Advocacy in Russia is a professional voluntary association. It consists of qualified lawyers. The legal profession in the Russian Federation was formed with the aim of providing legal assistance to legal entities and individuals.
Due to the fact that the services provided by this legal association fall within the scope of protecting the law, in the broad sense it should be classified as a group of law enforcement bodies, no less significant than the courts and prosecutors. In cases in which state authorities bring charges against a person when a citizen is arrested or detained, a civil law dispute is brought before a court, the person recognizes the right to use the services of a lawyer (defender) and ensures the implementation of this right.
The fees of the defenders are not a profit, but a payment for their labor. The bar of the Russian Federation is a non-profit organization and does not pursue the goal of making a profit. This is not a professional association and a state structure. The legal profession of the Russian Federation is independent of the authorities. Defenders are considered people of the "free profession", not officials. Given this status of lawyers and their associations (collegiums), it becomes possible to effectively protect the interests and rights of citizens, identify court and investigation errors, and a polemic with state prosecution.
The general task of the professional association of advocates - providing legal assistance - is concretized in separate forms.
- Clarifications and consultations, written and oral information on legal issues.
- Drawing up complaints, statements of claim and other legal documents.
- Representation in state bodies (courts and others) and organizations on administrative offenses and civil cases.
- Participation in proceedings as a representative of a civil defendant or plaintiff, victim or defense counsel for the accused.
- Participation in the Constitutional Court of Russia as a representative.
- Ensuring the protection of citizens' rights in the process of providing them with psychiatric care.
- Representation of the principal in international arbitration (commercial), arbitration court and other conflict resolution bodies.
- Participation in the processes taking place in foreign, international law enforcement agencies and courts.
- Representation in enforcement proceedings in tax legal relations and in the process of execution of criminal punishment.
10. Other legal assistance: development of charters, conclusion of contracts, preparation for registration of a legal entity, legal control over reporting and accounting, legal services and other activities.
The legal profession of the Russian Federation builds its activities on the following legal principles:
- Legality.
- Humanism.
- Self management.
- Volunteerism (entry and membership in the board).
- Independence (the bar of the Russian Federation does not allow state and other interference in its affairs).
- Secret of trusted information.
- Equality and corporate spirit of the defenders.
Humanism characterizes the professional association of lawyers as an institution designed to serve people - the protection of a good name, dignity, honor, freedom, life, health, political and socio-economic rights, property and other things. Defender can be compared with a doctor - a representative of one of the most socially useful and humane professions.
The requirement of legality, addressed to the lawyer, represents the obligation of the lawyer to represent or defend, using only legal means, defending the legitimate interests of his clients, immediately responding to violations by the prosecutor, the court and other participants in the process of the law that entail the infringement of the freedoms or rights of clients.