Lydia Izovitova participated in the Second International Law Forum Tashkent Law Spring
UNBA\BCU President Lydia Izovitova participated in II International Legal Forum Tashkent Law Spring. Upon invitstion from the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Lydia Izovitova spoke about accopmlishments in Ukrainian Bar digitalization.
President of Uzbekistan Chamber of Advocates Alim Ernazarov and US Ambassador Daniel Rosenblum welcomed guests and speakers of the event.
In her report, Lydia Izovitova presented the main principles of formation and activity of attorneys` self-government in Ukraine, which is based on the law "On the Bar and Advocacy" of 2012, and which is not dependent on state governance and financing.
"During past 8 years, we have been witnessing diverse personnel rotations, however, the time has worked on us. For instance, due to the stability of profile laws, for this period we have gained an experience and potential not only to ensure the operational work of attorneys` self-governance but also to invest in the future, especially in strategic directions of advocacy development", - the Head of the UNBA emphasized.
One of such directions is the development of projects in the digital sphere, which now has put the Ukrainian advocacy in the leading places in the sphere of digitalization comparing to colleagues from other countries.
Such projects include the modernization of the Unified Register of Advocates of Ukraine (hereinafter - URAU), which is currently a multifunctional service. The URAU not only ensures the openness of data on attorneys who have the right to practice in Ukraine but also, thanks to the introduced innovations, reduces the bureaucratic burden on the bar self-government bodies. Thus, in URAU each attorney can generate an online warrant, receive credit points for advanced training, pay a fee to ensure the self-government of attorneys.
The UNBA also develops opportunities for online training of attorneys, which became especially relevant during the Covid-19 pandemic. On one platform, opportunities are currently created to review all planned educational activities that have been accredited according to certain criteria. Attorneys who have a valid certificate can take part in such events. Soon, the UNBA will introduce new IT products that will provide similar training opportunities for assistant attorneys; automate procedures for access to the legal profession.
Lydia Izovitova outlined the main innovations in the implementation of the "Electronic Court" system. The advocacy is making active efforts to accelerate the implementation of online justice tools so that quarantine restrictions do not undermine the effectiveness of human rights protection.
Popular news
Rule of Law Roadmap
The UNBA is developing a model for reforming the legal profession
The reform of the advocacy profession is part of the negotiation process regarding Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, and the Rule of Law Roadmap explicitly identifies the Ukrainian National Bar Association as one of the key stakeholders in the process.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Police to investigate the NACP's attempts to reform advocacy
The Office of the Prosecutor General has opened a criminal investigation into alleged abuse of power by employees of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention.
Interaction
The UNBA and the Council of Judges of Ukraine are expanding their professional dialogue
On April 24, a working meeting was held between the President of the UNBA, BCU Lidiya Izovitova and the Chairman of the Council of Judges of Ukraine Vitaliy Salikhov. Topics discussed included formats for cooperation between bar and judicial self-governing bodies, the development of joint ethical standards, and the formation of a Selection Committee for the recruitment of members of the High Council of Justice.
Legal defence of military personnel
The model for legal assistance to veterans was discussed at the UNBA
A working meeting was held at the Ukrainian National Bar Association, during which representatives of the advocacy profession, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and a foreign expert discussed approaches to providing legal aid to veterans, the role of the advocacy profession in this system, and the experience of other countries.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The CJU has endorsed guarantees of the legal profession’s independence and has proposed a meeting with the BCU
The Council of Judges of Ukraine has responded to a letter from the Bar Council of Ukraine regarding the inadmissibility of the High Council of Justice granting immunity to a member of the High Council of Justice — a privilege not provided for by law — as well as regarding violations of constitutional guarantees of the independence of the legal profession and attorney-client privilege.
Interaction
The UNBA and the Ministry of Veterans are expanding their cooperation
War veterans, their family members, as well as the family members of fallen Defenders of Ukraine are to receive improved access to professional legal assistance and additional opportunities for independent legal protection.
Legislation
Advocates have warned that the draft Labor Code would curtail workers' protections
Certain provisions of the draft Labor Code of Ukraine regarding collective labor disputes undermine labor protections and do not comply with constitutional and international standards.
Appointment
The UNBA will develop professional standards for advocates
The Ukrainian National Bar Association has established a Committee on Standards of the Legal Profession, whose work will focus on developing uniform approaches to the professional duties of advocates, competency requirements, continuing education, and the protection of attorney-client privilege.
Publications
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition during wartime: when the risks outweigh the request
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition as a systemic form of rights violations
Victoria Yakusha, Law and Business The anti-corruption vertical cannot «take care» of the Bar as an institution, - acting head of the HQDCB
Censor.net Protecting advocates – protecting justice: addressing concerns about the new law
Ihor Kolesnykov A BRIEF SUMMARY REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE ORDER ON EXTENDED CONFISCATION IN LATVIA REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSETS OF…
Valentyn Gvozdiy WORKING IN A WAR ZONE
Lydia Izovitova Formula of perfection
Sergiy Vylkov Our judicial system is so built that courts do not trust advocates