UNBA declares discriminatory changes to the procedure for selecting advocates for FLA

The government Committee chaired by Vice-Prime-Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Taras Kachka rejected the advocacy's comments; the UNBA emphasizes the violation of European standards and is preparing a judicial appeal if the resolution is adopted.

On September 16, 2025, a meeting of the government Committee chaired by Vice-Prime-Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Taras Kachka was held to consider amendments to the procedure and conditions for the competition for the selection of advocates to provide free secondary legal aid.

The Ukrainian National Bar Association, representing the position of the legal community, put forward a number of arguments against the introduction of a discriminatory rule prohibiting advocates from participating in the competition for three years if they are removed from the Register. The UNBA emphasized that such a provision contradicts the Law of Ukraine «On the advocacy and the practice of law» and European standards enshrined in the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate.

At the same time, despite the well-founded position of advocacy, the government Committee recommended that the Cabinet of Ministers adopt a resolution containing provisions that the Ukrainian National Bar Association considers discriminatory.

The UNBA claims that the Ministry of Justice has violated European standards in the area of proper involvement of advocacy in the preparation of acts directly related to the practice of law. If the Cabinet of Ministers adopts the resolution in its current form, the UNBA will be forced to challenge it in court.

In addition, the Ukrainian National Bar Association emphasizes that the system of free legal aid is in crisis and needs comprehensive reform. The UNBA's specialized Committee on FLA is preparing another report on the functioning of the system, which will be heard at the next meeting of the BCU.