UNBA develops amendments to the Rules of Advocates’ Professional Conduct

On May 11 a meeting of the working group on drafting amendments to the Rules of Advocates’ Professional Conduct was held.

The draft amendments will be soon published on the UNBA website, sent for discussion by regional advocatory communities and reviewed at the meeting of the Bar Council of Ukraine on May 26-27. The amending of the Rules of Advocates’ Professional Conduct falls within the powers of the Congress of Advocates of Ukraine.

The effective version of the Rules of Advocates’ Professional Conduct is in line with European standards and, in particular, the Code of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE). However, the compliance with the requirements of the largest professional organization in Europe does not mean there is no need for further improvement and clarification of the said Rules with regard to the Ukrainian realities.

In particular, the amendments to the Rules of Advocates’ Professional Conduct will take account of the experience of qualification and disciplinary commissions and HQDBC, as well as the decisions of the Bar Council of Ukraine, containing explanations of the Rules’ application, and will provide for strengthening of the ethical requirements related to the advocates’ communication in the social networks. The last block provides that the unethical expressions of advocates against each other, as well as spreading of false information shall be subject to disciplinary action.

 “The Rules of Advocates’ Professional Conduct is a fundamental document that the bar is guided by along with the laws. This is a code of professional standards and rules with mechanisms ensuring liability for their violation. It is the availability of such Rules that provides the bar with special status as a self-governing institution,” - emphasized the UNBA Deputy President Valentyn Gvozdiy during the meeting. He noted that the rules shall evolve towards more precise wording and harmonized application, and provide for not only the liability, but also for the protection from unreasonable pressure on the advocates on the part of complainants.