Departmental Coffeehouse – meeting the alumni

May 21, 2015

On 8 May 2015 the Department of Legal Studies invited alumni to a Departmental Coffeehouse to meet with classmates, faculty, and current students during the Alumni Reunion Weekend. Professor Tibor Várady, Chair of the International Business Law Program, welcomed over fifty participants from previous, current and future generations of CEU graduates – as some alumni brought their children along to visit their alma mater.

During the formal part of the event alumni shared insights on their careers after graduation from CEU.

Dmitry Kurnosov (LEGS CCL 2010-2011), who is currently a press officer at the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, talked about how studying at CEU enables him to transform technical legal findings into an accessible message for the media and general public.

Matija Milos (LEGS CCL 2011-2012), one time recipient of the academic achievement award, is currently a research assistant at the Faculty of Law, University of Rijeka. He mentioned that his CEU experience has nurtured his enthusiasm for constitutional law and remains an inspiration in his current position.

Katarína Medlová (LEGS HR MA 2012-2013), who is a junior research fellow at the Center for the Research of Ethnicity and Culture, Bratislava, Slovakia, said that: “What CEU has given me is a focus as well an ideal of universalism and human rights. I return to this foundation whenever I work in the field and have to coop with a lowering of [human rights] standards, skepticism or frustration of what can and cannot be done.”

Katarína Poliaková (LEGS IBL 2009-2010), a lawyer in Banking and Insurance Products Law Section, Legal Department at Československá obchodná banka, a. s. (ČSOB bank belonging to KBC Group), said that: “At CEU, I became personally interested in regulation of capital markets. Working for a financial institution provides you the opportunity to specialize in this area of law and to work on interesting assignments, whereas it allows you to keep a work-life balance.” The latter point was well-made by Katarína speaking with her little daughter in her arms.

Alumni introductions were followed by questions from current students and faculty. The coffee house then transformed into free discussion during the reception.

The Department of Legal Studies thanks all alumni and students who contributed to the success of this event. We hope that next year many of our students will decide to return to share their stories with the new generation.

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