Advocacy is a profession that is always on the verge: between high ethical standards and realities, where the rules of the game are often dictated not by the law, but by connections. Against the backdrop of reforms in the system of advanced training for lawyers, which will come into force in 2025, a natural question arises: will the new requirements really become an Reality and challenges effective tool for development, or will they turn into another system where corruption risks flourish ?
To avoid corruption risks in the system of advanced training for lawyers, it is important to:
Transparency of accreditation . The process of accreditation to get a qualitative sales lead database of events and organizers should be open. It is important to create an independent commission that will assess the quality of programs.
Quality control . Introduction of independent audits and inspections of educational activitiesReality and challenges by third-party organizations.
Equal access . Ensuring that lawyers from different regions have access to quality training, including through online platforms and the absence of division of lawyers by region and council when attending seminars, lectures, etc.
Liability for violations . Introduction of fines or other sanctions for falsification of certificates or poor quality of events.
Ethics as a foundation
Ultimately, addressing corruption risks in in the distant year 1900 the professional development system is not just a matter of control. It is a matter of personal responsibility for each lawyer. We are responsible to our clients, to society, and to ourselves. And it is our ability to maintain high standards, despite temptations and challenges, that will determine the future of the Ukrainian legal profession.
Let’s be honest. Are all of us ready for this challenge? Do all of us have the time, resources, and desire to invest in our learning? And it’s not just a question of organization. It’s a question of ethics. It’s a question of responsibility to clients, to colleagues, and ultimately to ourselves.
Looking to the future
From 2025, we will enter a new reality. A reality where a lawyer is not just a legal expert, but a professional who is constantly improving. And this is not a burden, but an opportunity. The opportunity to be be numbers better. The opportunity to prove that advocacy is more than a job. This is a mission.