UNBA will continue to consolidate public support for retaining the exclusive right of advocates of repreentation in courts

The advocacy community will continue to fight for the right of Ukrainians to professional legal assistance. Namely, it will try to prove to the people's deputies that the abolition of advocates' exclusive right to representation in courts is an unacceptable step in a democratic European state.

This was stated by UNBA, BCU Chairman Lidiia Izovitova during the Bar Council of Ukraine convention.

The UNBA, BCU Chairman summarized the results of 2019. The main challenge for the advocacy in the coming year is to see the authorities' initiative to abolish the so-called advocates' monopoly.

“Like last year, 2019 proved to be difficult for us. Last year, we continued to fight againt bill No. 9090. This year - against bill No. 1013. And the fight is not over yet, because there is an absolutely unmotivated conclusion of the Constitutional Court on the bill No. 1013. Deputies will make decisions on the bill only in February next year. And whether this document gains 300 votes depends on our position as well”, Lidiia Izovitova said.

The UNBA, BCU Chairman elaborated on the activities undertaken by the advocate community in cooperation with the Institute of Legislation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Kyiv National University of Taras Shevchenko and the Academy of Advocates of Ukraine.

"As a result of these measures, we have prepared a very meaningful resolution. But we cannot publish it anywhere, because not only the authorities but also the advocates, who advocate the abolition of the so-called advocate monopoly, put sticks in the wheels. And this is very unfortunate. But I am sure this resolution will find its place in the public field", Lidiia Izovitova emphasized.

Lidiia Izovitova also said that in the near future the advocate community is planning to undertake a number of measures to abolish the advocate monopoly, and intends to refer to the Council of Europe drafts in Ukraine in order to prove the feasibility of maintaining the current version of the constitutional articles on the exclusive representation by advocates.