Khalel Tuganbaev is a graduate of Zhetysu University named after I. Zhansugurov, and currently holds the position of assistant prosecutor in Chicago, Illinois, USA. His path from a student at a regional university to a representative of the American justice system is a vivid example of how determination, hard work and self-confidence open doors to the international legal sphere.
From 2009 to 2012, Khalel studied at the Faculty of Law of Zhetysu University. Already in his second year, he realized how important it is to stand out in a competitive environment and he decided to build a career in corporate law. In 2010, he began an internship at the Economic Court on a voluntary basis, combining studies with practice.
Understanding the importance of knowing English, Khalel began to study independently on a daily basis. He attended the free English Speaking Club at the university and studied the language for several hours a day. The efforts paid off – in two years, he raised his English level from zero to 7 points on IELTS.
After graduating from Zhetysu University in 2012, he continued his studies at one of the leading universities in the country, where he received a master’s degree in international law, which allowed him to deepen his knowledge in the field of international, criminal, civil and labor law. In parallel, he worked in an international law firm, paying for his studies himself.
Later, he was hired by one of the Big 4 companies, where he worked as a corporate lawyer helping international and foreign companies in Kazakhstan on corporate issues, and also participated in working groups to prepare legislation in the areas of joint-stock companies, the securities market, arbitration, notaries and other areas.
Khalel showed particular interest in litigation on corporate issues. His expert opinion on corporate liability, commercial dispute resolution, material damage and business protection is published in Kazakhstani and international legal publications both in Russian and English. He emphasizes the importance of legal predictability, transparency of contractual relations and timely response to breaches of obligations in the field of corporate law. Khalel actively advocates for the development of sustainable judicial practice and legal culture among entrepreneurs, believing this to be the key to investment attractiveness and long-term business growth.
In 2023, Khalel received several invitations to study from leading foreign universities in the field of law, including from the UK and the USA. He chose a two-year law master’s degree at one of the prestigious American universities in Chicago with an emphasis on criminal and civil litigation and received a 75% grant for his studies.
Since graduating from Zhetysu University, Khalel has worked his way up from a junior lawyer to a director in international law firms and companies both in Kazakhstan and the USA.
Since November 2023, he has been an assistant attorney for the state of Illinois in Chicago (Attorney General Office of Illinois), where he handles criminal and civil cases.
Three pieces of advice from Khalel Tuganbaev to students:
- Believe in yourself – even if no one believes in you, your belief is more important.
- Don’t be afraid of mistakes – be afraid of inaction.
- Do a little more than required.
“Tomorrow can change the whole year, and yesterday already seems like something far away, as if it was five years ago. Start right now,” says Khalel.
We are proud of our graduates and wish students of Zhetysu University not to be afraid to dream, move forward and burn – for real and in their own way!
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