The national legal periodical was founded in 1922 by the People’s Commissariat of Justice of the Republic (PCJ) and published by the PCJ's legal publishing office. At that time, the Journal was titled Vestnik Sovetskoi Yustitsii na Ukraine (Herald of Soviet Justice in Ukraine). Only the first two issues of the Journal appeared under that title. Yevsei Hustavovych Shyrvindt was the editor. The first editorial office was based in Kharkiv, and the Journal was published monthly in Russian.

In April 1922, the People’s Commissariat of Justice began publishing the Journal under the title Vestnik Sovetskoi Yustitsii (Herald of Soviet Justice) with Mykhailo Yosypovych Reikhel as editor. The Journal’s mission was to provide comprehensive coverage of Soviet legal developments, promote current legislation, and highlight the work of justice bodies across the country.

In 1922, key sections of Vestnik Sovetskoi Yustitsii included “Articles on Legal Issues,” “Activities of the Soviet Government,” “Judicial Practitioner’s Page (Letters from the Regions),” “From the Activities of the People’s Commissariat of Justice,” “On the Soviet Federation,” “Foreign Legal Thought,” “Press Review,” “Chronicle: Judicial Practice; Life of Justice Institutions; Administrative and Public Chronicle,” and “Mailbox (Questions and Answers)”. From the outset, the Journal addressed a wide range of topics, focusing primarily on the role of Soviet justice under the New Economic Policy (by Ye. Shyrvindt), the reform of civil procedural institutions (by A. Malytskyi), methodological issues in Soviet constitutional law (by M. Hrodzynskyi), and issues of duty performance (with insights from modern German judicial practice) (by V. Koretskyi), among others.

Starting in 1923, the Journal became the official publication not only of the People’s Commissariat of Justice of the Ukrainian SSR but also of the newly formed Ukrainian Legal Society. Editorial Board members included A. Malytskyi, Yu. Mazurenko, and A. Stroiev, with V. Skerst serving as Executive Secretary.

The first issue of the Journal outlined its thematic scope, particularly, general articles on the State policy, theoretical studies, and other fields of law: “Judicial Liberation from Punishment and Its Evolution” by M. Hrodzynskyi, “The Insanity Clause in the Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR” by V. Trakhterov, “Key Issues in Codifying Cooperative Legislation” by E. Shtandel, and “Arbitration Commission or People’s Court?” by A. Malytskyi.

New sections soon appeared: “The Court and Everyday Life”, “Discussion Page”, “From the Regions”, “From the Practice of the High Arbitration Commission”, “From the Practice of the Supreme Court of the Ukrainian SSR”, “Beyond the Soviet Borders”, and “Decrees and Orders of the Government of the Ukrainian SSR”. Some issues featured a section titled “Red Lawyer Page”.

Almost every issue had a section called “Within the Ukrainian Legal Society”, which reported on the meetings of the society and the most important topics discussed therein.

Starting in 1924, the Journal began publishing thematic issues. Issue No. 8 focused on Soviet cooperative law; issues 9–10 covered the proceedings of the Ukrainian and All‑Russian Congresses of Justice Workers.

In 1925, the Editorial Board underwent some changes, welcoming Yu. Mazurenko, A. Malytskyi, S. Prihov, and I. Falkevych.

The next stage in the Journal’s publication coincided with the second half of the 1920s. During this time, Ukraine’s party and state leadership implemented policies aimed at the 'Ukrainization' of public life.

Issue No. 17 (1928) was dedicated to celebrating the fifth anniversary of Vestnik Sovetskoi Yustitsii (Herald of Soviet Justice). In this edition, A. Stroiev emphasized that an active exchange of ideas between Soviet judges and legal scholars—both theorists and practitioners— transformed the Journal into a forge where the theory and practice of Soviet law were shaped. Through highlighting the views of legislators, public figures, practitioners, and theorists, the Journal became a vital bridge between the Ukrainian Legal Society, officials of the central justice bodies, and regional legal professionals.

In its first five years, the Journal published 1,391 articles. Of these, 760 were published in the main section (scholarly contributions), and 631 addressed practical issues. The jubilee issue also included congratulatory messages honoring the Journal’s fifth anniversary.

The 1928 Editorial Board included Yu. Mazurenko, S. Prihov, and F. Chumalo.

