Law 339-N, 8 Dec. 2011
The following amendments were made to the Law on Advocacy:
- Persons other than advocates are prohibited from representing clients in courts on a regular basis or on a fee basis, unless such persons represent their close relatives without compensation or represent legal entities predominantly owned by close relatives
- Persons other than advocates are prohibited from representing clients in criminal cases
- Attorneys admitted to practice in foreign countries can represent clients after being accredited with the Chamber of Advocates
- Public authorities are required to respond to an advocate's request for information not later than ten days after receiving such a request
- Advocates are entitled to private meetings with defendants without restrictions as to the number or duration of such meetings
- The following persons are entitled to free representation by a public defender:
- Disabled people
- Unemployed people
- Pensioners living alone
- Veterans
- Members of families below a certain poverty level
- People not having sufficient income who do not live with employed family members, do not own real property except for a primary residence, and do not own a car, except for one of less that one million drams in worth
- Refugees and people granted asylum
- Parentless children
- Family members of fallen soldiers
- Convicted criminals
- Legal entities are prohibited from using the words "advocate," "advocacy" and their derivative in their names
- To become eligible for the bar exam candidates must complete an educational program with the Advocacy School.
