Legal Services Provided by Advocates (LT Advokatai)

Legal services (LT. teisines paslaugos) provided by advocates shall include legal consultations (legal advice), drafting of legal documents, representation on legal matters, defence and representation in legal proceedings when these actions are carried out for remuneration.

Legal services (LT. teisines paslaugos) may be provided by advocates (LT Advokatai) or a professional partnership of advocates. When services are provided or activities are pursued by a professional partnership of advocates, the provisions of this Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to such a partnership in the same manner as to an advocate.

Advocate’s (LT ) Activities

The advocate’s right to provide legal services can be restricted only by law.

Every person shall be entitled in accordance with the procedure prescribed by laws to choose an advocate to counsel him, represent him or protect his interests.

The advocate’s activities shall be the provision of legal services. The advocate’s activities shall not be economic-commercial.

An advocate shall also be entitled in accordance with the procedure prescribed by laws to provide services for remuneration as an administrator of bankruptcy, restructuring, property or inheritance, a lobbyist, a liquidator, a curator, an executor of a will, a trustee of property, a patent trustee, as well as to act as an arbiter, a mediator, a conciliator or a legal expert in commercial disputes for remuneration. An advocate may be a member of the managing or supervisory body of a legal person, but he cannot receive any remuneration, with the exception of bonuses. The right to provide services listed in this paragraph shall be acquired by an advocate and the provision of these services shall be controlled in accordance with the procedure laid down in legal acts regulating the provision of these services.

An advocate shall be entitled to provide legal services (LT. teisines paslaugos) free of charge, i.e. to provide legal aid (LT. teisine pagalba).

Specialisation of an Advocate (LT Advokatai)

An advocate shall have the right to choose a field of law where he would provide legal services (specialisation of an advocate).

Requirements for a Person Seeking to Practice as an Advocate (LT Advokatai)

A natural person (hereinafter referred to as an applicant) shall be recognised as an advocate provided he:

1. is a national of the Republic of Lithuania or a Member State of the European Union;

2. holds a bachelor’s or master’s degree in law, or a lawyer’s professional qualification degree (one-cycle university education in law);

3. has a record of at least five years of service in the legal profession or has served an apprenticeship as an advocate's assistant for a period of at least two years. Service in the legal profession shall include activities specified in the list of legal professions approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The length of service in the legal profession shall be calculated from the moment the person has acquired a bachelor’s or master’s degree in law, or a lawyer’s professional qualification degree (one-cycle university education in law) and started practising law;

4. is of high moral character;

5. has proficiency in the state language;

6. has passed the advocate’s qualification examination;

7. has no health disorders that would prevent him from performing the advocate’s duties.