Vice President Seminars & Conferences - Zosya Stankovskaya - vpsc(at)elsa.org

Vice President Student Trainee Exchange Programme - Irakli Samkharadze - vpstep(at)elsa.org

My name is Irakli Samkharadze and I am the Vice President of the Student Trainee Exchange Programme of the ELSA International 2011/2012. I come from beautiful country of Georgia, where I was born in Kutaisi in 1989. I have a Bachelor's Degree at Tbilisi State University Law Faculty. For the time being, I am on my second year of Master studies in the field of Public Law.

My story in ELSA began back in 2008 on the 54th International Council Meeting of ELSA in Nuremberg, when I experienced the huge European Network run by and for law students and young lawyers for the first time. Before my election as VP STEP of  ELSA International, I was the President of ELSA Georgia.

Long story short, I have been an active member of ELSA during three difficult but at the same time successful years. And now if anyone asks me to reveal the secret of my success in ELSA, I will say that love for our association determines it. It’s much more than love, because I feel that I am entirely addicted to it and this addiction encourages me to carry out the activities of a member of the International Board.

As a sociable and outgoing person, I am more than happy to work and live together with seven other members of the International Team. I am totally aware of the reponsibility of the Vice President STEP not only towards partners and externals but towards all ELSA members. Within my term in office I will do my best to work for STEP as well as possible. My focal points will be to increase the number of realised STEP traineeships with quailified and motivated trainees.

Director for Academic Activities - Khrystyna Brodych - vpaa(at)elsa.org

Director for Moot Court Competitions - Liisa Oravisto - mootcourts(at)elsa.org

My name is Liisa Oravisto and I am the Director for Moot Court Competitions of ELSA International 2011/2012. I come from the northern part of Europe, from Helsinki, Finland where I have studied at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Law. I have been an ELSA member since 2008 and since then I have worked as Vice President Academic Activities on the local and national levels and now on the international level working full-time living in the ELSA House in Brussels, Belgium.

I fell in love with ELSA because of the internationality, cultural diversity and the range of different international opportunities ELSA has to offer, not to forget the special focus ELSA has for Human Rights. If someone had told me a year ago that I would be working full-time for ELSA International, I wouldn’t have believed it. ELSA has played a big role in my life for quite some time now and I am honoured to have this opportunity to give back to the Network after having received so much.

As the Director for Moot Court Competitions, I will first of all be running the 10th edition of the global ELSA Moot Court Competition on World Trade Organisation Law (EMC²) as the overall responsible for the coordination. We have a special year coming up since EMC² is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary. In addition, I have the pleasure of researching and creating an entirely new moot court competition for ELSA: a European-wide Moot Court Competition on Human Rights Law. This is a new project in ELSA and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to create something new and work with the field of Human Rights Law. We have several moot courts organised on the national level as well, and I will do my best in assisting and encouraging the national officers with their National Moot Court Copmetitions throughout the year.

ELSA is a wonderful Network full of opportunities and I am looking forward to having an absolutely amazing academic year full of ELSA Spirit!

President - Niousha Nademi - president(at)elsa.org

I am Niousha Nademi from Stockholm, Sweden and I study at Stockholm University. I am a 25 year old student of Law as well as Business Administration and I started my ELSA carrier in 2007 when I joined the association and immediately got involved in the activities of my Local Group.

This is my 5^th year as an officer in the ELSA Network and I have among other things been President of the Local Group of ELSA Örebro as well as a President of the National Board of ELSA Sweden.

During my years in ELSA I have had the opportunity to participate in dozens of internal meetings, international conferences and moot court competitions. Every contact with the Network motivated me further to take another step into the core of ELSA, and to give back to the Network which has rewarded me with so much already.

I was elected to be the President of ELSA International during our International Council Meeting in Poznan, Poland in March 2011, which is a great responsibility as well as an honor as I get to work with my seven other motivated and highly skilled board members at the headquarters of ELSA in Brussels, Belgium for 13 months.

