The BCU expands list of honors and awards for advocates and persons, who facilitates the Bar development

The Bar Council of Ukraine (hereinafter - BCU) has expanded the list of honorary and awards of the Ukrainian National Association of Advocates (hereinafter - UNBA). Certain types of awards can be presented not only to attorneys, but also to individuals, who have made a significant contribution to the development of the legal profession or a particular branch of law, as well as to international partners of the Ukrainian Bar.

Regulations on incentive awards of the UNBA were approved by the decision of the BCU  dated November 17, 2020.

In particular, the UNBA awards are established to award attorneys of Ukraine who carry out advocacy activities individually, law firms, bar associations; attorneys and / or persons who are not attorneys, but still have made a significant contribution to the development of the legal profession and contributed to the institutional development of the UNBA and / or a specific field of law, as well as persons who are recognized professionals in areas that directly or indirectly relates to the scope of activities of the Bar; the UNBA international partners, leaders and representatives of foreign attorneys, legal and human rights organizations, etc.

The main purpose of awarding honors and awards is to promote the professional level of attorneys and to strengthen the prestige of the profession; impeccable performance of attorneys' professional duties, constant improvement of attorney's skills; affirmation of constitutionality, law and order, legality, rule of law.

The UNBA awards are awarded by the the UNBA Nomination Committee, the composition and procedure of which are defined in the Regulations.

The UNBA awards can be international, national and regional.

According to the Regulations, awards of the national level, which are awarded to the  UNBA attorneys of Ukraine, are following:

•        the UNBA Award - "Outstanding Attorney of Ukraine" (the highest award of the UNBA)

•        the UNBA Award "Defender of the Bar"

•        Honorary award of the UNBA (1-3 degrees)

•        Honorary Award "For Leadership in Advocacy"

•        Diploma of the UNBA

•        Gratitude of the Head of the UNBA

•        the UNBA award on a certain occasion or achievement

•        Award-winning valuable gift from the UNBA.

National awards awarded to attorneys and others:

•        Honorary award of the UNBA "Defender of the Bar of Ukraine"

•        Diploma of the UNBA

•        Gratitude of the Head of the UNBA

•        Award-winning valuable gift from the UNBA.

The UNBA international level awards:

•        Badge "For International Leadership in Advocacy"

•        Honorary award "For international cooperation and friendship with the UNBA"

•        Honorary award "For strengthening the rule of law".

Distinctions of the regional level, which are awarded by the regional bar associations, attorneys and other persons of their region:

•        Diploma of the Bar Council of the region

•        The Head of the Bar Council of the region Gratitude

•        A valuable gift from the region's Bar Council.

The decision to award attorneys, law firms, bar associations of the region with the awards of the Bar Council of the region is made by the Nomination Committee of the Bar Council of the region and is shaped by the Bar Council of the region (the exception is for the distinction “ The Head of the Bar Council of the region Gratitude”, which is granted on the basis of the decision of Head of the Bar Council of the region and shaped in the form of order without a decision of the Nomination Committee). The Bar Council of the region acts as a Nomination Committee.

The UNBA awards are usually timed to public and professional holidays, anniversaries or significant events. Persons awarded with honors and awards of the UNBA cannot be awarded the same Honors again.

The criteria for awarding prizes (in particular, the required length of service as an attorney) are defined in the appendix to the Regulations.