Practicing in Scotland: Ukrainian advocates obtain solicitor status

To be eligible to practice in Scotland, Ukrainian advocates must demonstrate their knowledge of local law under the general requirements. However, their Scottish colleagues have waived the fees for our citizens to take the qualifying exams, and candidates have received grants to cover the cost of study materials and living expenses.

Four Ukrainian lawyers have obtained the status of Scottish solicitor — that is, the right to practice law under Scottish law — Larisa Zhdanina, Olena Batryna, Uliana Rusanyu and Yevheniia Filippova. Over the past year, they took their professional exams, and on October 16, during a ceremony marking Lawyer’s Day at the Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh, they were presented with awards from the UNBA.

The conditions for taking the exams were established in 2022, following the appointment of advocate Oleksandr Chernykh as the UNBA’s representative in Scotland. At that time, with the support of Scottish colleagues, an agreement was reached with the Law Society of Scotland allowing Ukrainian lawyers to take the qualifying exams free of charge. The European Lawyers Association (ELA) provided the candidates with grants to cover the cost of study materials and living expenses in Edinburgh during the exams. Thus, the support covered expenses rather than knowledge requirements.

«Our colleagues completed this process on a par with their peers, without lowering standards or simplifying requirements. For the Ukrainian advocacy profession, this is practical confirmation that our advocates are sufficiently prepared to meet the requirements of another, very complex legal system», - noted O. Chernykh.

For reference: Scotland has its own legal system, separate from that of England and Wales. It was shaped by Roman law, the continental tradition, and English common law. Therefore, to be admitted to the bar, one must demonstrate knowledge specifically of Scottish law. Ukrainian candidates are not automatically exempt from exams. In contrast, in England and Wales, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) may, under certain conditions, exempt qualified foreign lawyers from the practical portion of the qualifying assessment.

Previously, a representative of the UNBA explained the conditions under which Ukrainian advocates can work in the United Kingdom, and Ukrainian judges and advocates completed professional internships in Scotland.