Solyodky initiated a discussion on the risks of the "lawyer monopoly" for business.

      August 4, 2025, 17:15

      [147]

      Economics

      The Commissioner for the Rights of Entrepreneurs in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Pavel Solodkiy, held a roundtable with public assistants and representatives of the region's legal community. The meeting's topic was the bill proposed by the Russian Ministry of Justice on July 11, which suggests restricting the right to legal representation in civil cases solely to lawyers.

      Currently, such a norm applies only in criminal proceedings. If adopted, lawyers without advocate status will lose the ability to represent clients' interests in civil courts.

      Among the public assistants of the business ombudsman, there is a significant number of practicing lawyers. They believe that passing the law in its current form will harm small and medium-sized businesses, as well as those providing legal services outside the framework of the Bar.

      According to data from the regional tax office, as of the end of July, there are 1,376 legal entities and 1,623 individual entrepreneurs working in the field of law and accounting in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      Lawyer Andrey Semin noted that joining the bar requires substantial investments—approximately 400,000 rubles—as well as a two-year internship. In his opinion, this may deter many specialists and reduce access to legal assistance, especially for entrepreneurs who currently outsource legal tasks. If the law is adopted, they will have to hire in-house lawyers, which will significantly increase costs.

      Additionally, participants pointed out the existing difference in service prices: lawyer services are on average 20-30% more expensive. The introduction of a monopoly could further drive up prices.

      Other important issues were also raised. For example, current legislation restricts lawyers: they cannot advertise, hire employees without advocate status, or have formal specialization. This could create difficulties for companies with complex structures, where lawyers often represent multiple organizations in court.

      Business lawyer and assistant to the commissioner for personal data issues, Svetlana Osipova, highlighted risks in bankruptcy cases. She said that arbitration managers will not be able to attend all meetings in person if they lose the ability to involve lawyers as representatives.

      Participants believe that the reform should focus not on limiting the profession but on regulating it properly.

      Pavel Solodkiy stated that he supports efforts to organize legal activities but warned against hasty decisions.

      He emphasized that an ill-considered approach could lead to a decline in the quality of legal aid and the effective disappearance of law firms where experienced specialists train and mentor young colleagues. Unlike bar associations, these structures operate as businesses, allowing them to scale services.

      The ombudsman announced that he would seek opinions from entrepreneurial associations, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, "Delovaya Rossiya," and "OPORA Russia." After receiving feedback, a conclusion will be prepared, and official objections will be sent to federal authorities.

      NIА "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay informed about major events, exclusive materials, and timely updates.

      Copyright © 1999–2025 NIА "Nizhny Novgorod." Reposting requires a hyperlink to NIА "Nizhny Novgorod." This resource may contain 18+ materials.