Reforming the Bar on the Path to the European Union

For three years in a row, the European Commission has been highlighting the need to reform the Bar as part of Ukraine’s European integration path. However, the Ukrainian authorities didn’t take tangible steps in this direction.

This Policy Brief outlines the key challenges facing the functioning of the Bar, such as concentration of power and lack of leadership rotation, corruption risks during admission to the profession, and the effectiveness of disciplinary proceedings. The document also provides recommendations for building an independent, effective and accountable Bar, taking into account European standards and lessons learned from previous justice sector reforms that have demonstrated their effectiveness.