Acquiring knowledge in the field of law and creating decent conditions for increasing the level of legal literacy among the population, along with active and conscious public participation in legal reform, are today primary tasks for the state and society on the path toward building a civil society and a state governed by the rule of law in Ukraine.
To create the necessary conditions for the general public to acquire legal knowledge and practical skills, ensure public access to legal information sources, and protect citizens' inherent rights and freedoms, the National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» (hereinafter referred to as the University) established the Legal Clinic, which operates as a structural unit of the Department of Law (702) within the Faculty of Humanities and Law in the form of a educational-practical legal aid laboratory.
In its activities, the Legal Clinic is guided by the provisions of the Laws of Ukraine «On Free Legal Aid» dated June 2, 2011, No. 3460-VI; «On Citizens' Appeals» dated October 2, 1996, No. 393/96-VR; «On Information» dated October 2, 1992, No. 2657-XII; «On the Practice of Law and Legal Practice» dated July 5, 2012, No. 5076-VI; the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine «On Approval of the Model Regulations on the Legal Clinic of Higher Educational Institutions of Ukraine» dated August 3, 2006, No. 592; the Code of Ethics for Legal Clinics in Ukraine, adopted at the Congress of the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine on August 25, 2005; Standards for the Operation of Legal Clinics of Ukraine, adopted at the Congress of the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine on June 19, 2014; the Charter of the National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute»; Regulations on the Legal Clinic approved by the Rector of the University; and other current normative legal documents.
The activities of the Legal Clinic are based on the following principles:
1) legality – participants of the Legal Clinic must act in full compliance with current legislation;
2) humanism – the activities of Legal Clinic participants must be built on respect, goodwill, empathy for client issues, and mutual understanding;
3) independence – when executing a client's instruction, consultants and other Legal Clinic staff must be guided solely by the law, instructions from the head and supervisors of the Legal Clinic, and their own judgment of the optimal solution for the case;
4) confidentiality – information received by a consultant from a client, as well as information about a client (including personal identity) or other persons during consultations, may be used for educational purposes only;
5) priority of client interests – participants of the Legal Clinic must prioritize clients' interests over their own personal interests or the interests of third parties;
6) full disclosure to the client regarding Legal Clinic rules – upon accepting an assignment from a client, Legal Clinic participants must fully inform them of the clinic's operating rules in an easily accessible manner, and clients must be able to review these rules independently;
7) competence and professionalism – consultants and staff of the Legal Clinic are obligated to provide legal assistance competently and conscientiously, with solid knowledge of relevant legal norms, taking into full account all circumstances related to the client's assignment and potential outcomes;
8) prohibition of representation involving conflicting interests – the Legal Clinic shall not handle cases of clients whose interests conflict or have a high probability of conflicting, nor cases where the opposing party is the higher education institution, the faculty hosting the clinic, or the founding public organization;
9) free of charge – Legal Clinic participants are not permitted to receive any financial or material gain for providing legal assistance;
10) honesty and integrity – consultants and staff of the Legal Clinic must demonstrate honesty and integrity in both their professional activities and personal lives. Using case facts and/or information obtained from a client for personal benefit or for the benefit of parties other than the client is strictly prohibited.
The goal of establishing the Legal Clinic is to train highly qualified specialists for the "Bachelor of Laws" qualification whose competencies align with modern employer demands and job market prospects. These graduates will be capable of resolving complex specialized tasks and practical problems in professional legal activities or academic settings requiring the application of legal theories and methods under complex and uncertain conditions. Participating in the Legal Clinic offers students a practical way to develop key skills for future employment, including working with regulatory frameworks, applying Ukrainian law to real cases, and communicating with individuals who need legal assistance.
Legal Clinic consultants can be senior University students who express a desire to work in the clinic and pass a competitive selection process. Student consultants provide legal assistance under the guidance of faculty supervisors.
Within its scope of competence, the Legal Clinic provides citizens with the following services:
- counseling low-income segments of the population (children under 18, retirees, low-income individuals, the unemployed, veterans, persons with disabilities, individuals lacking financial means for paid legal services, etc.);
- handling cases on behalf of citizens;
- providing legal assistance to University students;
- conducting legal awareness and public education initiatives;
- drafting legal documents;
- delivering lectures, organizing roundtables, giving presentations on legal topics, etc.
The Legal Clinic provides consultations on family, inheritance, labor, housing, and civil law, as well as child rights protection and social security.
Funding for the Legal Clinic comes from University funds, grants from international and Ukrainian organizations, charitable donations from individuals and organizations, and other sources not prohibited by the applicable laws of Ukraine.
The Legal Clinic maintains strong external ties with the following organizations and state bodies:
- Regional Center for Free Secondary Legal Aid in Kharkiv Oblast: consultant attendance in criminal court proceedings as observers;
- First Kharkiv Local Center for Free Secondary Legal Aid: Memorandum of Joint Activity regarding free legal aid provision;
- Main Territorial Directorate of Justice in Kharkiv Oblast: participation in seminars and other events hosted by the directorate;
- Bar Council of Kharkiv Oblast: Cooperation agreement;
- Kharkiv Regional State Administration: participation in the interdepartmental coordination and methodological council on public legal education under the Regional State Administration;
- Students' League of the Ukrainian Bar Association: consultant participation in masterclasses and training sessions.
Head of the University Legal Clinic – Melnyk Valentyn Volodymyrovych, Doctor of Law, Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Law at the Faculty of Humanities and Law, National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute».
The Legal Clinic of the National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» is listed in the Registry of Legal Clinics of Ukraine and actively participates in nationwide initiatives across Ukraine.
Key Focus Areas
of the Legal Clinic for the 2026-2027 Academic Year
considering martial law in Ukraine
and the use of remote platforms in its work
Ensuring University law students acquire practical skills through:
1) holding law competitions for students involving practicing legal professionals;
2) career guidance for high school students (graduates) regarding legal matters, explaining their rights and responsibilities;
3) offering legal consultations to university faculty, staff, and higher education students;
4) student consultant attendance as observers in criminal proceedings through Regional Centers for Free Secondary Legal Aid;
5) participating in practical webinars led by prominent legal experts;
6) participation of student consultants in masterclasses and training sessions conducted by the Students' League of the Ukrainian Bar Association;
7) active participation in events organized by the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine.
Regulations on the Legal Clinic