What does it take to train a great lawyer? At a Catholic university, the answer goes far beyond teaching the letter of the law—it is about shaping the character of the person practicing it.
Recently, the Faculty of Law at Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPCU) hosted a collaborative workshop with colleagues from the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU). The goal was simple yet profound: to share how both institutions balance academic excellence with moral, ethical, and personal development.
The day opened with Sarolta Molnár, Director of the Zlinszky College of Excellence, who introduced the concept of cura personalis—or "care for the whole person." She called: “If we believe that justice depends on the kind of persons who practice it, then forming the whole person is not an addition to legal education — it is its core responsibility.” She highlighted that preparing future lawyers for the vocation of justice requires more than knowledge and technical skills: it calls for the formation of intellectual, practical, and moral capacities within a supportive community. The Zlinszky model was presented through its three pillars—knowledge, skills, and community—with particular emphasis on the formative role of social engagement and shared experience. Building on this, PPCU’s Márton Tóth-Kuthy Head of the Dean’s Office, presented the Faculty’s approach to talent management, underlining the importance of structured support, mentorship, and the alignment of excellence with the values of Catholic education. Dean László Komáromi reflected on the teaching of professional ethics, stressing that ethical formation must be integrated throughout legal studies and grounded in a coherent understanding of human dignity and responsibility. He also emphasized the importance of leading by example.
The second part brought valuable insights from UCU. Representatives Khrystyna Tarasenko, Yuliia Navrotska, and Prof. Nadiia Pysarenko shared how their law school instills a commitment to human dignity, even when facing massive, real-world societal challenges. Presenting the impressive results of a relatively young law school they also reflected on the fact that to kepp up with constant changes requires intentional strategizing. For example regarding legal thecnology UCU's principle is to teach how to learn new tools. Closing out the presentations, Prof. Khrystyna Kovtsun highlighted UCU’s Legal Clinic. Having bulit the legal clinic around the needs of veterans and their families' needs. By handling real cases for vulnerable populations, students don't just practice law—they learn empathy, connecting classroom theory with meaningful community service.
By the end of the day, everyone in the room agreed on one core truth: true talent management isn't just about high grades. It requires an intentional blend of knowledge, ethics, and hands-on experience. Ultimately, the workshop did more than just exchange ideas—it strengthened a vital partnership between two institutions dedicated to raising up the next generation of ethical legal professionals.