UNBA published the third Report on international charity assistance to lawyers during martial law
During the nine months of unjustified armed aggression, Ukrainian advocates felt the powerful all-around support of the international legal community: moral, financial, and organizational. This support crossed the borders of the states and strengthened faith in the bar's mission as a defender of human rights, the rule of law, and a defender of every lawyer who finds himself in trouble.
We are grateful to our foreign colleagues from all over the world who donate funds to help the injured Ukrainian lawyers and their families, host our colleagues who were forced to leave their homes due to hostilities, help them settle in new conditions, find work and start life anew.
To provide targeted assistance to war-affected lawyers and their families inside the country, in March 2022, the Trustee Council was established to distribute aid received by UNBA from international organizations.
Funds are distributed as quickly as possible and within transparent procedures. The Board of Trustees treats each application for assistance with special responsibility and understanding because behind each application lies the fate of colleagues. More than 400 Ukrainian lawyers have received aid since the beginning of the activities of the Board of Trustees.
Reports on the costs of international aid must be provided to our donors. The documents are published on the official website of the UNBA in Ukrainian and English and are addressed to international donors. The first Report was published in May 2022, and the second summarizes the fundraising work of charitable funds transferred to UNBA from February to June 2022.
The third Report on international aid contains detailed infographics on receipts, distribution of charitable funds, and analysis of decisions of the Board of Trustees of the UNBA for nine months of martial law in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, Russia's military aggression against Ukraine continues. Many Ukrainian lawyers continue to defend our land heroically. Still, many of our colleagues lose relatives and loved ones under enemy fire, are injured, need constant treatment and expensive medicines, and remain homeless. That is why we continue to appeal to lawyers in European countries and the whole world with a request to provide financial assistance for our lawyers.
Popular news
Legislation
The path to ratification of the Convention must not end in yet another delay — L. Izovitova
Ukraine’s preparations for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer have already passed key stages. Now, government institutions must submit the matter to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration. In doing so, Ukraine may complete the ratification process faster than EU member states.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Ukraine could be the first to implement a European mechanism for the protection of advocates. What’s holding it back?
Ukraine has a chance to be the first country to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer. Political support for this exists, but the government’s legislative package has not yet been submitted to parliament. Meanwhile, the number of violations of advocates’ rights is on the rise.
Educational events
How can an advocate verify that work has been completed if the client refuses to sign the report?
When billing by the hour, the primary document for determining the fee may be a detailed report on the time spent by the advocate and the work performed. To prevent the client from withholding payment, the contract should specify in advance the procedure for submitting and approving such a report.
Self-government
The BCU took note of the public appeal from the HCJ
The Bar Council of Ukraine has determined that, given the current security situation, it is objectively impossible to hold, in accordance with the procedure established by the Law «On the advocacy and the practice of law», meetings of advocates, regional conferences of advocates and the Congress of Ukrainian Advocates, including for the purpose of electing two members of the High Council of Justice under the quota allocated to the Congress of Ukrainian Advocates.
War
The BCU has launched a digital project «Wall of Remembrance and Honor»
The Bar Council of Ukraine has adopted a resolution to launch the digital project «Wall of Remembrance and Honor». To this end, the UNBA is beginning to collect information on advocates and paralegals who lost their lives as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine.
Appointment
The UNBA has established a Committee on cybersecurity and virtual assets
A permanent collegial advisory body — the Committee on cybersecurity and virtual assets has been established under the UNBA.
Legal defence of military personnel
Medical care, veterans' benefits and legal assistance: what changes are needed to protect service members
The consequences of torture and illnesses suffered by Ukrainian servicemembers while in captivity are not always properly documented or taken into account when providing social benefits. Therefore, a medical examination is crucial during the reintegration phase; it is also necessary for documenting war crimes.
Interaction
Energy law: the UNBA and the ADMGE have agreed to cooperate
Advocates will deepen their professional expertise in the field of energy law, and participants in the distributed and flexible generation market will have greater opportunities to obtain professional legal assistance.
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