Youth Forum

As Russia reconfigures its trade relations, the country is displaying increasing interest in China and Asian markets, which makes it crucial to search for new ways to resolve international commercial disputes. The experience of Russia’s key trading partner, China, is particularly interesting in this regard. In 2024, a bill on arbitration was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China for consideration. The key goal of the draft law is to turn China into a new global centre for commercial arbitration. It vastly expands the scope of arbitration in the commercial sphere, introduces new types of disputes, such as investment arbitration and sports arbitration, and seeks to formalize the ability to conduct proceedings via online platforms. The reform affects the rules for the functioning of arbitration courts and the appointment of arbitrators and makes them more transparent. The changes will also impact the procedure for cancelling arbitration awards, interim measures, and numerous other aspects. In this regard, it is important to consider several key issues: what is the significance and role of commercial arbitration in China? What forums for resolving disputes between Chinese and Russian entrepreneurs are currently priorities? Will there be demand for Chinese arbitration institutions among Russian entrepreneurs? What is the outlook for China to become an international arbitration centre? How can the experience of arbitration reform in China be useful for Russia?

Since 2018, the ‘Leaders of Law’ national competition has brought together 1,500 young lawyers from 53 regions of Russia. The competition helps to find and develop talented and proactive young law researchers in order to ensure their further professional adaptation and self-realization in state and municipal administration, law enforcement, and socio-political, commercial, and non-commercial activities, as well as enhance the prestige of legal education. In 2025, over 50 teams from various cities of Russia took part in the qualifying stage of the competition. Fourteen teams with the most creative, relevant, and well-developed legislative initiatives reached the final of the competition. The event aims to promote the development of lawmaking and get young professionals involved in the process of shaping the legal system.

Effective interaction with editorial staffs at media outlets can significantly help your career and popularity among potential clients. You should start by choosing the right media outlet and building trust-based relationships with journalists. Identifying any relevant newsworthy events will help attract the attention of the audience you need. An equally important aspect is compliance with the law on business reputation and legal ethics. Doing these things will help you successfully build communication with the media and protect the interests of your organization. What is the best way to effectively interact with the media? How can you enhance your name recognition, shape your own personal image, and build up publicity capital? How can lawyers support litigation in the information field and work with negative reviews or criticism in the media?

Over the past decades, computer games have evolved from a subcultural experiment into one of the most important types of modern mass (or non-mass in some cases) culture. From the gaming industry’s point of view, in recent years Russia has entered a new stage in the development of the gaming industry that is focused not only on export, but also on the domestic market. The industry is paying more attention to the country’s culture and values, as it strives to create jobs and contribute to the formation of a safe digital environment. Russian lawmakers are currently discussing a draft federal law on measures to develop and distribute video games in the Russian Federation. The bill is sparking debates about numerous issues of both a legal and practical nature, as evidenced by discussions held by working groups of the Russian State Duma in winter 2025, among other things. How does the legal system contribute to the development of the domestic gaming industry? Are changes needed and what support measures should be prioritized?

The question of how to secure a job at one of Russia’s major law firms is one that worries numerous students and young professionals who want to build a successful law career. The path to success starts with carefully preparing a resume, interviewing, making your first professional connections, and establishing contacts with colleagues. Inspiring success stories of those who have already traversed this path provide an excellent example for aspiring lawyers. Learn about proven secrets and get practical advice that will not only help to start your career at a major law firm, but to also achieve significant success there.

The concept of a ‘digital state’ implies that digital technologies can ensure greater transparency in interaction and simplify communication between the state and civil society. The Russian Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Digital Development, and other entities are developing unified digital platform solutions to ensure the availability of legal information in Russia, including for legal education and to enhance legal awareness among citizens. The creation and operation of such platforms involves work with big data and requires new knowledge and expertise from young lawyers. Today, Russia is implementing the ‘Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State’ national project, which aims to create an ecosystem to train skilled professionals, digitalize public administration, and develop domestic digital platforms. In order to form an effective system to train the lawyers of the future, including in the justice system, we need to understand what trends exist in the industry today in the context of digital transformation, as well as what skills are in demand now and will be in the future. In 2024–2025, Kutafin Moscow State Law University developed an atlas called ‘Human Resources Potential of Young People in the IT Sphere: Professions of the Future and National Priorities in the Context of Strategic Planning’. How does digital transformation affect the legal industry and its human resources? What are some of the specific features with respect to the justice system? How is interaction between the state and civil society changing in terms of work with big data and digital platforms? What skills does a young lawyer need to meet the challenges facing the state and industry as regards developing digital technologies? How can these skills be most effectively taught and what tools are needed for this?

Young lawyers increasingly have to deal with additional requirements, including whether or not they have any scientific publications. Their availability is a guarantee for receiving a greater scholarship or additional points when entering educational programmes. What problems do young authors of articles face when conducting research and preparing scientific papers? What is the best way to prepare a proper scientific paper, and what are some life hacks for writing it? How can we ensure a balance between the use of modern technologies and the requirements of academic honesty and integrity? What digital publishing services could help young authors? Where can they publish their work without coming across a trashy journal? What are some authoritative ratings of publications and databases? What does the editorial board think constitutes ideal scientific work? How can we promote research results? How can we enhance the scientific results from the collaborations and social networks of scientists?