In early 1929, the editors announced that subsequent issues would be published in Ukrainian under the new title Visnyk Radianskoi Yustytsii (Herald of Soviet Justice).

In 1930, the editorial team included L. Akhmatov, H. Volkov, Yu. Mazurenko, S. Prihov, A. Stroiev, and F. Chumalo, with Anton Terentiiovych Prykhodko appointed Editor-in-Chief.

In March 1931, the Journal was reborn as Revoliutsiine Pravo (Revolutionary Law), essentially merging two journals - Visnyk Radianskoi Yustytsii (Herald of Soviet Justice) and Chervone Pravo (Red Law). In 1926, alongside the publication of Vestnik Sovetskoi Yustitsii (Herald of Soviet Justice), the People’s Commissariat of Justice of the Ukrainian SSR launched a Ukrainian-language journal titled Chervonyi Yuryst (Red Layer), issued on a biweekly basis. Only two issues were published under that title. In March 1926, pursuant to the resolution of the Commissariat, the Journal was renamed Chervone Pravo (Red Law).

The scientific and practical journal Revoliutsiine Pravo (Revolutionary Law) was published twice a month and remained the official publication of the People’s Commissariat of Justice. The Journal’s editorial board was based in Kharkiv until July 1934, when it relocated to Kyiv.

During the 1930s, the Journal's Editors-in-Chief included: A. Prykhodko (1931–1933), S. Prihov (1933–1934), M. Mykhailyk (1934), B. Benedyktov (Deputy People’s Commissar of Justice and Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic (1934–1936), A. Kiselev (People’s Commissar of Justice and Prosecutor General of the Republic (1935), H. Zhelieznohorskyi (Prosecutor General of the Ukrainian SSR) (1936); B. Shriftov (1936), and M. Kulikovskyi (1939–1940).

The Journal featured diverse sections such as “Practical Topics,” “Current Issues,” “Judicial Practice,” “Beyond Soviet Borders,” “Across the Soviet Union,” “Life in the Regions,” “Our Proposals,” “From the Courtroom,” “Self-Critique Page,” “Legal Chronicle,” “Ukrainian Legal Terminology,” “Review of Soviet Legislation,” “Bibliography,” “Letters to the Editor,” “Answers,” and more.

Between 1931 and 1935, the Journal continued to explore a wide array of subjects, including economic and administrative law issues (by S. Landkof), criminal procedure (by H. Livshyts), socialist competition within justice agencies, and the outcomes of judicial and prosecutorial conferences, among others. Toward the end of 1931, the Journal also began featuring politically oriented articles alongside its scientific and practical content.

During this period, the cult of Joseph Stalin took center stage. Under the headings of many articles were quotations from his speeches or excerpts from resolutions of the Central Committee of the All‑Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks). The Journal paid considerable attention to spring field works and to the selection and re-election of people's assessors.

In 1937, the editorial line remained unchanged. The Journal reprinted articles from Pravda, reported on plenums of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine, published updates on the results of the 1936 agricultural plan, and also the indictment in the case of the anti‑Soviet Trotsky–Zinoviev Center. Alongside these political pieces, the Journal also continued to report on legal developments, chronicles, public legal consultations on specific issues, and recent legislation.

In 1938, Revoliutsiine Pravo (Revolutionary Law) became the official publication of the People’s Commissariat of Justice, the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Ukrainian SSR. Once again, all materials were framed politically. New themed columns tied to key dates emerged (e.g., “On the 16th Anniversary of the USSR”, featuring articles emphasizing the personality cult with titles such as “Victory of Leninist–Stalinist National Policy” and “The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and Its Foreign Economic Functions”).

Following the incorporation of Western Ukraine into the Ukrainian SSR in 1940, the Journal featured a new section titled “In the Western Regions of Ukraine”. Other columns were significantly expanded, including: “Best People's Judge,” “Best Judicial Enforcement Officer,” “Discussion,” “Exchange of Experience,” “Letters from Readers,” “Letters to the Editor,” “Scientific Forensic Examination,” and others.

In 1941, the focus of the Journal’s publications had shifted toward more specialized, expert content, dedicating greater attention to specific legal institutions (for instance,“On the Practice of Applying Article 3 of the Civil Procedure Code of the Ukrainian SSR” by S. Landkof), and to expertise topics (with S. Tykhenko as the most active author).

Publication of Revoliutsiine Pravo ceased with the outbreak of war.

