Continuing professional development of advocates: three years’ results

In 2015 the Ukrainian National Bar Association held 19 training seminars for advocates in 17 regions of Ukraine. Seminars covered more than 5,000 advocates, all of whom received CPD certificates. The UNBA seminars focused on the most important and topical issues of interpretation and application of the national legislation, case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, history of advocacy, etc. Traditionally, the agendas of the UNBA seminars included questions of advocates’ professional conduct, training on which is a compulsory part of an advocate’s CPD.

Presentations at the UNBA seminars were held by the recognized Ukrainian experts on various issues - judges, advocates, lawyers and academics. Notably, in 2015 the number of experts certified by the UNBA increased by more than 150 people, the present number of the UNBA-certified experts standing at 513.

It should also be noted that the seminars included lively discussions between the experts and participants on the practical application of the provisions of the Ukrainian legislation, which demonstrates advocates’ high interest in the topics offered at the UNBA seminars.

It is recalled that the end of 2015 marks the expiry of a three-year reporting period of assessment, which is provided for by paragraphs 12-15 of the Advocates’ CPD Procedure. Advocates are reminded, therefore, that they should submit to their respective regional bar councils, no later than 31 January 2016, a record card of CPD points, the sample form of which is set in Annex 7 to the above Procedure, along with the copies of documents confirming their CPD during 2015.

The UNBA is planning to simplify in 2016 the procedure for reporting of gathered CPD points by way of their inclusion into the URAU, which will ensure transparency and openness of this process. Further details on the new reporting procedure will be published soon at the UNBA web-site.

For information: under the Advocates’ CPD Procedure, the above documents may be requested from an advocate in case of submission to a qualification and disciplinary commission of the bar of complaints (individual rulings, petitions, resolutions) about the breaches committed by the advocate or about the low quality of legal assistance rendered. They are taken into account during the consideration of a disciplinary case, and in case of the advocate’s failure to provide by 31 January a record card of CPD points and copies of supporting documents. Advocates who have fulfilled the requirement for provision of relevant information for the three-year period of evaluation, are provided with a CPD certificate for this period, which is issued by a regional bar council.