The BCU holds its October meeting in Lviv region
The Bar Council of Ukraine is starting its next two-day meeting today, 17 October. Items on the agenda include issues relating to the activities of bar self-government bodies, the implementation of the institution's tasks and interaction, and the consideration of requests for clarification.
The event is taking place in Plavya village in the Lviv region.
According to the draft agenda, Members of the BCU will discuss amendments to several provisions governing the organisation of bar activities. These include the Regulations on assistant advocates, the Regulations on orders for the provision of legal assistance, the Regulations of the Higher Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Advocates and the Regulations on the procedure for accepting and considering complaints of improper conduct by advocates, which may result in disciplinary action. Changes to the Procedure for maintaining the Unified Register of Advocates of Ukraine will also be considered.
A separate part of the meeting will be devoted to practical issues that advocates have asked the Council to clarify. These include concluding a contract for the provision of legal assistance by having the client accept the terms of a public offer, representing the client's interests in separate proceedings to declare them deceased, and the procedure for an advocate to follow in the event of disagreement with the defence strategy determined by the head of the law firm.
Members of the BCU will also examine the nuances of transferring contracts and procedural documents between advocates; suspending activities immediately after taking the oath; determining legal experience; and ensuring that educational qualifications comply with the requirements of the Law «On the advocacy and legal practice».
Additional issues include an appeal to ensure that advocates have adequate conditions in which to perform their professional duties at territorial recruitment and social support centres. In particular, the initiative concerns the creation of a room for advocates in such institutions. This is seen as a way of ensuring access to clients and effective representation.
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