5 more advocates received financial support from the UNBA Board of Trustees
On January 28, 2025, the UNBA Board of Trustees held its first meeting of the year. The Board considered 8 applications from advocates who found themselves in difficult life circumstances due to the war.
Financial assistance was provided to a military lawyer from Zaporizhzhia region, who, as a result of his service in the Armed Forces, had an exacerbation of chronic diseases and was diagnosed with cancer. He needs surgery.
The UNBA Board of Trustees supported a lawyer from Odesa, who on November 18, 2024, as a result of an enemy attack on the city, sustained a serious head and neck injury. She is still in the hospital and needs surgery to remove the fragments. Funds for treatment were also sent to a lawyer from Volyn region.
Two more attorneys from Poltava region will receive funds for renting housing - their houses and property were completely destroyed.
The UNBA Board of Trustees rejected the rest of the applications from the advocates, as they do not fall into any of the approved categories.
As a reminder, the Board of Trustees decides on the provision of assistance according to certain criteria, distributing assistance in the order of the first, second and third priority.
First of all, charitable assistance is provided to:
- advocates and (or) members of their families who died as a result of military operations on the territory of Ukraine since 02/24/2022;
- advocates and (or) members of their families who have been seriously injured as a result of military operations on the territory of Ukraine since February 24, 2022;
- advocates and (or) members of their families who have completely lost their housing as a result of military actions on the territory of Ukraine since February 24, 2022, which served as a place of permanent residence, if it is impossible to continue living there due to a significant degree of destruction and the absence of other habitable housing;
- single advocates over 70 years of age who are unable to evacuate or have been evacuated but have no means of subsistence.
Secondly, charitable assistance is provided to:
- advocates and (or) members of their families whose housing has been partially destroyed as a result of hostilities in the territory of Ukraine since February 24, 2022, and needs to be restored with the possibility of further residence;
- advocates and (or) members of their families who have received bodily injuries of moderate severity as a result of military actions on the territory of Ukraine since 02/24/2022;
- advocates who are single parents and have no means of subsistence as a result of the outbreak of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine from February 24, 2022 and in the absence of income.
Thirdly, charitable assistance is provided to advocates and children of advocates who need to take vital medicines on a regular basis and do not have the means to purchase such medicines.
In order to receive charitable assistance, advocates who have suffered as a result of military operations on the territory of Ukraine may submit an application in any form to the e-mail address opekun@unba.org.ua. It is recommended that the application be accompanied by documents and information confirming the facts set forth in the application.
Popular news
Guarantees of the practice of law
Police to investigate the NACP's attempts to reform advocacy
The Office of the Prosecutor General has opened a criminal investigation into alleged abuse of power by employees of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention.
Interaction
The UNBA and the Council of Judges of Ukraine are expanding their professional dialogue
On April 24, a working meeting was held between the President of the UNBA, BCU Lidiya Izovitova and the Chairman of the Council of Judges of Ukraine Vitaliy Salikhov. Topics discussed included formats for cooperation between bar and judicial self-governing bodies, the development of joint ethical standards, and the formation of a Selection Committee for the recruitment of members of the High Council of Justice.
Legal defence of military personnel
The model for legal assistance to veterans was discussed at the UNBA
A working meeting was held at the Ukrainian National Bar Association, during which representatives of the advocacy profession, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and a foreign expert discussed approaches to providing legal aid to veterans, the role of the advocacy profession in this system, and the experience of other countries.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The CJU has endorsed guarantees of the legal profession’s independence and has proposed a meeting with the BCU
The Council of Judges of Ukraine has responded to a letter from the Bar Council of Ukraine regarding the inadmissibility of the High Council of Justice granting immunity to a member of the High Council of Justice — a privilege not provided for by law — as well as regarding violations of constitutional guarantees of the independence of the legal profession and attorney-client privilege.
Interaction
The UNBA and the Ministry of Veterans are expanding their cooperation
War veterans, their family members, as well as the family members of fallen Defenders of Ukraine are to receive improved access to professional legal assistance and additional opportunities for independent legal protection.
Legislation
Advocates have warned that the draft Labor Code would curtail workers' protections
Certain provisions of the draft Labor Code of Ukraine regarding collective labor disputes undermine labor protections and do not comply with constitutional and international standards.
Appointment
The UNBA will develop professional standards for advocates
The Ukrainian National Bar Association has established a Committee on Standards of the Legal Profession, whose work will focus on developing uniform approaches to the professional duties of advocates, competency requirements, continuing education, and the protection of attorney-client privilege.
Legal defence of military personnel
Representatives from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the UNBA discussed veterans' access to justice
On April 3, a working meeting was held at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine with representatives of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, dedicated to improving the effectiveness of legal protection for war veterans and their families.
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