One-on-one across borders: White & Case tutors Ukrainian law students

White & Case completed its fourth consecutive semester partnering with the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy's Faculty of Law (NaUKMA) on a peer-to-peer English-language legal writing workshop that connects Ukrainian graduate law students with the Firm's lawyers for intensive one-on-one tutoring over a two-month period.

This semester, more than 35 White & Case lawyers from 16 offices volunteered as tutors, supporting more than 50 graduate law students. Each tutor worked directly with one to two students, meeting weekly to help them strengthen core legal writing skills in English. The program continues to combine technical skills-building with cultural exchange and informal mentorship, as Ukrainian students navigate the realities of studying during wartime, and our lawyers discuss legal practice, professional development and life in their respective countries.

"I keep coming back to this workshop because of the students," said New York associate Ashley Chana, who has taken part in all four semesters. "Each term, I see how quickly they progress from basic issue statements to clear, organized and well-reasoned memoranda suitable for commercial practice. Given everything that they are managing in Kyiv, their professionalism and commitment are extraordinary, and it is a privilege to play even a small part in their development as future Ukrainian lawyers."

The workshop is designed and led at NaUKMA by Professor Nataliia Maksymchuk and Visiting Professor Taisa Markus, a retired White & Case partner. The core assignment closely mirrors the type of work a junior Ukrainian lawyer might perform for an international client, giving students practice experience in researching, analyzing and presenting complex legal issues in English.

Throughout the semester, NaUKMA provides tutors and students with a detailed syllabus, structured assignments, access to a dedicated workshop website and ongoing guidance, including input from legal writing instructors affiliated with US law schools such as Columbia University and Loyola University. White & Case volunteers devote approximately 20 hours over the program period, working directly with the students during weekly sessions, reviewing their written work and providing detailed end-of-course feedback to support the students' continued development.

For many NaUKMA students, participation in the workshop takes place against the backdrop of frequent conflict-related disruptions in Kyiv. Despite these challenges, students consistently submit written work each week, refine their analysis and incorporate tutor feedback, demonstrating resilience and a strong commitment to developing practice-ready legal writing skills in English. For White & Case volunteers, the program is both a skills-based pro bono-style engagement and a meaningful way to contribute to the advancement of legal education in Ukraine.

"Joining the NaUKMA program this semester was an important reminder of why legal education and cross-border collaboration matter," said London partner Kristen DiLemmo. "My students were tackling complex competition and intellectual property issues in a second language while living through extremely difficult circumstances. Their determination to engage deeply with the material and ask sophisticated questions about legal practice was inspiring. The experience was as much about mutual learning and cultural exchange as it was about legal writing."

White & Case continues to explore opportunities to support NaUKMA and similar initiatives that combine high-quality legal skills training with meaningful international engagement, in line with the Firm's broader commitment to responsible business and the rule of law.