From 1945 to 1958, Ukraine had no scientific-practical legal periodicals. In 1957, the decision was made to relaunch the publication of a legal periodical under the new title Radianske Pravo (Soviet Law). The journal became the official publication of the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic, and the State and Law Sector of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. Volodymyr Hnatovych Zaichuk, Deputy Minister of Justice, was appointed Editor‑in‑Chief.

Between 1964 and 1977, Denys Kharytonovych Panasiuk served as Editor‑in‑Chief. In 1977, Yurii Hryhorovych Verbenko took over as Editor‑in‑Chief and held the position until 1995.

Key sections during that period included: “Soviet Construction,” “Judicial Practice,” “Prosecutorial and Investigative Practice,” “Land Law and Collective Farm Law,” “Public Participation in Combating Crime,” “Notaries Public,” “State Arbitration,” “Legislative Proposals,” “Discussions and Debates,” “Reader’s Forum,” “Exchange of Experience,” “Legal Issues in Environmental Protection,” “Tracing Unpublished Correspondence,” “In Socialist Sister Countries,” “Topics of International Law,” “New Legislation Developments,” “From Arbitration Practice,” “From Prosecutorial Oversight Practice,” “From the Practice of the Supreme Court of the Ukrainian SSR,” “Consultations,” “Chronicle,” and “Reviews.” Under the “Bibliography” section, the Journal listed legal literature published in Ukraine.

Themes of publications were shaped by the needs and directives of the time. Major articles focused on the activities of the councils of people’s deputies, their executive committees, and their permanent commissions. They also covered judicial, prosecutorial, investigative, notarial, arbitration, and attorney activities. The Journal addressed issues related to the theory and history of state and law, legislative improvement, and the reinforcement of legality. It featured articles about public engagement in the rehabilitation of offenders. Articles about the organization of law enforcement in foreign countries were regularly included.

The Journal comprehensively represented legal science through in-depth articles authored by leading scholars, practicing experts, and postgraduate students. These articles addressed the development of civil, criminal, administrative, international, and other branches of law. The Journal played a pivotal role in establishing a new field of law: environmental law, which later gained widespread recognition. Scholars from other countries also contributed to the Journal, informing Ukrainian readers about legal issues in their respective states.

Significant attention was devoted to publishing reviews of the most relevant works by Ukrainian and international legal scholars.

A new chapter in the Journal’s history began following Ukraine’s declaration of independence. In 1992, by decision of the Editorial Board, the Journal was renamed Pravo Ukrainy (Law of Ukraine).

The pressing issues of state-building and forming of a legal, sovereign, independent, democratic, and social state became the defining themes in the Journal’s publications. The drafting of Ukraine’s new Constitution, as well as the implementation of its provisions and practical application beginning in 1996, emerged as a central focus, along with the development of new codes and laws based on the Constitution as the fundamental framework for the further development of Ukraine’s legislation and legal system.

Key legal topics covered by the Journal include the following legal issues: protection of human and civil rights; protection of intellectual property; environmental protection; building of local self-governance; the work of the judiciary, the prosecutor’s offices, the bar, and notaries; legal support for the development of entrepreneurship; combating crime, including economic crime; coverage of current legal developments in Ukraine; commentary on new legislation; harmonization of Ukrainian law with European legislation; and progress in judicial and administrative legal reforms, among others.

Over time, the Journal has changed its title several times: Vestnik Sovetskoi Yustitsii na Ukraine (Herald of Soviet Justice in Ukraine) (January–March 1922); Vestnik Sovetskoi Yustitsii (Herald of Soviet Justice) (April 1922 – December 1928); Visnyk Radianskoi Yustytsii (Herald of Soviet Justice) (January 1929 – December 1930); Revoliutsiine Pravo (Revolutionary Law) (March 1931 – May 1941); Radianske Pravo (Soviet Law) (January 1958 – December 1991); and Pravo Ukrainy (Law of Ukraine) (January 1992 till present). Alongside these title changes came transformations in the Journal’s ideological orientation and editorial policy. Yet, its authoritative status and active influence on the development of Ukrainian legal scholarship and practice remained constant.

Today, this role of Pravo Ukrainy appears more significant than ever. We believe any objective reader would agree that the Journal has recently experienced a kind of “second wind,” reaching a new level of functioning and visibility and asserting its presence on the international stage.