Functions’ execution of the registration body is provided by formation of the unified structured base (Register) on a professional direction for the purpose of establishment of a universal confirmation way of the declared information during employment, studying, internship, etc.

The data of the register reflects information about the candidate, obtained qualification, registered right to execute professional activity in Ukraine, form of activity, as well as other important information. The path of a person who has expressed a desire to become a lawyer is quite difficult and consists of a number of STEPS. Let’s consider it in details.

The first step

Graduation from school or college. Students can gain a full general secondary education in secondary and specialized schools, boarding schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, colleges and other general educational institutions with a third level of accreditation. Complete general secondary education can also be provided by vocational and higher educational institutions of I-II levels of accreditation. Persons who have passed the state final attestation are issued a certificate of complete general secondary education. School leavers who have high academic achievements are awarded a gold medal – “For high academic achievements” or a silver – “For academic achievements” and receive a certificate of complete secondary education with honors. Along with the certificate, an appendix to it is issued, which indicates the achievements of students in points. 11th form graduates who are not certified in at least one subject are issued a report card, in which such subjects are recorded “not certified (for)”. After graduation, graduates write an External Independent Assessment (a written exam in the form of a test in one or more of their chosen subjects required for admission to a higher education institution) in the subjects required for admission to a higher education institution. Subjects vary by the university itself, according to the requirements for admission.

Registration and preparation to external evaluation. Providing external independent evaluation is carried out by the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment – in cooperation with local education authorities, regional institutes of postgraduate pedagogical education and educational institutions. A person who has completed or will have completed general secondary education in the current academic year and has registered in accordance with the accepted requirements may take part in the external assessment. To be successfully registered for an external independent evaluation, you must create and issue a registration card, create a set of registration documents and submit it to the person responsible for registration in the educational institution (for school leavers, students of vocational schools and colleges who are graduating this year) or send it to the relevant regional center for the evaluation of the quality of education (for graduates of previous years). The set of registration documents must contain:

• issued registration card, the form of which is formed using a special service “to be Registered“;
• application for participation in an additional session;
• a true copy of ID card of a citizen of Ukraine;
• a true copy of Certificate of Secondary Education (for graduates of previous years).
• if necessary, other documents (medical opinion on the creation of special conditions for the external assessment, copy of the document changing name / surname, a copy of a notarized translation into Ukrainian of documents provided in a foreign language for registration).

The registration card must be generated using a special service ” to be Registered“. To enter the law faculties of higher educational institutions, it is necessary to pass an external examination in such subjects as Ukrainian language and literature, English language, history of Ukraine. For more information on conducting an external independent evaluation, see the link.

Getting results. The result of the external examination is showed in the standard-issue certificate, which provides information about the completed subjects and points obtained. External evaluation results are credited as admission tests to a higher education institution. The average score of the certificate of Secondary Education is also taken into account during the competition to the university.

The second step

Principles of admission process. The admission campaign in Ukraine starts every year in June with an external independent evaluation of school leavers. Admission process is based on available rating points, which are defined as the sum of points obtained by tests of external independent assessment, the average score of the certificate and additional points for outstanding academic achievements (winners of All-Ukrainian Olympiads, competitions of the Small Academy of Sciences, international competitions, etc.). Ukrainian entrants have the right to apply for admission to higher education institutions in paper or electronic form. Documents’ acceptance from applicants usually lasts during July.

Collecting and submitting documents. After the person has decided on the educational institution, it is necessary to submit a package of documents for obtaining the appropriate educational and qualification level, namely:

• A standard-issue application (in paper form).
• Certificate of Secondary Education (document on the obtained educational and qualification level) and its appendix
• EIT Certificate, with scores in subjects required for admission by the university
• Six photos in color sized 3 x 4 cm
• Document certifying the identity and citizenship of the entrant + copies of the first and second pages
• A copy of the ID code
• Military ticket (or certificate of enlistment in the conscription station) for male entrants
• Documents allowing benefits
• Admission tests’ completion

Enlistment. Enlistment of entrants for studing at the expense of the state budget and at the expense of individuals takes place in the first half of August. The conditions of admission to higher education institutions approved by the Ministry of Education and Science can be viewed at the following link.

