Exemption from payment of the annual fee: applications are accepted from lawyers

Lawyers who have grounds for exemption, reduction or deferral of the annual fee for the bar self-government may submit the relevant applications to the bar councils by the end of this year.

Today, on December 1, the deadline for submitting such applications begins in accordance with the Regulation on Contributions to the Bar Self-Government, approved by the decision of the UNBA No. 4 dated February 3, 2017 (as amended).

According to clause 2.10 of these Regulations, the condition for exemption, reduction or deferral of the annual fee is the advocate's financial insolvency, taking into account the financial/material condition, as well as other actual circumstances.

The benefits are provided for four categories of advocates

1. persons with disabilities of groups I and II;
2. persons with disabilities as a result of war, participants in hostilities (including persons who participated in hostilities in the territories of other states)
3. persons who took part in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP accident of categories I and II;
4. persons who are forced to leave or abandon their place of residence as a result of or in order to avoid the negative consequences of an armed conflict or temporary occupation and have acquired the appropriate status.

Taking into account the distribution of the contribution established by clause 2.2 of the Regulations, applications shall be submitted to:

• Regional Bar Councils - for 70% of the annual fee;
• the Bar Council of Ukraine/National Bar Association of Ukraine - for 30% of the annual fee.

The application (in case of submission by e-mail, the application must be signed with an electronic digital signature) must be accompanied by documents confirming the relevant status and financial situation of the applicant.

How the bar councils will consider applications

Applications for exemption, reduction or deferral of the annual fee for the bar self-government will be considered by the bar councils of the region, the Bar Council of Ukraine/National Bar Association of Ukraine during January 2024.

The decision on exemption, reduction or deferral of payment shall be made if the bar self-government body has the financial capacity, if the provision of such benefits will not create obstacles to its normal activities in accordance with the budget/directions of use of funds for the current year.

Preference is given to persons with disabilities of groups I and II. Others - based on the more difficult financial situation of the person in each particular case.

The Bar Council of the region, the Bar Council of Ukraine/Ukrainian National Bar Association may request additional information on the acquisition of the relevant status and the applicant's financial situation.

Payment by installments

The regional bar council may also grant the advocate an installment plan for the payment of the annual fee, provided that it is paid in equal installments in the first decade of each quarter of the current year.

The decision to grant an installment plan for the payment of the annual fee shall be made by the regional bar council upon the advocate's application submitted within the period from December 1 to December 31 of the current year, provided that the advocate is reasonably and documentedly unable to pay the annual fee in one payment.

We remind that the payment of the annual fee for the exercise of the powers of the bar self-government bodies, in accordance with the decisions of the Congress of Advocates of Ukraine, the Bar Council of Ukraine, and the UNBA acts, is a professional obligation of each advocate. Advocates pay annual fees by January 31 of the current year.