The Lawyer’s Role In Ensuring Pro Bono Human Rights During Marital State In Ukraine

Abstract

The article states that the issue of human rights in Ukraine today is relevant and urgent, especially in the conditions of martial law; it is indicated that according to Art. 131-2 of the Constitution of Ukraine for the provision of professional legal assistance in Ukraine there is a Bar whose independence is guaranteed; it is emphasized that a person’s right to legal aid in accordance with Art. 59 of the Constitution of Ukraine is one of the inalienable human rights, and the main institution that provides such assistance is the Institute of Advocacy; attention is drawn to the fact that since the armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine continues and the number of IDPs is increasing, the need to provide free legal aid only increases; it is indicated that the possibility of access to free legal aid for IDPs, by combining the state system and public initiatives, is of particular importance in the context of ensuring the right of access to court and protection of human rights; it is noted that the provision of legal aid on pro bono terms in Ukraine, especially in the conditions of a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, is a widespread and popular phenomenon, especially for those categories of persons who do not have the funds to pay for these services; it is emphasized that the functioning of free legal aid for categories of citizens who need it is of special and important importance in the context of ensuring the right of access to court and protection of human rights. This Article Purpose is to form a renewed view of the “pro bono” institution from the standpoint of ensuring a balance between serving the interests of an individual client and society in general; disclosure of the peculiarities of the professional activity of a lawyer and the Ukrainian legal profession in the conditions of martial law. The authors set the main tasks: to analyze the activities of the self-governing bodies of lawyers, in particular the National Association of Lawyers of Ukraine, in the conditions of armed aggression by Russia; to reveal some features of advocacy activities in wartime conditions; to analyze the activities of the Board of Trustees of the National Association of Lawyers of Ukraine and foreign partners regarding assistance to Ukrainian lawyers. It was concluded that free legal aid is a socially useful phenomenon. “Pro bono” is a kind of indicator of ensuring the equality of human rights and their protection. For the further development of this institute, it is necessary to find effective mechanisms for stimulating the provision of pro bono legal services. Now, more than ever, Ukraine needs a high-quality system of providing legal assistance to vulnerable sections of the population.