PRACTICAL TRAINING OF STUDENTS FROM VFU "CHERNORISETS HRABAR" TOOK PLACE AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COURT IN SMOLYAN
12 April 2024
At the Administrative Court in Smolyan, a practical training was held for students from VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" on the problematics of administrative justice. The training was organized on the initiative of Dr. Marina Mihaylova, a judge at the Supreme Administrative Court with 25 years of experience, Juris Doctor and lecturer in Administrative Law and Procedure.
The Leadership of the Administrative Court – Smolyan stated that the improvement of the legal culture of the young generation is one of their main priorities. In the course of the discussion with the students, the Chair of the Court, Judge Ignat Kolchev, highlighted the principles, foundations and types of administrative acts, as well as the skills of the young generation for critical thinking and resilience amidst the ever-changing legal regulations. He stressed that building integrity in their work with the state administration is of utmost importance for the administration of justice. Judge Kolchev also stated that the students ca prepared, responsible and confident for accomplishing their mission to develop legal knowledge, skills and competencies.
The students were familiarized by Judge Petya Odzhakova with the subject matter and stages of administrative procedure, the principle of equivalence and proportionality, and with the requirement for lawyers to comply with the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which have the force of case law and are binding on the administration and the courts. The students attended an open court hearing, got acquainted with the court’s document processing, and visited the court registry, where they got first-hand experience on how legal cases are set in motion. Finally, the students enriched their knowledge via a tour in the court's exhibition space. The exhibition, entitled "Our History," showcases the accomplishments of magistrates and staff, prizes from annual "Employee of the Year" nominations, and a digital broadcast of two films, "Open House" and "The Media about Us." The Chair of the Administrative Court – Smolyan Ignat Kolchev welcomed the idea for regular practical trainings for students from VFU and expressed his readiness for a long-standing cooperation between the court and our educational institution, as it is the duty of the magistrates to make efforts to enhance the legal skills of the prospective lawyers.