as well as put into practice elements vital to an adversarial legal system. Inspiring students to internalize and develop the necessary elements of an adversarial legal system, American professionals contribute to the BUILD goal of fostering an ethical legal system that protects democracy.