Advokatūra ir teisės reforma Lietuvoje

ENEmphasized in the article is the fact that restoration and consolidation of progressive Law and Law and Order demands persistent and responsible work of Lithuanian lawyers. After the agreement of associated membership with European Union was signed, radical reform of Lithuanian legal system began; in the course of the reform important legal and administrative alterations are taking place. Lithuanian laws, their implementation, state management policies have to meet stern criterion set for the states, which seek to join European Union. Foundations of Lithuanian legal system in Lithuania are taking shape with extreme difficulty and very controversially (especially the principle of separation of powers, which ensures the mechanism of protection of Human rights and Fundamental Freedoms). The harder and consistent protection of rights and freedoms is, the more principles of justice and lawfulness respected, the more favourable conditions for legal activities and creative work are assigned to advocacy, which plays particularly important role in strengthening of legal state. Advocacy, being closest to man, protects his rights and interests, therefore feels best the gaps of Lithuanian legal system. Analyzed in the article are relevant problems of activities of Lithuanian advocacy, increasing of its prestige in society, strengthening of its role in legislation. For example during the last ten years the law of advocacy was being tried to pass thrice and in spite of this still needs substantial corrections.More than that, without the approval of Council of Solicitors, without taking exams and completion of practice of Solicitor's assistant the advocacy was joined by a large number of lawyers to whom licences were issued by the minister of justice. After joining the advocacy officers nearly do not work as solicitors, etc. thus the state cannot fully guarantee qualified and accessible legal assistance to its citizens. For the time being measures of protection of solicitor's assistance market have not yet been created. The role of advocacy in creation and improvement of laws is still not big enough. Discussed in the article is also the meaning of professional ethics to Lithuanian legal system and to formation of legal system in general.