The third step

Studying and internship. While studying at a higher educational institution, a person may be an internship in private and public organizations.

The fourth step

Obtaining a diploma. A person who has successfully completed the relevant educational program and passed the certification is issued a document on higher legal education at the appropriate levels. An integral part of the bachelor’s and master’s degree is the appendix to the European diploma, which contains structured information about the completed studies.

Registration in USLC. The person fills in standard-issue registration application and the questionnaire. After that, USLC provides a list of documents that should be scanned. The application is processed by specialists within 10 working days, as a result the conformity and authenticity of the submitted documents by the Department of Registers, which provides assistance in order to include the person to the relevant Register in the relevant professional field.

Inclusion in the register and creation of an office. Confirmation of registration of a Lawyer is Registration Authority Certificate. The next step is to include a person in the Register and to create an electronic account of a professional, with the keys for access. The result of the inclusion of a lawyer to the register is Certificate of Registration Professional Status.

The fifth step

Improvement of certification. Law courses and improvement of certification contribute to the development of professional skills in the field of law for future lawyers, prosecutors, attorneys, assistants of lawyer, legal analysts and many others. At the courses for lawyers you can get a diploma, certificate improvement of certification.

The sixth step. An access to specialized occupation.

HOW TO GET THE STATUS OF A LAWYER ABROAD?

1. Preparatory stage. A person for working or educational immigration needs to understand that there are certain barriers for accessing a regulated profession, such as the requirement to have a recognized diploma, the obligation to take a state exam, or professional experience. Conditions of access to a regulated profession are defined in the national legislation of each country.
2. The first step to obtain the status of “lawyer” is to choose the country and determine the registration authority that regulates professional activities and issues a certificate confirming the right to do so.
3. After applying to the registration authority, the person will be provided with a list of required documents for submission in order to obtain a permit to carry out professional activity. Most likely, the first point will be the recognition of educational documents obtained abroad – verification. Verification is carried out by organizations authorized by structural units. As each country has its own verification organizations, the list can be found following the link ENIC-NARIC. This procedure is aimed to compare the person’s education with the country’s educational programs. Based on the results of the inspection, the compliance of the provided educational documents is confirmed or denied and a document containing a conclusion on the equivalence of a person’s education to the standards of that country is provided. In addition, in case of non-compliance, such a document indicates differences in educational programs, which must be compensated by additional training, courses.

List of documents to be submitted to the verification body:

• application for recognition;
• educational document (with an apostille stamp and translation into the state language, notarized copies);
• appendix to the educational document (with an apostille stamp and translation into the state language, notarized copies);
• ID card.

In order to carry out a comprehensive examination and establish the equivalence of education, the foreign verification body makes a request to the Image Center to determine the fact of studying, university status and accreditation, average score, comparison of educational programs, etc.

4. After successful recognition of educational documents, the next step is to fill in an application for access to the profession in the registration authority of a foreign country and to take necessary exams. The main ones are the language exam and the professional test. Referral and advice on the professional exam is provided by a foreign verification body and acquaints the candidate with the necessary requirements. English language exams are IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge ESOL, FCE, BULATS, etc., German is Goethe-Zertifikat, Spanish areDELE, SIELE and others.

Other requirements may include: an examination of knowledge of the the country’s legialation, the availability of practical experience for a specified period, a certain number of working hours, the presence of a license to operate in the country of origin of the candidate, and so on.

5. The result of confirmation of fulfillment of all necessary requirements of the registration body is the issuance of a permit for professional activity. The stage is accompanied by finding an employer and obtaining a visa or work permit.