Regions, communication, mentoring: UNBA NextGen meeting

As part of the selection of regional representatives, an introductory seminar entitled «Getting to know the UNBA NextGen» was held in Kyiv. Young advocates were introduced to the committee's values, internal communication principles, key projects, and approaches to interacting with regional bar associations.

The event served as a practical «entry point» for those competing for the position of regional representative who wish to join NextGen initiatives in their region and develop a vibrant professional community locally.

A bridge between generations: why NextGen was created

The Vice President of the UNBA, BCU Valentin Gvozdiy explained that the idea for the Committee was born in response to the need for continuity between generations. In his opinion, an organization can be truly successful when young advocates are involved in joint work, communication, and professional initiatives from the very beginning.

He recalled that the UNBA was created in 2012 «from scratch» after a long period of post-Soviet inertia, when the legal community remained under external control. «The state controlled advocacy through disciplinary procedures and access to the profession, - he said. - The community existed, but there was no professional organization».

Valentin Gvozdiy also noted that the independence of advocacy is constantly under the influence of various forces, and the professional community has repeatedly been forced to demonstrate unity — in particular, when opposing legislative initiatives that, according to him, were aimed at «eliminating the national association» and dispersing the voice of the profession. «You understand that some people think it is good for the state when there is no single strong voice of the profession, but rather small groups that do not pose any problems for anyone. But this is a mistake, - he explained. - That is why we realized then that the time had come to strengthen ourselves at all levels and, in particular, to involve the younger generation».

The request from young colleagues that became the starting point for NextGen

Several years ago, during the formation of NextGen, the UNBA team initiated a survey and a series of conversations with young colleagues in different regions. The goal was simple: to hear the real needs at the start of their professional careers and to understand what forms of support were lacking in their daily practice.

The results of these conversations made it clear that young advocates expect simpler, more regular, and more «human» communication with self-government institutions — communication that helps them quickly navigate the opportunities of the profession and feel included in the community. Frequent requests also included practical questions about getting started: how to build a practice, where to find your first clients, how to act in difficult professional situations, and where to find a mentor or supportive environment.

These needs became one of the starting points for NextGen and determined the logic of further projects: from training and information formats to regular live interaction in the regions.

The NextGen concept: communication, training, mentoring

Based on the requests of young colleagues, the NextGen concept was formed as a practical response: through training products and information hubs, through regular meetings between junior and experienced colleagues at regional advocate associations, and through the development of communication skills — both internal professional and external (with clients, institutions, and society).

Moving on to organizational issues, Valentin Gvozdiy emphasized that the UNBA is a «single entity» and that its management is based on the principle of «bottom-up» elections. He also outlined the model for rolling out NextGen in the regions: from preliminary interviews and identifying motivated participants to consultations and agreements with the heads of regional bar associations and the subsequent appointment of representatives by the President of the UNBA.

Among the value guidelines for the work of the Committee, he named teamwork, awareness of the independence of the profession, and the high moral qualities of an advocate.

The charter and the «triad of justice»: how the modern advocacy was built

Continuing the theme of the formation of advocacy head of the legal department of the Secretariat of the UNBA Yaroslav Romanenko noted that the path to the creation of an independent National Association took more than 17 years. «It was a struggle between the state and the legal community, - he said. - The Venice Commission approved a positive conclusion on the draft law «On the advocacy and legal practice». This law incorporated the best practices of European countries. And today we have one of the best laws among European countries».

The speaker outlined the basic organizational framework: at the founding congress of advocates on November 17, 2012, the UNBA charter was approved as a legal entity with mandatory membership; advocates who already had status were automatically included in the association, and new members acquired membership after taking the advocate's oath.

Yaroslav Romanenko placed particular emphasis on the constitutional reform of 2016. In his opinion, it was then that the approach was established whereby advocacy is an independent and self-governing institution and is part of the «triad of justice» together with the courts and the prosecutor's office.

Describing the current work, he briefly explained the model of management through the secretariat, departments, and offices, whose structure changes according to needs, and mentioned the UNBA's development strategy for 2021-2025, approved by the BCU. According to him, much of what was laid out in this roadmap has already been implemented or is being implemented, although wartime does not always allow initiatives to be fully realized.

In conclusion, he called on young advocates to join the work of other Committees and clarified that «young advocate» refers more to experience in the profession than to age. He also invited participants to share their own ideas for the development of the advocacy institution.

