YEREVAN, Armenia — Nahapet Sukiasyan (LL.M. ’26) is a practicing attorney in Armenia and a graduate student in the Master of Laws program at the American University of Armenia (AUA). Nahapet is also the 2025 recipient of the Vartkess M. Balian Merit Award, the most prestigious university-wide academic honor at AUA.
After completing his bachelor’s degree at Yerevan State University’s Department of Law, he chose AUA to pursue a master’s. “What brought me to AUA was the overall expectations of the experience. I wasn’t just looking for legal knowledge; I wanted to benefit from studying alongside professors and classmates from different parts of the world. That global perspective is invaluable,” he says.
Nahapet’s path to the legal profession was not a lifelong dream but rather a strategic choice. Having excelled in a wide range of subjects in school, he chose law to sharpen his analytical skills. For him, law is an invisible thread that connects society. “Everything in life is about human relations, and human relations are structured by law. That is why I see legal education as more than just acquiring knowledge; it is also about shared insights.”
Nahapet notes that while the first years of law studies equip students with the technical basics, the real value of the LL.M. degree lies in deepening expertise and developing critical thinking. “One of the things I really appreciate at AUA is the opportunity to take diverse courses that are not available at other universities, along with the freedom to choose what you study,” he says.
The practical nature of the curriculum has been a highlight for him. In the Venture Capital Law course, for instance, he explored the intersection of finance and law by preparing spreadsheets and valuations. Other courses, such as Negotiations and International Investment Law, utilized real-case analyses and moot court simulations to prepare students for real-world practice.
As a practicing attorney, Nahapet has already applied these skills. He has used principles from U.S. case law in intellectual property disputes within the Armenian legal context. “Even though legal systems differ, intellectual property principles are similar across jurisdictions,” he explains.
For his growth as a professional, Nahapet credits his professors. “Each professor had a unique approach and influenced not only my legal knowledge but also the way I think about different subjects,” he says.
Nahapet’s research focuses on legal interpretation, a field he describes as the foundation of legal thinking. Under the supervision of Dr. Armen Mazmanyan, he has learned the importance of framing the right questions. “One lesson I’ve learned is that you must properly narrow your research question. Framing the question is one of the most important parts of research, and even life.”
Looking to the future, Nahapet is particularly interested in how technology and AI will reshape the legal landscape. He sees a unique opportunity for lawyers and technologists to collaborate to fix systemic flaws. “With the rapid advancement of technology, we now possess tools capable of empowering individuals in unprecedented ways. This is a defining moment for humanity, and I’m driven to create lasting change,” he says.
Nahapet’s advice to prospective students is to view the LL.M. as a journey rather than a degree. “Be open, communicate with your peers, and actively participate. The goal is to understand the values of the program and fully engage with the process.”
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.