What attracted me with ELSA was, apart from the legal and scientific aspects of the association also the internationality, the encounters with new people from different cultural and conceptual backgrounds, but most of all it was the personal development which you gain by being involved in a vast association such as ELSA.

As President of ELSA International my tasks revolve around the overall coordination of the International Board of ELSA, as well as communication with the 42 National Presidents in the ELSA Network. Apart from Board Management my two other main tasks are External Relations meaning the general contacts with companies, law firms, universities as well as the overall Expansion of the ELSA Network.

Working one year full time as a part of the International Board is a unique opportunity, and means a great responsibility towards the 33,000 members of our association, and I intend to take this year to work towards our vision, with a focus on our purpose and means by streamlining the development of our association.

Secretary General - Jaana Saarijärvi - secgen(at)elsa.org

My name is Jaana Saarijärvi and I am a law student from Helsinki, Finland. I was interested in the international aspect of ELSA and joined my local ELSA group in 2008. Soon I was already in the board of ELSA Helsinki as Vice President for Student Trainee Exchange Programme and later as President. After that I was elected to the board of ELSA Finland first as the President and later as Secretary General. I fell in love with ELSA during my first International Council Meeting in Budva and that love has only been growing ever since.

To be the Secretary General means that I am in charge of our regulations, the overall communication of the Network, and our Human Resources Strategy. One of my main responsibilities includes Internal Meetings in ELSA, the most important of which is coordinating questions regarding the International Council Meeting of ELSA. As Secretary General I am concerned with maintaining our internal structure and making sure that all our Members act according to our principles and regulations.

Working with the people in the ELSA Network is a constant source of motivation for me - I am glad to have the opportunity to work full-time for the benefit of this Network for a year.

Treasurer - Ricardo Gomes - treasurer(at)elsa.org

My name is Ricardo Gomes, and I am a twenty-two year old law student from Portugal. I am originally from the highest town of my country, a small city called Guarda surrounded by the mountains and forests but I spent the last four years studying law in Lisbon.

Regarding my ELSA career I became a member of ELSA Faculdade de Direito de Lisboa in 2007, when I entered law school. After that, I was elected in 2009/2010 for the position of Treasurer of my Local Group, and it was in this position that I attended my first International Council Meeting in Malta. With the boost of motivation given by the ICM I decided to run for Treasurer of ELSA Portugal and I got elected for the term 2010/2011.

During last ICM, in Poznan, I was elected Treasurer of ELSA International for the term 2011/2012 and I cannot be more happy and proud with such honour. The idea of giving my contribution to the Network on the International level came up to me after thinking about all the great things that ELSA has already given me. During my relationship with ELSA I gained valuable soft skills, I improved my legal knowledge, I met new cultures, shared experiences, knowledge and opportunities and – above – all I made great friends.

The work of a Treasurer is to be the Financial Manager of the Association, is accounting, budgeting, bookkeeping, invoicing, supporting the other board areas of ELSA, advising and helping. This is what I will do during this year, performing this task from Brussels with my fellow seven board members, which will make this time an unforgettable and intense year.

At the end, it will all come down to work very hard in order to fulfil our purpose with our vision in our minds.

Vice President Marketing - Kaisa Kimmel - vpmarketing(at)elsa.org

My name is Kaisa Kimmel and I am a 23-year-old law student from the University of Lapland. On June 29th 2011, I moved from the North to Brussels to work full-time as the Vice President Marketing of ELSA International 2011/2012.

Ever since I started my studies in 2007, I was attracted to ELSA because of its international nature, academic focus and diverse opportunities for law students and young lawyers. After joining this association and starting as an active ELSA officer, I felt year after year more motivated by the activities organised by our Network and by the values which ELSA represents.

After two years as the national marketer of ELSA Finland, I have the opportunity to live and work together with seven other highly motivated board members. My work is closely related to the Key Areas of ELSA - supporting the Vice Presidents for Seminar & Conferences and for STEP and the Directors for Academic Activities and for Moot Court Competitions. My work also entails editing the members' magazine of ELSA, Synergy, and conducting an International Market Research of the ELSA Network. Furthermore, my focus is on supervising the advertisement services offered by ELSA and on promoting ELSA and its projects.

