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Russian lawyers took place in Moscow
"What are we awaiting from our Congress? From our congresses we expect all the best. But what can we expect from the first congress? The First Congress as the first letter in the alphabet; and it is not more significant, but the first letter of all the alphabets... is a vowel: you cannot do without it. I think that with diligence and cooperating with each other, we can expect that this Congress will have the right to leave the memories in the history."
V. N. Leshkov
June 5 (17), 1875 at the Moscow University opened the first congress of Russian lawyers.
The first congress of Russian lawyers was initiated by criminologist, professor of criminal law and legal procedure, Sergei I. Barshev; Chairman of the Moscow Law Society, Vassily N. Leshkov and the Ministry of Education.
September 18 (30), 1872 the Moscow Law Society adopted a resolution to create a Committee to elaborate a draft to organize the first congress of Russian lawyers in Moscow. The Committee included: Chairman S. I. Baryshev, deputy chairman V. N. Leshkov, secretary A. M. Falkovsky, members: V. I. Kohnov, I. M. Ostroglazov, L. F. Snegiryov, E. N . Sumbul and S. S. Shaikevich, M. P. Solovyov, N. M. Tsvetayev.
The model for the first congress of Russian lawyers was the Congresses of German Jurists, which began in 1860 and were held annually in different cities of Germany and Austria. Taking into account their experience, there were drawn up rules and developed the preliminary program of the Congress.
According to the rules, the purpose of the congress was the formation of the assembly for "personal rapprochement of Russian lawyers and the living exchange of views among them on the issues of criminal, commercial and civil law... and to promote uniform understanding and application of law."
Members of the Congress could be senators of Courts of Appeal and judicial departments of the Governing Senate, chief prosecutors and their deputies; judges, prosecutors, investigating judges, attorneys and notaries; members of the Academy of Sciences, professors and teachers of law from higher education institutions, members of the Law Society, and also those having a law degree.
The congress was divided into the following departments: criminal law and prison affairs, civil and commercial law, judicial system and criminal justice, civil justice and notary part.
Each department elected its chairman, his deputy and one or more secretaries. Through their representatives the department reported about the results of their studies to the general meeting of the congress.
Among those who took part in the presentations and debates of the congress were: V. N. Leshkov, V. D. Spasovich, V. G. Demchenko, M. N. Solovyov, S. A. Muromtsev, N. V. Kalachov, N. P. Lyapidevsky , A. V. Lohvitsky and others.
Subject are of the discussed issues was extensive and concerned both global questions dealing with the codification of civil laws, and more particular ones: relation between the customary law and the legislation, the legalization and recognition of children born out of wedlock, the provision of right to the heir to inherit in accordance with an inventory and assessment, and on his responsibility for testator's debts only within the limits of the value of his inheritance, etc.
The Congress continued until June 8 (20); in total the forum was attended by 228 people.
Lit.: Миридонова Валентина Сауловна. Юридические общества в России (1865-1917 гг. ). Дис. ... канд. юрид. наук. Н. Новгород, 2002; Прокопьев В. П. Первый съезд русских юристов (к 100-летию съезда в Москве) // Вопросы организации суда и осуществления правосудия в СССР. Вып. 5. Калининград, 1977. С. 142-147.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:
Первый Съезд русских юристов в Москве в 1875 году. М., 1882;