Officially: there are more than 70 thousand advocates in Ukraine
Recently, the number of advocates in our country has exceeded 70 thousand. To be more precise, as of today, the Unified Register of Advocates of Ukraine contains information about 70152 attorneys.
The official statistics were provided by Valentyn Gvozdiy, the Vice President of the Ukrainian National Bar Association and the Bar Council of Ukraine, during a meeting of the Bar Council held today, December 13, in Lviv Oblast.
He said that this year alone, the defense bar has been joined by 2,280 new colleagues. However, there are 47.4 thousand active attorneys (those who practice and have not filed an application to suspend their practice), which is 67.6% of the total number. The URAU also registers 1026 trainees and 3.5 thousand paralegals. And the vast majority (94.7%) of active attorneys use the UNBA's electronic office, which provides access to UNBA services.
In addition, the Vice President of the UNBA, BCU, the UNBA said that in 2024 the level of payment of annual contributions to ensure the implementation of bar self-government increased. Financial discipline is observed by 82% of colleagues. «I believe that this is a very high percentage. And this is the best indicator for any previous years, for which we should thank, first of all, the heads of regional councils», - he explained.
He also said that the Council of Europe is preparing to vote on the draft Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession, which will be the first document in the world to establish international standards for the protection of lawyers and the independence of the institution. «This convention will be binding on the signatory countries. And Ukraine, which has become one of the authors, should be one of the first», - the Vice President of the UNBA, BCU is convinced.
It should be reminded that the Committee of Experts on the Protection of Lawyers (CJ-AV), whose vice president was V. Gvozdiy, was engaged in the development of the concept and drafting of the Convention. The CJ-AV operated under the Committee of Ministers and the European Committee on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ) of the Council of Europe.
Popular news
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.
Discussion
Co-parenting shouldn't be reduced to a 50/50 formula, — roundtable discussion
Following a divorce, joint custody can serve as a mechanism for ensuring equal parental rights. However, this model requires clear criteria and cannot be applied automatically without taking into account the child’s age, the level of conflict between the parents, the risk of violence, and the feasibility of enforcing the future decision.
Legislation
Penalties for errors in military registration require clear rules, – UNBA
The liability of officials for violations of military registration rules must be legally defined, proportionate, and effectively enforceable. Otherwise, the new fines will not protect citizens from registration errors but will create additional risks.
European integration
Lidiya Izovitova: In the context of European integration reforms, advocacy is a partner of the state, not a target of reform
The war has significantly altered the working conditions for advocates, while European integration has presented the profession with new institutional challenges. The ongoing negotiation process covers issues such as the rule of law, judicial independence, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The Verkhovna Rada discussed the next steps for ratifying the Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on legal policy held a working meeting to prepare for the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. The meeting was attended by members of parliament, representatives of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukrainian National Bar Association.
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