Working full-time for ELSA this year will definitely be one of unforgettable memories, immesurable personal development and hard work. I am looking forward to giving my efforts into ELSA's numerous projects, events and activities contributing to legal education, fostering mutual understanding and promoting social responsibility of law students and young lawyers.

Director for Advertisements -Viltė Kristina Steponėnaitė - advertisements(at)elsa.org

For information about advertisement with ELSA, click here

Director for Corporate Relations - Ave-Geidi Jallai- corporaterelations(at)elsa.org

My name is Ave-Geidi Jallai and I am a 22-year-old law student from Estonia. Currently I am doing my LLM on International Business Law in Tilburg University in the Netherlands.

ELSA conquered my heart 3 years ago when I started my LLB studies in Estonia. I have been President and VP Marketing of the National Board of ELSA Estonia. Since September this year, I am proud a member of ELSA International Team.

For me, ELSA is much more than just a law students' association. ELSA means endless opportunities that we create ourselves. But the thing is that every achievement and every dream needs work. Nothing in this life comes easy, right? That is the reason why I wanted to become Director for Corporate Relations for ELSA International - out there, there are so many opportunities for ELSA and for the Network; opportunities that every single member could benefit from.

My goal this year is to find more potential partners for ELSA, and to help to improve different current cooperation relationships. Together with the President of ELSA International and the whole ELSA International Team, I will do my best to contribute to the sustainable development and even more ambitious future of our beloved association.

Director for ELSA Online - Martin Bär - elsaonline(at)elsa.org

My name is Martin Bär, I am a fourth year law student from the University of Bayreuth, Germany. I am member of ELSA since 2007. In my career so far I organised a National Council Meeting for ELSA Germany, I was Director for Financial Management and Treasurer in my Local Group and in the term 2010/2011 I worked one year fulltime for ELSA as the Treasurer of ELSA Germany in its office in Heidelberg.

Even though with one year only doing ELSA in your life you actually did enough for the association, I am still motivated to do more! That is why I am participating in a German Legal Research Group and that is also one reason for me to work as Director for ELSA Online for ELSA International.

In my year in the German National Board I was already taking part in the development of the ELSA Online system. I understand this system as one of the major developments in ELSA at the moment. With finishing it successful we have the chance to start a new area in various fields of ELSA! That is why I am having this position and in this term I will try to convince as much ELSA members as possible of the advantages of the system for our organisation.

Director for Grants - Olga Sendetska - grants(at)elsa.org

My name is Olga Sendetska, I am 23 years old and I originally come from Ukraine, but I have not lived there for quite a while now. Last year I occupied a position of Treasurer of the International Board of ELSA 2010/2011 living and working full time in Brussels, Belgium. Prior to working in area of financial management, I have held positions of Vice President Marketing (2008/2009) and after that President (2009/2010) of the National Board of ELSA Ukraine.

This year I am living in Germany studying for my LL.M. specializing in European Economic Law in the city of bridges over the river Saar – Saarbrücken. Studies, while being my main occupation for the year, are not the only one. Not being quite able to leave ELSA work behind me just yet, I have been appointed as Director for Grants of ELSA International 2011/2012.

During the term I will be responsible for grant applications of ELSA International, as well as working with ELSA Network on questions regarding ELSA Development Foundation and external grant possibilities.

I believe we will have a great year working together with all of you. Feel free to contact me on my e-mail, and I hope to meet you at the events around the Network!