Amidst globalization and changes in public consciousness, it is essential to preserve the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War. Works of art help to pass on the experience, emotions, and lessons of the war to future generations. The war and its victory have become key elements of national identity for many countries. Discussing artistic interpretations can help understand how these events influence cultural and national narratives. In the current environment, when there is a risk of historical truths being distorted, it is crucial to analyse works of art as a means of preserving the true perception of the events of the war and their significance. Victory in the war is important not only for Russia, but for many other countries as well. The discussion helps to identify common and distinctive features of how different cultures perceive war, which contributes to an international dialogue and better understanding. Art created in the context of war remains an important part of the world cultural heritage. Analysing these works helps us understand how art reflects and shapes public sentiments, ideals, and values. Issues of patriotism, sacrifice, heroism and human tragedies raised in works of art about the war remain relevant today. How can discussing these topics help provide a deeper understanding of modern times?

Professional communication in the legal domain plays a key role in ensuring effective interaction and bolstering trust between representatives of the legal profession. Recently, given the changing geopolitical situation, building relations between legal science, education, and business has become a particularly acute issue. Since January 2025, four out of ten ASEAN countries have officially become BRICS partners, which creates new opportunities to expand contacts between lawyers from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. What is the best way to effectively interact and establish working contacts with lawyers, businessmen, and specialists in other professions from these countries? Do lawyers need to know the language and traditions of the country with which they most closely interact in their professional activities? What steps need to be taken to train such personnel?

The global AI race in recent years has forced states to reconsider their regulatory approaches to make them more flexible and provide greater support for innovation. Advanced AI systems are becoming increasingly productive and impressive in terms of their capabilities, yet the risks to society are increasing. One of the key problems in the early stage of developing, introducing, and applying AI systems, particularly large generative models, is the availability of data and its selection for machine learning purposes. The world has repeatedly had to deal with situations when the wrong approach to machine learning on the part of developers led to controversial or illegal results that affect the rights and interests of various entities. However, the problems associated with AI are not limited to the availability of data. Other important issues include regulating high-risk AI systems, imposing commensurate requirements on their developers and operators, the appropriateness of labelling AI content, as well as assessments of AI systems to see if they possess any dangerous capabilities. What is the optimal way to determine legal requirements for high-risk AI systems? When should external and internal assessments of AI systems be conducted and who should be responsible for this? Would the mandatory labelling of AI content build greater trust or simply add more bureaucracy?

Student self-governance is becoming an increasingly important component of the legal education system, as it actively influences the creation of professional standards and the culture of future specialists. Given the changing educational realities, it is particularly important to discuss key ways to enhance the role of student governing bodies, as well as their constructive interaction with university administrations and one another. What legal and organizational aspects should be taken into account when students are involved in educational reforms and lawmaking activities? What is the legal status of student councils and what role do they play in the university governance structure? What ethical norms and professional standards should student activists observe in their activities? What effective mechanisms could be used to get students involved in decision-making processes at universities? How is youth policy pursued at the university level, and what regulatory framework is applied in practice? How can students participate in preparing and conducting expert assessments of legislative initiatives that aim to improve the higher legal education system?

The right to receive professional legal counsel is guaranteed by Article 48 of the Russian Constitution, and in cases stipulated by law, such assistance is provided free of charge. This constitutional guarantee has been integrated into federal legislation and the legislation of Russia’s regions. Federal law stipulates that universities must have legal clinics that serve as participants in the non-governmental system of providing free legal assistance. The Russian Ministry of Justice has been assigned the coordinating role in the system of providing free legal assistance. Participating in the activities of legal clinics helps student lawyers realize the social significance of their chosen profession. Today, students provide free legal aid to numerous groups of the population under the guidance of experienced teachers, including participants in the special military operation and their family members. The challenges of our time require students of the legal profession to show responsibility and professionalism from their very first steps. This is only possible when the faculty and management of universities are actively involved in the work of legal clinics. At the very start of their legal career at legal clinics, students find themselves involved in socially significant matters and providing legal assistance to people in difficult life situations who need professional legal support. As the clinic administrators themselves note, working in a legal clinic enables people to understand their purpose and capabilities and set new professional goals, demonstrates the complexity and uniqueness of the legal profession, and reveals the importance of helping people. Despite being similar in appearance to volunteer activities, the provision of free legal assistance at legal clinics has its own specifics, since it requires clearly organizing and managing the activities of law students at a highly professional level. Combining the practical focus of the legal knowledge obtained at university and the social significance of working in a legal clinic creates new opportunities for the education and professional self-determination of students. How can we get law students involved in preventing crime and providing the public with a legal education? What kind of legal assistance can law students provide to people who have difficulties accessing the justice system? What ethical aspects of the legal profession should be taken into account in the work of legal clinics? How can law students become involved in monitoring law enforcement? How can we combine the efforts of law students, programmers, and psychologists to develop effective programmes?

