Participants of HQDCB meetings were given access to their case files in the cloud

From now on, participants in disciplinary proceedings (complainants and attorneys) have the opportunity to get acquainted with all case materials through a secure cloud storage even before the consideration of the complaint by the Higher Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of the Bar. The login and password for access will be provided by the HQDCB's secretariat along with the invitation to the meeting.

The relevant amendments were made to the Rules of the HQDCB by the decision of the Bar Council of Ukraine dated 21.09.2024 No. 63, which was published on the website of the Ukrainian National Bar Association.

The amendments are aimed at strengthening the protection of the guarantees of the practice of law and the rights of participants in proceedings.

As a reminder, in accordance with the Law «On the Bar and Practice of Law», the HQDCB considers complaints against decisions, actions or inaction of the qualification and disciplinary commissions of the Bar. Information about the meeting of the HQDCB is posted on the website of the HQDCB, and the Chairman of the Commission informs the participants of the proceedings and all members of the HQDCB about the place, day and time of the meeting of the HQDCB.

From now on, the information on the HQDCB meeting posted on the Commission's website will also include the names of the complainants (until recently, initials were submitted), information on the time of the start of consideration of the relevant item of the draft agenda, as well as information on the speakers.

It was clarified that the notification of the meeting of the HQDCB will be sent to its participants at the e-mail addresses specified in the complaint, as well as to the e-mail addresses of the advocates, which they reported in accordance with Article 17 of the Law «On the Bar and Practice of Law» for the purpose of entering them into the Unified Register of Advocates of Ukraine. At the same time, the HQDCB Secretariat provides them with remote access to materials related to their case through a secure cloud storage for review.

The members of the HQDCB will also have access to this storage. They can personally familiarize themselves with all available materials (cases) and other documents related to the draft agenda of the HQDCB meeting, including at the secretariat's premises.

Prior to the day of the meeting, a member of the HQDCB may submit proposals to the Chairperson of the Commission to include additional items to the draft agenda, which other members may freely review.

A member of the HQDCB who is entrusted with checking, studying and reporting on the issue included in the draft agenda will prepare a written reference-proposal. It will contain an introductory and motivational part with legal justification and a corresponding proposal.

Such a certificate-proposal of the member of the HQDCB who was entrusted with the inspection, as well as possible alternative certificates, shall be attached to the inspection materials.

The rapporteur in the case has the right to request from the QDCB only additional materials that were subject to the QDCB 's review, as well as extracts from the minutes of the QDCB meetings that were not sent or attached to the case file. Such a request may be sent by post or to the e-mail address of the QDCB. The response to the said request shall be sent by the QDCB to the postal and e-mail addresses of the HQDCB.

The next meeting of the HQDCB under the new rules will be held on October 29. The updated draft agenda can be found here.