Director for Human Rights - Paolo Amorosa - humanrights(at)elsa.org

My name is Paolo Amorosa, I come originally from Italy, but I currently live and work in Estonia. In this term of 2011/2012, I will be the Director for Human Rights. Human Rights are not only the main focus of my professional career but also what brought me close to ELSA in 2006 when I first became a member. I always believed in international cooperation and understanding as one of the main means to make the world a better place and, by working with ELSA at local, national and international level I feel like I did my very small part for that. Especially in the last term, when I was in the International Board as Vice President for Seminars and Conferences, I had the honor to be in charge of the cooperation of ELSA with the Council of Europe, implementing several projects with the goal to favour human rights awareness. I will try my best to put the experience I acquired at disposal of the International Board and the ELSA Network, working together towards “a just world in which there is respect for human dignity and cultural diversity”.

Director for International Focus Programme - Antonella Biasi - ifp(at)elsa.org

Director for Student Hunting - Claudio Piombo - directorstep(at)elsa.org

Director for Training - Zinaida Chkhaidze - training(at)elsa.org

In the beginning my ELSA Career I could not have dreamed that someday I would be working as Director for Training. But life is really “like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”.

My name is Zinaida Chkhaidze. I am from Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Law and especially civil law has always been the object of my special interest. This year I graduated Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (became master of law).

From the period I have heard about it, ELSA became indivisible part of my life. I am amazed and attracted by this organization. You may know lots of International law students’ organizations, but I can freely say that among them ELSA is the best one, it is another universe. ELSA helps you to develop, to become successful lawyer, to become professional, to become international minded, to meet colleagues across the Europe,

ELSA gave me life experience and now it is time to give something back to my beloved network from which I gained a lot.

I will do my best this year to be full of interesting trainings. But “A dream you dream alone is only a dream.  A dream you dream together is reality” (John Lennon). My dream will stay only a dream without your support and enthusiasm.

So, let’s make a dream into reality together and make this ELSA year unforgettable.

Assistant for EMC² - Iryna Polovets - info(at)elsamootcourt.org

Assistant for Legal Writing - Vasco Silva - legalwriting(at)elsa.org

My name is Vasco Pereira da Silva and I am 21 years old. I am from Oporto, Portugal, and I currently am a 4^th year law student of Oporto’s university (FDUP). I’ve been an ELSA officer since 2009.

As Assistant for Legal Writing I would like to focus on essay competitions and on finding solutions for the end of the SPEL, in order to help recovering the relevance that the Legal Writing once had in our Network, by researching opportunities on possible institutional cooperations. I am really pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate, this term, with the International Board in creating new projects for Legal Writing.

I truthfully hope that we can make relevant changes concerning Legal Writing, making our Network more diverse!

Assistant for Market Research - Petra Podgoršek - marketresearch(at)elsa.org

My name is Petra Podgoršek and I come from sLOVEnia. I found ELSA as a bridge, connecting my two professions (have a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and am now entering my last, 4th year of Law studies, both University of Ljubljana).  I joined  ELSA in 2009 and since then I'm a marketer! Why did I decide to apply for Assistant for Market(ing) Research of ELSA International ~ simply because I see it as a MUST DO, if we want our organisation to grow and to develop in the right direction, where all stakeholders are satisfied (on the long run). It is a huge challenge, but I believe the Network is aware how important this is and that we, together, will do it. Briefly, I could say: »Market research ~ for a better ELSA future!«'

Assistant for Study Visits - Aca Roce - studyvisits(at)elsa.org

My name is Ana Roce and I come from Croatia. In my ELSA past I was a Local and National VP S&C and a Local president. At the moment  I'm the  assistant for Study Visits in International Board. Study Visits provide ELSA-members with a possibility to visit ELSA groups in other countries and host other groups in their own country. International Study Visits aim to develop mutual understanding between people with different cultural and legal backgrounds. Study Visits offer a great opportunity to all Local Groups in getting new knowledge, meeting great ELSA people, learning about other culture and city's  and shearing  different knowledge and experience! This are the  reason that make Study Visits great. My primary task is to help ELSA groups in organising their Study Visits, finding suitable partners  and  to ensure the quality of the academic program.

If you have any questions or you want to share some experience with the Network, don't hesitate to contact me! It will be my pleasure to help all of you who wants to star the Study Visits journey.