Raised in a loving and supportive family, he always knew he carried within himself a strength that could not be measured by diplomas or social background. The only child of parents with primary education, yet endowed with boundless love and faith in him, he received the most valuable gift of all – the confidence that he was capable of achieving anything he dreamed of.
His mother – strong-willed and self-sacrificing, like an eagle fiercely protecting her young – instilled in him faith and courage. His father – a silent example of honesty and perseverance. From them, he learned the most important lessons: to be human, to work hard, and never to forget where he came from.
Of Roma origin, and walking a path often marked by prejudice, Diyan Dankov turned his difference into strength. Not as a burden, but as pride and a source of motivation. Since childhood, he had only one dream – to become a lawyer. Not a firefighter, not a doctor, not a teacher. A lawyer – the one who defends the weak, stands against injustice, and speaks on behalf of those who have no voice.
With the years, this dream did not fade – on the contrary, it became his destiny. He graduated in Law and a second degree in International Maritime Law at Varna Free University. The profession attracted him not only with its cases and dynamics, but also with its deeper meaning – the opportunity to be a support for people whom life had not granted privileges.
The road was not easy. Two years ago, he lost his mother – one of the pillars of his life. The pain was immense, but at the same time, this loss made him value even more everything his parents had instilled in him. Their love, their example, their faith – they shaped him both as a person and as a professional.
Today, Diyan is a freelance lawyer, registered with the bar association, and has fulfilled another dream – opening his own law office in the center of Razgrad. He works with passion, integrity, and a mission – to provide legal defense to those often neglected by the system: the poor, vulnerable people, Roma living in small towns and villages. He does not accept refusal of protection due to origin or lack of funds. On the contrary – for him, these are exactly the people who deserve the best defense, because they are the ones most often victimized by injustice.
His encounter with the Legal Incubator Program was a turning point. As part of the first cohort of the program, he not only gained practical experience and knowledge but also became part of a community of professionals who believe in change through law. There, he found some of his greatest inspirations – attorney Daniela Mihaylova, who supported him and gave him strength to keep going. Another important figure in his professional life is Liliya Makaveeva, Executive Director of the Integro Association and his former employer.
Today, the greatest support for lawyer Dankov remains his family – his wife and their two beautiful daughters. They are his “why,” his center, and his reason to be not only a good lawyer, but also a devoted husband and father. Balancing profession and personal life is a goal he consciously pursues every day.
The profession has taught him one thing – never to give up. There are moments of exhaustion, doubt, and difficulty. But when he manages to help someone, when he reunites a child with their father, when he breaks through stereotypes in the courtroom – then he knows it has all been worth it.
His most memorable case? For a little girl taken from her parents not because of violence or neglect, but because of poverty. A social report – filled with stereotypes and prejudice. In court, he asked the father: “Do you want to have your daughter back?” The answer came with tears in his eyes: “How could I not want that… she’s my little chick, she’s only six years old.”
At that moment, he realized that it wasn’t simply that he had chosen the right profession. It was that the profession had chosen him. Because sometimes, in a world of bureaucracy and indifference, a lawyer is the last hope for justice.
The First Legal Incubator in Bulgaria
Launched in 2019, the first Legal Incubator in Bulgaria aimed to create a learning environment providing professional space and educational programs for building a law practice and a law office, as well as for the professional development of lawyers who would direct their practices toward areas of law with the greatest impact on vulnerable communities.
In its implementation, the program sought to fill the gap caused by the significant economic and social inequalities of poor communities, in line with the original idea of Legal Incubators, developed by Fred Rooney – to promote social justice and service to the community, while at the same time building networks and expanding the experience of Incubator participants under the careful mentorship of established legal professionals.