ADVOCACY OF STEPAN FEDAK AT THE END OF THE NINETEENTH AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURIES

Abstract

In the article, the author analyses the advocacy of lviv lawyer Stepan Fedak during the 1880’s–1900’s. The sources of the article are publications of galician periodicals and correspondence of that period. Basing on the of comparison of facts from sources, author outlined the main directions of the lawyer`s work.

It is noticed that advocacy of S. Fedak’s took place in the conditions of formation of a nationally conscious elite. In the late 1880’s its representatives take a leading role in the Ukrainian social-political movement of Eastern Galicia.

In 1882 S. Fedak graduated from the faculty of law Lviv University and, for the next eight years, worked as trainee lawyer. In 1885 he received the permission to protect the interests of defendants in criminal offenses. In the beginning of 1890 S. Fedak opened his own law office in the capital of the region.

The author of the article highlights the main directions of the office of the lawyer. They were: protection of clients in lawsuits, legal representation of institutions and organizations, development of various kinds of official documents, participation in conducting auctions, distribution of property and inheritance. The author briefly revealed each of them.

In conclusion, the author notes that advocacy work in the marked period occupied the leading place in the S. Fedak activities. The successful conduct of legal practice helped gain credibility among Galician intellectuals. The work of lawyer S. Fedak combined with activities in other financial and economic institutions of the region. Work in his own office, from a financial point of view, brought a good income, financially possible to ensure a large family.

Keywords: Stepan Fedak, advocacy, law office, Lviv, Eastern Galicia