Training opportunities are being expanded for FLA lawyers
Completion of the Council of Europe HELP program courses and obtaining the relevant certificate will be taken into account by the Higher School of Advocacy when calculating the points that must be gained by the lawyers of the FLA system in accordance with the Procedure for the Advanced Training of Advocates of Ukraine.
This decision was recently made by the Bar Council of Ukraine.
It is also planned to create a working group that will study the best practices of Ukrainian lawyers who have experience and desire to conduct special advanced training courses on legal aid.
As a reminder, in accordance with clause 21-1 of the Procedure for the Advanced Training of Advocates of Ukraine, approved by the decision of the Bar Association of Ukraine dated 03.07.2021 No. 63, advocates who have submitted information on inclusion in the Register of Advocates Providing Free Secondary Legal Aid or have concluded a contract or contracts for the provision of free secondary legal aid must receive at least two credits for training on free legal aid per year.
From now on, the certificate of completion of the Council of Europe courses on the HELP platform (the courses are free of charge) will be counted as training for lawyers cooperating with the FLA system to fulfill these requirements of the Procedure.
The relevant amendments to the Procedure were proposed during a meeting of the Bar Council of Ukraine by Valentyn Gvozdiy, the Vice President of UNBA, BCU. The day before, he held a working meeting with the HELP project management.
«It's a training platform and they hold a lot of events. They have already translated 33 products for Ukraine. Among them are those devoted to legal aid, - said Gvozdiy. - For our situation, topics on hate crimes, human rights in the Armed Forces, and others may be interesting. The courses are available on the HELP website and Ukrainian lawyers can study remotely».
For reference. The Council of Europe's HELP (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) program is an educational program that has been implemented within the Council of Europe since 2006. It is implemented in accordance with Recommendation (2004)4 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the application of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in university education and the training of legal professionals, including lawyers.
The program is necessary, among other things, because the European Court of Human Rights is trying to reduce the number of complaints it receives by training legal professionals to effectively and correctly apply the Convention in their work.
The HELP network consists of representatives of national institutions for the in-service training of judges and prosecutors and bar associations from the CoE member states. The participants meet annually to share experiences, consult each other and adopt a roadmap containing topics that will be prioritized in the development of new HELP training programs and materials.
Popular news
Guarantees of the practice of law
Preparations for the ratification of the Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer are in the final stages
On June 9, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on legal policy held a working meeting to prepare for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer. The Ministry of Justice and the Ukrainian National Bar Association agreed on approaches to draft laws regarding the ratification and implementation of the Convention. Participants have been given 10 days to prepare the draft laws that will be submitted for consideration.
Announcements
Internships at German law firms: IRZ is accepting applications from Ukrainians
In 2026, the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) plans to organize a multilateral internship program for young advocates from partner countries. Participants will attend an introductory seminar in Bonn and complete internships at law firms in Germany.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Restrictions on the right to legal assistance in pretrial detention centers are unacceptable – statement by the BCU
The Bar Council of Ukraine has stated that it is unacceptable to restrict the right to professional legal assistance, the guarantees of legal practice, and the confidentiality of communications between advocates and clients in pretrial detention facilities operated by the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine.
European integration
The UNBA presented the CCBE with an overview of legal reform and challenges
Reform of the legal profession, Ukraine’s European integration commitments, guarantees of the profession’s independence, and practices of bar self-governance in European countries — these issues were the subject of discussion at the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).
Rule of Law Roadmap
The UNBA is compiling the findings of the subgroups regarding the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap
Today, May 28, the Ukrainian National Bar Association hosted a meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Working Group on the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap regarding the reform of the advocacy profession. Following a series of meetings by thematic subgroups, the work is now moving to the stage of consolidating proposals and preparing a coordinated package of recommendations.
Discussion
UNBA discussed removing barriers at border crossings for families with children with disabilities
Families of children with disabilities face additional requirements when traveling abroad, particularly regarding consular registration. What is happening and what changes are needed to remove these obstacles were discussed during the roundtable «Borders without barriers for families of children with disabilities».
Discussion
New rules, old problems: the UNBA discussed the work of the ETAIDF and MMC
The reform of medical-social assessment and military medical commissions has changed procedures but has not resolved practical issues. People face situations where documents are not issued, decisions are based on technicalities, assessments are delayed, and they struggle to demonstrate their actual health status in specific life situations.
Legislation
Reports from digital platforms should not disclose attorney-client privilege – UNBA
The introduction of automatic exchange of income information via digital platforms is linked to Ukraine’s fulfillment of its international obligations and the alignment of its legislation with EU rules. However, the new tax regime should not create a mechanism through which tax authorities would obtain data on clients’ communications with advocates.
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
