THE CONTRIBUTION OF ROMAN VASYLIOVYCH BERSHEDA TO THE FORMATION OF THE UKRAINIAN LEGAL SCHOOL

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the figure of Roman Vasyliovych Bersheda (1912–1979) – a prominent Ukrainian legal scholar, educator, and World War II veteran whose scientific and teaching activities significantly influenced the development of the national legal school in the post-war decades. The central thesis of the work is that Bersheda’s contribution to the development of Ukrainian law extends far beyond his scholarly publications; he shaped a comprehensive culture of legal thinking by combining profound theoretical training, years of practical work in justice authorities, and dedicated pedagogical activity.

The article traces the scholar’s life and professional path: from the start of his career in justice bodies in 1934 and his leadership of the Kyiv Law School of the Ministry of Justice of the Ukrainian SSR, to the defense of his doctoral dissertation in 1973 and his teaching at the Higher Party School under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. Special attention is paid to his frontline experience – voluntary participation in World War II, the defense of Kyiv, and the liberation of Kursk, Dnipropetrovsk, and cities in Poland and Czechoslovakia – which deeply influenced his understanding of law as a guarantor of human dignity. The author analyzes Bersheda’s key scientific works, specifically the monographs “The Executive Committee of the District Council” (1958) and “The Village and Settlement Council and Issues of Socialist Legality” (1970), in which the scholar not only examined existing legislation but also proposed practical ways for its improvement.

The relevance of this study is driven by the ongoing reform of the Ukrainian justice system and local self-government: revisiting the scientific heritage of previous generations of jurists allows for a better understanding of the institutional origins of modern legal practices. The author’s contribution lies in introducing little-known biographical evidence into scientific discourse, including personal memories of Bersheda as a teacher and a person. This approach allows for a complete reconstruction of his figure – not only as a scholar but also as a personality who shaped Ukraine’s legal elite through the power of his own example.