To visit one of the most prestige places of work of lawyers and hear information about court system and work of judge from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the first month of studies already – this possibility has been offered by the Supreme Court to the students of Law faculties and programmes of Latvian higher educational institutions. On Tuesday, September 22, this possibility was used by the first groups of first-grade students of Business High School Turiba and Riga University named by J. Stradins.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Ivars Bickovics, having remembered his first study practice in the court during studies, admitted that it would be great „to touch this fabric” faster and to know what is court and work of judge, sooner. The Chief Justice told students about three-level court system of Latvia, about his career of judge – from the post of judge in district court till the post of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. „The profession of judge is interesting. It is similar to intellectual brain games, which judge has to play every day. As playing chess, passing great volume of information through your mind, it is necessary to find correct go” I. Bickovics told. He told students also about interesting practical means, for example, about vestment of judges, prosecutors and advocates, and layout of the court room.

Questions of students to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court were very different – about the most difficult proceedings while he took the post of judge, about courts martial and disciplinary cases of judges. The opinion of the Chief Justice, in which higher educational institution the best lawyers have been taught, has been asked. „It is school, where students learn better” was the answer.

After conversation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court students visited the museum of the Supreme Court and also had looked into court rooms.

Other groups of lawyers to-be from University of Latvia, Riga University named by J. Stradins and Business High School Turiba also applied for the meeting and excursion in the Supreme Court. Groups of lawyers to-be from other higher educational institutions can also manage to do that as Days of first-year students will continue in the Supreme Court until the end of October. Groups of students have to apply and arrange time of the meeting in the Division of Comunication.

Days of first-year students have been organised in the Supreme Court for the first time. The aim of these days is to broaden understanding and interest of lawyers to-be to the Latvian court system and allow to look into one of the most interesting and at the same time – one of the most difficult juridical professions – post of the judge.



Information prepared by

Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court Rasma Zvejniece

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 67020396, 28652211