Aspects of self-perception: advocacy «here and now»

Chairman of the UNBA NextGen Committee Igor Andreyev formulated the team's practical task: to show that the UNBA is a professional organization of which every advocate is a part. According to him, young lawyers often enter the profession with vague expectations about what legal work will be like, and later become disappointed because they do not understand either the nature of the work or how to «use» the opportunities for self-government.

«That is why we must explain and show that advocacy is here and close at hand. And it is up to you how you communicate with it and what resources you use, including for the benefit of other young advocates, because these are, first and foremost, opportunities. A professional organization creates opportunities, and you have to realize them», - explained the head of the Committee.

He named education as key to NextGen's work: systematically introducing young advocates and students to the essence of advocacy, the role of self-government, and the internal structure of the UNBA. Igor Andreyev emphasized that this is necessary not only to understand «where to go», but also to form professional self-esteem: when an advocate «values himself» and realizes the role of the profession in society, it affects how others treat him.

Separately, he returned to the idea of generational continuity as an applied skill. The Committee organizes formats for live interaction between junior and experienced colleagues: workshops on the protection of professional rights and guarantees of advocate activity, meetings such as «coffee with an advocate», interviews, and podcasts where you can hear practical advice and prepare for real challenges.

In conclusion, Igor Andreyev drew attention to another challenge that the team saw during interviews with NextGen candidates: a sense of alienation between younger and older advocates. He called for establishing contact and «being understandable and open» to the older generation. In his opinion, the world is changing, but the basis of the profession remains, and it is the transfer of the right experience that shapes the common advocacy.

Connection without pauses: how NextGen keeps communication going

Representatives of the Committee spoke about specific aspects of UNBA NextGen's activities.

Project manager Oleksandr Prylutskyi focused on how the team built its internal organization during the COVID restrictions. He said that in 2020, the Committee was faced with the task of not stopping its activities, so the events were quickly moved online: platforms were selected, algorithms were formed and worked out so that regional representatives clearly understood how to prepare and conduct events.

At the same time, they increased their presence on social media, launched a YouTube channel, and broadcast events on it so that those who could not attend would have access to training and materials. Telegram communities and other communication channels also appeared. Oleksandr Prylutskyi described his role as supporting regional teams in technical and organizational matters so that participants would «feel at ease» and have clear guidance in preparing events.

Hello, it’s UNBA: working with students and future advocates

Deputy of the Committee Tetiana Veremii outlined the practical part of the «Hello, it’s UNBA» initiative as working with two audiences who are still forming their ideas about the profession.

The first audience is students: regional representatives reach out to local higher education institutions, hold educational seminars, webinars, or meetings about advocacy and the self-government system. The second is young lawyers who do not yet have a lawyer's certificate: this segment involves explaining the role of advocacy and career development paths to make entry into the profession more understandable and predictable.

In young we trust: trust, responsibility and balance hard & soft skills

Deputy chairman of the Committee Vladislav Kormushin spoke about trust as a starting point for NextGen regional representatives. He emphasized that «In young we trust» means trust «right now»: representing the committee in the region, being its voice and driver, taking responsibility for local initiatives.

He linked the second emphasis to the development of hard & soft skills. Knowledge of the law and procedural work are the bare minimum, but a client's reputation and trust are also shaped by communication, negotiation, public speaking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to work under pressure and with responsibility.

Vladislav Kormushin defined the role of a regional representative as a «point of contact» between the central team and young advocates in the region and as a mechanism for community building. «The NextGen philosophy is simple, - he concluded, - A strong advocate is the perfect balance of professional strength and human maturity. These are the advocates we want to see on the Committee. These are the advocates you should represent in your regions».

Summary of the meeting and next steps

«The introductory seminar essentially outlined why NextGen brings young colleagues together: to provide a foundation for advocate self-government and the work of the UNBA, to connect them to internal communication channels and live interaction with experienced advocates, and to show them tools that help at the start of their practice, - commented Valentin Gvozdiy on the results of the event. - So, for those who are ready to work in their region, the key entry point is regional teams and coordinators. Through them, initiatives are launched and a community is formed».

Summing up the meeting, Igor Andreyev thanked all participants in the competitive selection for the position of regional representative. He reminded everyone that the next stage is ahead: approval of candidates by the chairs of the regional bar councils of Ukraine. Based on the results, a final decision will be made and an official order will be issued on the appointment of regional representatives of the NextGen Committee. The formation of a new team of representatives is another step towards strengthening the connection between generations of advocates and building an active professional community in the regions.