The event was relevant, whereas Odesa citizens are not properly informed about the opportunities to obtain free legal aid, the level of trust to free legal services is low, and the efforts of various entities that provide free legal aid in Odesa city are almost not coordinated. Evidently, it was a reason why the round table drew an unprecedented attention of the practitioners working in the area of free legal aid. It was almost for the first time when the representatives of the majority of organizations providing such kind of aid in Odesa city – 15 professionals from 11 entities that provide free legal aid – gathered together at the round table. Interestingly, both the representatives of state authorities and local self-government bodies (Odesa oblast centre for providing free secondary legal aid, Main justice department in Odesa oblast, Odesa municipal justice department, and communal enterprise "Legal aid"), and professionals from training institutions and NGOs (legal clinic of National University "Odesa Law Academy", Odesa organization of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine), Roma Human Rights Centre, and Charitable Foundation "Doroha do Domu" ("Way to Home") have contributed to the discussion. In addition, the event was attended by Maryna Kliuieva, member of Odesa City Council who initiated the establishment of communal enterprise for providing free primary legal aid in Odesa city.

 

At the outset of round table, press-conference for journalists was carried out. During the press-conference, Ihor Brynosh and Anatolii Boiko, the representatives of Odesa organization of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, presented the recommendations of the CVU on how local self-government bodies can improve the efficiency of primary legal aid that they provide. These recommendations were produced upon the analysis of European best practices of providing municipal legal aid and of the experience of such entities in Ukraine (including the experience of Odesa communal enterprise "Legal aid"). The recommendations targeted a number of operational issues that can be improved even with regard to lack of finance and technical resources – problems that the 'young' system of municipal legal aid in Ukraine encounters with. In particular, they include steps to build up the transparent, simple and prompt modality for providing free legal aid, to deliver effective communication, registration and record of clients and to assess the quality of services. Deputy Head of Odesa organization of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine Ihor Brynosh pointed out that all these recommendations would be the part of the book "How to make legal aid efficient". This publication is almost ready, it is necessary just to integrate the findings of discussions at the round table into it.

 

During the discussion of recommendations, the participants focused their attention both on the problems and their positive experiences in the realm of promoting their activities to the public, documenting the services provided, and evaluation of activities and communication aimed at providing free primary legal aid. As expected, different modalities of coordination and cooperation between all entities that provide legal aid (state authorities, self-government bodies, NGOs) and organizations that provide associated social and other kinds of services were the key point of discussion. All the participants agreed that the lack of efficient coordination is a problem that significantly restricts the human rights of individuals who apply for legal aid. In many cases, the clients are not able to receive necessary aid, and have to spend precious time and money.

 

During the discussion, the participants produced a strategic vision of the forthcoming cooperation. It should be developed in three main directions: 1) cooperation between the providers of primary legal aid – implementation of sectoral projects, enhancing joint modalities of providing aid (exchange of practitioners), and development of paralegal practice, 2) cooperation between the providers of primary legal aid and entities that provide associated social and other kinds of services – starting joint attendance, joint information flow, etc., 3) cooperation between the providers of primary and secondary legal aid – development of strategic directions, and engaging attorneys to pro bono work.

 

The participants underlined a significant level of demand for secondary legal aid in civil cases that are not covered by state system of provision of secondary legal aid so far. The respective solution was proposed by Svitlana Klishyna, director of Odesa oblast centre for providing free secondary legal aid. She suggested introducing the duty of attorneys in the office of Centre in order to ensure that the needs are met and the capacity of legal clinic of Odesa Law Academy is utilized. Some small part of the demand for secondary legal aid in civil cases may be satisfied promptly by the pro bono exchange http://pro-bono.in.ua. Moreover, the pro bono direction has great development perspectives; therefore the capacity of this sector of legal aid will get improved.

 

When it comes to day-to-day objectives, the participants have first of all agreed to set up a coordination working group. The modality of its operation and composition has not been arranged yet, but it has been established that the group would operate on constant basis and would consist of representatives of all providers of free legal aid in Odesa city. The first initiative of the working group is to develop and publish the Reference book on free legal aid for Odesa cities. It also plans to carry out joint training and information events, set up and develop joint information and communication platform (Facebook page, electronic mail out, etc.), and set up and develop online service for providing free legal advices and information.

 

The participants came to common understanding of the most significant issues of providing free legal aid and have planned their cooperation in future. It showcases that the round table became the starting point of the new development – uniting the capacity and efforts of all stakeholders that would result into establishment of the "unified free legal service" for Odesa citizens.