Independence as a Foundation: A Model for European Integration Under the New Law on the Ukrainian Bar Association Was Presented in Brussels

The National Bar Association of Ukraine presented to its European partners in Brussels a comprehensive set of proposals for a new version of the relevant law, which is intended to align the Ukrainian model with the standards of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer and to institutionally strengthen the guarantees for lawyers’ practice.

According to the website of the National Bar Association of Ukraine, the presentation of the key provisions of the upcoming reform took place on October 1 during the international roundtable “Reform of the Legal Profession on Ukraine’s Path to the EU: Progress in Implementing the Rule of Law Roadmap.”

The document, developed by the Working Group on Reforming Legislation on the Bar, covers strategic directions for modernizing the institution—ranging from modernizing access to the profession and strengthening bar self-governance to improving disciplinary procedures.

The main goal is to implement the standards of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, particularly regarding the preservation of professional secrecy and the prevention of undue interference.

“The basis for these changes remains the principles of the current 2012 law, which is conceptually modern but requires evolution in light of the transformation of the justice system and our European integration processes. At the same time, all other changes make sense only if the attorney remains independent. This independence is, above all, a guarantee for individuals who need protection in their legal dealings with the state and must be able to fully trust their defense counsel,” stated Lidiia Izovitova, Chair of the National Bar Association of Ukraine (NAAU), during her speech.

A separate pillar of the concept is the large-scale digitization of the bar’s infrastructure, which is intended to encompass electronic registries, qualification testing, and self-regulatory procedures to ensure transparency and minimize informal influence.

“However, digital technologies will never be able to replace a lawyer’s professional experience, ethics, legal reasoning, and personal responsibility,” emphasized the association’s head.

The proposed model was coordinated among a broad range of international experts: the draft was previously reviewed by representatives of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the national bar associations of France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic, and the legislative implications of the document were discussed directly at the event with a delegation of Ukrainian parliamentarians. 

Participants in the discussion included Ivan Kalaur, Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy; Volodymyr Vatrás, Chair of the Subcommittee on the Organization and Activities of the Bar and Legal Aid Bodies; Maksym Dyrdin, Chair of the Subcommittee on Political Reform and Constitutional Law; and Mykola Stefanchuk, Chair of the Subcommittee on the Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to the Provisions of European Union Law (EU acquis) and the Implementation of Ukraine’s International Legal Obligations in the Field of European Integration.

As a reminder, the Ukrainian Bar Association will hold one of the most anticipated events of the year in Kyiv—the “LAWYERS. FORMULA FOR SUCCESS” Forum.

 Europe is awaiting Brussels’ decision, while Ukraine has a chance to become a leader in the protection of the legal profession.