Ombudsman to provide legal aid with support of UNBA - pilot project
The Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights has launched a pilot project to provide professional legal aid to citizens in five regions of Ukraine.
The project is being implemented in Zakarpatti The Ombudsman's Office explains that during the reception of citizens, there are sometimes cases when applicants need additional professional legal assistance (drafting claims, lawyer's requests, etc.), but for various reasons cannot use free secondary legal aid.
To ensure the right to professional legal aid, enshrined in Article 59 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the regional bar councils, with the UNBA's approval, will participate in restoring the violated rights of those citizens who apply to the Ombudsman. The lawyers will provide the necessary explanations and, in some cases, professional legal assistance.
It should be reminded that the UNBA's recently presented Report on topical issues of the functioning of the legal aid system in Ukraine notes that the deepening crisis in the relations between the state and the bar in the field of legal aid provision, long-term disregard for the UNBA's position has led to fundamental changes characterized by the loss of the primary focus on the person as the highest value by the legal aid system.a, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne and Khmelnytskyi regions under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Ombudsman and the Ukrainian National Bar Association.
According to the agreement, lawyers will provide professional legal aid to citizens who apply for consultations during the reception of the Ombudsman's representatives in the regions.
At the same time, the constitutional and legislatively defined model of guaranteeing the right to professional legal aid to everyone includes a special provider of its provision - the Bar. And it is the advocates, as special entities that meet specially defined requirements, and the activities they carry out to provide legal aid, the quality of which is guaranteed by special procedures and mechanisms, that are the defining elements of this model of providing everyone with professional, not just any, legal aid.
Popular news
Guarantees of the practice of law
The process of signing the Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate was taken under control by t…
The Ministry of Justice sent the text of the translation of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the advocate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs «for review and approval». The main legal authority also expressed its support for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the signing and ratification of this Convention.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Statement by the UNBA Committee on the «National Police investigation»
The media is spreading news that the National Police of Ukraine is allegedly investigating a criminal offense committed by the leadership of the Ukrainian National Bar Association.
Discussion
Without the protection of advocates, there will be no fair trials in Ukraine — forum in Odesa
Identifying an advocate with their client undermines the foundations of justice, as it deprives individuals of the opportunity to exercise their right to defense, forces advocates to avoid participating in high-profile cases, and ultimately renders procedural guarantees meaningless. Without this, fair trial is impossible.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The process of signing the Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate has begun
Ukraine's signing of the Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate, which was adopted by the Council of Europe on March 12, 2025, has been delayed due to the lack of an official translation. However, the Minister of Justice has promised to submit the document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further approval.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The number of cases where advocates are identified with their clients is growing – UNBA report
Advocates are increasingly being held hostage to political processes, with them being equated with their clients. Such actions undermine the independence of the profession and create an atmosphere of intimidation, as a result of which Ukrainian citizens are deprived of their right to defense.
Legislation
What data is sufficient to initiate an investigation – UNBA comments on draft law No. 12439
The problem of law enforcement pressure on business remains one of the most acute for the Ukrainian economy. The lack of regulation of certain procedures in the Criminal Procedure Code leads to abuses, as a result of which entrepreneurs find themselves in a state of legal uncertainty.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Law on advocacy and the Council of Europe Convention: the UNBA assessed compliance (comparative table)
The Ukrainian National Bar Association has prepared and published a comparative table showing the extent to which Ukrainian legislation complies with the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The Verkhovna Rada is waiting for the Minister of Justice to take action on signing the Convention on the protection of t…
Ukraine, which was directly involved in the preparation of the world's first Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate, has still not signed it. There appear to be no formal objections, but no real steps have been taken towards accession either.
Publications
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
Iryna Vasylyk Advocacy in the proclamation of Independence of Ukraine
Oleksandr DULSKY When we cross the border of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court, we get into another department of the National Anti-Corruption…
Vadym Krasnyk The UNBA will work, and all obstacles and restrictions are only temporary inconveniences
