After completing the training, one should obtain a certificate and be included in the Registry of Legal Representatives.

The registry itself will be maintained by the Bar Association and posted on the Ministry of Justice website. It will reflect the current status of each representative, including information about the suspension or termination of their practice. To be included in the registry, one has to provide a diploma, a certificate of no criminal record, proof of experience, a training certificate, and a commitment to comply with professional standards. Documents may be submitted digitally.

However, a legal representative will not receive the full powers of a lawyer.

The main restriction is that they will not be able to participate in criminal proceedings. They will be able to represent clients in other categories of cases, as well as in misdemeanor cases, if permitted by law.

Representatives will work under the client’s power of attorney. This power of attorney must include the number and date of their registration in the registry. Such a power of attorney will be sufficient grounds for representing the client in courts, government agencies, municipalities, and organizations.

The law also extends professional ethics requirements to legal representatives. Complaints about their actions will be considered by the Bar Association’s Ethics Commission, which will include five representatives of the Bar Association, two legal representatives, and two representatives of the Ministry of Justice.

For violations of professional standards, a legal representative’s status may be suspended for 3, 6, or 12 months.

Permanent termination of status will be possible, in particular, following a guilty verdict or upon a motion from the Ethics Commission.

Legal representatives will also be able to participate in the state-guaranteed legal aid system. In such cases, their work, like that of lawyers, will be paid from the budget. The Cabinet of Ministers will establish the procedure for selecting, distributing cases, and funding.

The obligation to maintain legal confidentiality is specifically established. Information obtained from a client during the provision of assistance may not be disclosed or used without their consent, except in cases stipulated by law.

A transition period is provided for existing lawyers. Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who provided legal representation services before the law’s entry into force will have six months to apply for inclusion in the registry. Until the full launch, participation in court proceedings will still be permitted by proxy.

The law will enter into force in ten days. The Ministry of Justice and the Bar Association have to approve the registry maintenance, certification, and training procedures within six months, and the pilot program for legal representatives’ participation in the free legal aid system is scheduled to be launched by January 1, 2027.