The UNBA is counting on expert support from the IBA regarding reforms

On January 22, a working meeting between representatives of the Ukrainian National Bar Association and Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association (IBA), took place at the office of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, during which the parties discussed current projects and areas for further cooperation.

The head of the UNBA Secretariat Vadym Krasnyk spoke about the need to involve international expertise. He recalled that the Bar Council of Ukraine had formed a broad working group to implement the Roadmap on the rule of law in terms of developing amendments to the legislation on advocacy and the practice of law. International partners and experts, in particular from the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), have already been involved in the work. The UNBA is now considering expanding this format. V. Krasnik explained that the work concerns not only the relevant law, but also related areas, in particular criminal procedural law, in terms of strengthening the capabilities of advocates to represent and defend human rights. In this context, there is interest in the practices of both European advocacy organizations and the American system, taking into account the differences in legal traditions and regulation.

M. Ellis agreed to provide a list of experts specializing in the functioning of advocacy, as well as to recommend a specialist on the reform of advocacy and ethical issues. «Of course, each state has its own legislation. But there are basic things, key principles that are universal. We will try to recommend someone who knows all these details and can provide you with all the information on this subject», - said the IBA Executive Director.

BCU member Hanna Lazarchuk outlined the substantive areas on which advocacy is currently working, in particular, issues of access to the profession (the exam model, the possibility of a single exam and the use of computer technologies), the digitization of advocacy (the functioning of the personal account of an advocate and URAU and the need for further technological improvements), disciplinary practice (the structure of disciplinary proceedings), as well as the updating of the Rules of professional conduct for advocates, taking into account the communication of advocates in electronic networks.

The participants of the meeting considered the issue of guarantees for the practice of law and security challenges for bar self-government bodies as a separate block. V. Krasnik thanked the regional authorities for their support in providing power supplies in the context of attacks on the energy sector and reported that the «support points» that had been set up were working. Continuing the topic of guarantees, H. Lazarchuk mentioned the responsibility introduced by parliament for identifying advocates with their clients, as well as the discussion surrounding this issue.

The situation regarding violations of the professional rights of advocates in mobilization procedures was described by a member of the Committee for the protection of lawyers' rights and guarantees of lawyers' activities of the UNBA Maksym Mazur.

He reported on the increase in appeals to the Committee regarding the actions of territorial recruitment centers, typical problems of advocates' access to clients, and difficulties with registering and investigating reports of crimes related to obstruction of advocates' activities.

Coordinator of the mental health project in collaboration with the IBA Hanna Udovenko briefly summarized the year of the advocate support program, explained its format, and provided data on the results. M. Ellis responded by confirming his support for this initiative and noting the importance of the involvement of the team implementing the project. Separately, he confirmed his readiness to continue the working dialogue with the UNBA and to review the materials received from the Ukrainian side.