Bachelor’s degree or the diploma of professional qualification in law as well as having a corresponding license to perform advocate’s activities is not enough to act as an advocate according to the criteria of the new Draft law elaborated by the Ministry of Justice. In addition, it is necessary to register in the State Register for the Advocates in the order provided by law.
Today the Armenian advocates protested against the RA Draft Laws “On Changes and Amendments in the Republic of Armenia Law on Advocacy” and “On Changes and Amendments in the Republic of Armenia Law on State Duty,” which was introduced by the RA Government.
Ara Zohrabyan, President of the Chamber of Advocates of the RA formally stated that the Chamber of Advocates shall refrain from performance of any function ascribed to the Chamber by the draft and will struggle against it unless it is recalled.
The draft foresees to use the sums of the state duty levied from the lawyers to cover the costs for the maintenance of the public defenders’ office, technical maintenance and operation of the state register of the advocates.
It is due to mention that the representatives of the Ministry of Justice did not come: the “defendant’s” chair was empty.
Nune Hovsepyan