Russia faces a number of challenges in terms of protecting its interests within international economic entities. One of the main difficulties is the diminished influence of traditional international organizations, which makes it complicated to effectively represent Russia’s positions on the global stage. In addition, the active development of alternative forms of economic cooperation, such as BRICS, is creating new opportunities and challenges for Russia in terms of integration and interaction with other countries. What are the main strategies that Russia can use to protect its interests amidst the ever-changing international economic landscape? What advantages and risks could arise from Russia’s participation in alternative economic associations?

Russia currently has various business segments and a wide choice of professions for young professionals with a legal education. It is important to examine what opportunities are available for young lawyers in the civil service and what projects exist to support young people seeking professional development in this regard. What methods are used to attract young specialists, including traditional targeted recruitment and new programmes? What is the outlook for realizing the potential of young people in matters concerning justice and how can intensifying the role of the youth legal community help to create a legal culture and enhance the prestige of the legal profession?

Art plays a key role in shaping and reflecting cultural identity. With a wide range of cultural influences, it is important to discuss how art can serve as a tool for strengthening national values and identity. Existing laws and regulations governing the arts can both support and constrain creative freedom. An analysis needs to be conducted of how legal frameworks affect artistic expression and freedom of speech. Globalization threatens to make certain languages and cultures extinct. It is becoming crucial to discuss the Russian language’s role in art and its preservation as a key element of national identity. The government’s cultural policy should take into account the diversity of opinions and approaches in art. A discussion is needed about how to create conditions for free creative expression and the protection of cultural heritage. How can recommendations be prepared to optimize interaction between art and the law in Russia? How does an effective cultural policy make art more diverse? How can national identity be strengthened through art? Why is it important to support the Russian language and culture in the context of globalization? How can Russia create a more open and inclusive environment for artistic expression?

The Rosenberg competition is an annual worldwide student contest in international commercial arbitration that was founded in 2014 and is held in the format of model arbitration proceedings based on a game case. The competition is named after Professor Mikhail Rosenberg, one of the creators of the 1980 UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and an arbitrator at the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Some of the modern-day issues that have a negative impact on the detection and investigation of crimes include the development of IT technologies, the use of artificial intelligence by criminals, negative circumstances, put-up jobs, and mistakes by participants in investigative actions. This underscores the need to improve the methodology used to detect and investigate crimes. This interactive session offers a modern and unconventional approach to discussing the most popular problems in forensic science and expert evaluations from a practical and scientific standpoint. This format ensures the involvement of young specialists in a lively discussion about video materials prepared by simulating situations. What principles and practical recommendations can be proposed to improve the methods used to detect and investigate crimes, as well as forensic techniques? How are new information technologies being integrated into forensic science? How are existing problems analysed and modern approaches developed in forensic science?

Law school students know next to nothing about the specifics of non-profit activities and their importance for society and the state. Most graduates do not view this profession as prestigious and believe that work in the social and non-profit sectors is boring and poorly paid. Educational programmes face the problem of a lack of courses about the specifics of the work of non-profits. This creates legal uncertainty and insufficient legal regulation of the status of volunteers and volunteer organizations in existing Russian legislation. Students, universities, and student organizations also have difficulties participating in volunteer activities. There are also certain problems with state support for these activities, which complicates the development of the volunteer movement in the country. How can educational programmes be improved to more thoroughly reflect the work of non-profits? What measures can be taken to improve legal certainty regarding volunteers and volunteer organizations?

Digitalization is having a major impact on how legal professionals are trained. In the current conditions, curricula and educational programmes need to be adapted to the new digital realities. This includes developing interdisciplinary programmes that combine legal education with the study of information technologies. Online courses and platforms are also being actively used to facilitate learning and interaction between students and teachers. Collaboration with technology companies and start-ups is becoming a key component in the development of innovative educational solutions. In addition, artificial intelligence plays an important role in legal education. It is used to automate routine tasks and analyse legal documents, which greatly simplifies the work of lawyers. AI can also be used as a tool for the training and advanced training of specialists. However, there are ethical and legal issues related to the use of AI in this regard. What are the main benefits of introducing digital technologies into legal education? What challenges could arise when using AI in this area?

The International Law Symposium is a continuation of the International Open Competition of Student Research Papers on International Law for the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg State University. Young researchers analysed the application of international customary law norms and the significance of customs as a source of international law. The discussions focused on customs as a source of international law – an issue that is becoming particularly relevant amidst the transformation of the global order, as well as the digitalization and regionalization of the economy. Participants explored how historically established practices of interaction between states are adapting to the challenges of the 21st century, including cyberthreats, climate change, and the regulation of artificial intelligence. Today, it is crucial to re-envision the significance of customs in law in order to strengthen Russia’s national security and build peaceful and productive cooperation with various states.