Lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River discuss ethical norms

The OSCE Mission to Moldova organized the second in a series of Human Rights Club meetings for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River on 19 May 2017. The event, held in Chisinau, brought together some 40 lawyers and civil society representatives to discuss current ethical norms and standard practices governing the legal profession.

During the meeting, participants discussed the ethical principles with which they must comply and challenges that arise in the course of their professional practice. They also considered potential reforms to the Code of Ethics for Lawyers in order to resolve various problems in its application, including issues relating to confidentiality, communication with the client and the definition of conflict of interest. Experts attending the event outlined existing international standards and practices in the field and formulated some practical recommendations to facilitate the day-to-day work of lawyers. The ultimate aim of the discussion was to increase the public’s confidence in the legal profession.

“Today’s discussions covered an issue that is key to our role in addressing malpractice and improving the quality of legal services,” said Vladimir Palamarciuc of the Moldovan Young Lawyers Association. “Ensuring that lawyers can draw on sound and consistent ethical guidelines in their work enhances public trust in legal assistance and strengthens the application of the rule of law more generally.”

The event is part of a year-long project that facilitates the exchange of information among lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. Four more meetings of the Human Rights Club are planned in 2017, with the aim of initiating and maintaining contacts among legal professionals and relevant civil society organizations.