Meeting of the Qualification Commission

On March 13, 2025, the Qualification Commission of the Samara Region Bar Association held a regular meeting.

The meeting's agenda included two disciplinary proceedings, one initiated at the request of the Vice President of the PASO, the second following a client's complaint, and the administration of the attorney qualification exam for 25 applicants who successfully passed the computer-based test.

The proceedings were reviewed on their merits. In the first case, the Commission concluded that the disciplinary proceedings should be terminated due to reconciliation between the parties; in the second case, violations were found in the attorney's actions.

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From the submission of the Vice President of the Samara Regional Bar Association regarding attorney G., it follows that the Samara Regional Bar Association conducted an inspection of attorneys' compliance with the Standard for Professional Training and Continuing Professional Development of Attorneys and Lawyer Trainees. The results of the inspection revealed that attorney G., who has less than three years of legal experience, failed to fulfill his obligation to continue his professional development in the manner prescribed by the Standard. The next period of professional development, subject to confirmation by attorney G., runs from September 29, 2023, to September 29, 2024. As of February 7, 2025, attorney G. has documentary evidence of 30 hours of mandatory professional development during the reporting period (while the Standard requires at least 40 academic hours).

Attorney G. submitted explanations to the Commission indicating that he had complied with the Standard's requirements, but later, as evidenced by a document (a receipt for an annual subscription to the "Advokatskaya Gazeta").

Following its review, the Commission concluded that the attorney's actions constituted a disciplinary offense and emphasized the need to emphasize the provisions of paragraph 3, clause 1, article 7 of the Federal Law "On Advocacy and the Bar in the Russian Federation," which requires attorneys to continuously improve their knowledge independently and enhance their professional skills in accordance with the procedures established by the Federal Chamber of Advocates of the Russian Federation and the bar associations of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

In accordance with the Standard for Professional Training and Continuing Professional Development of Attorneys and Interns, approved by the IX All-Russian Congress of Advocates on April 18, 2019, the primary objective of training and professional development for attorneys in accordance with the Standard is to ensure continuous and ongoing improvement of knowledge as a requirement of the mandatory standard of the legal profession. Lawyers with less than three years of experience must complete at least 40 academic hours of professional development annually, while lawyers with more than three years of experience must complete 30 academic hours.

A lawyer who fails to regularly improve their professional skills in accordance with the Standard and the decision of the council of the Bar Association of the relevant constituent entity of the Russian Federation on professional development may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Professional Ethics for Lawyers (Clause 31).

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The second part of the Commission meeting was devoted to the qualification exam.

The lawyer certification exam is not only a test of knowledge, but also a test of character, the ability to cope with stress, communicate with others, and defend one's position. Sometimes, it's not just what you know that matters, but also how you handle yourself in challenging situations.

We would like to share some life hacks from our experience during the past (and other) stages.

Listen carefully to the Commission members' questions! - Examiners don't "fail" you; they're trying to help candidates reach their full potential. The key is to maintain composure and pay attention!
Manage your preparation time wisely, as there are four questions on the exam! It's important to manage your time and resources. It's better to answer all the questions briefly than to answer one perfectly and ignore the others. Time management is an important skill for a lawyer.
Practical experience is a valuable asset! - Don't be afraid to use real-life examples when answering questions, but do so appropriately and within the law!
Don't be afraid to have your own point of view and defend it! - The ability to defend a position is an important quality for a lawyer. But this must be done reasonably, respectfully, and within the law.
Failed the exam! - It's a failure, but it's not the end of the road, but an opportunity to become stronger. It's important to learn from your mistakes and not be afraid to try again.

Twenty-three applicants successfully passed the qualification exam and were invited to take the oath at a meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Advocates of the Samara Region.

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The Commission's findings have been included in the agenda of the meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Advocates of the Samara Region, which will be held on March 27, 2025.

PASO Press Center