First-Year Law Students Explore Historical Legal Documents at the State Archives in Varna
29 october 2026
First-year students majoring in Law at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” took part in a practical session at the State Archives in Varna. The visit was part of the course “History of the State and Law,” taught by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yordanka Toneva, and gave future legal professionals an opportunity to connect their university studies with hands-on work involving original historical documents.
The archive team introduced the students to the organization and preservation of archival collections, the digitization process, and methods for restoring rare and valuable documents. The students also learned about opportunities to research historical sources that shed light on the development of the state and the legal system in Bulgaria.
For the practical session, the archive provided court cases dating from before 1944, deeds documenting property sales and purchases, powers of attorney, complaints and other legal documents. Working with these materials enabled the first-year students to trace the application of the law across different historical periods and explore sources that may support their future studies and research.
Together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yordanka Toneva, the students also viewed a documentary exhibition marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising. The exhibits included documents relating to Ivan Drasov, an associate of Vasil Levski whose life and activities were connected with Varna.
The visit highlighted the role of archives in preserving documentary and legal heritage, as well as the importance of working with primary sources from the very beginning of legal education. The university team thanked the specialists at the State Archives in Varna for their assistance and for sharing their professional expertise.