The Ministry of Justice has presented a draft law for discussion in the Jogorku Kenesh
A draft law concerning amendments to several regulatory acts governing legal practice and the system of guaranteed state legal aid (GGLA) is currently under consideration in the Jogorku Kenesh. The main goal of the document is to digitize legal assistance, optimize the operations of the Legal Aid Service, and address the issue of the shortage of lawyers in various regions.
According to the explanatory note to the draft law, its aim is to increase the accessibility of legal services, eliminate bureaucratic barriers, and utilize state resources more effectively.
Digitization and Accessibility of Legal Aid Online
One significant innovation will be the introduction of an electronic registry of procedural documents within the GGLA system. Lawyers will be required to submit reports and documents in the form of digital copies (electronic images) through an automated information system.
The developers believe that this measure will:
- simplify document flow,
- accelerate the payment process for lawyers,
- ensure greater transparency,
- reduce paperwork and minimize human error.
At the same time, lawyers will be responsible for the accuracy of the uploaded electronic documents, which will also lead to changes in the payment procedure for legal assistance.
Reduction of District Units and Decrease in the Number of Coordinators
The proposed draft law aims to eliminate district units from the structure of the Legal Aid Service and transition to online platforms for consultations.
The developers' arguments are based on the fact that the system already has a digital foundation: an automated information system "GGLA" operates throughout the country, which includes:
- online consultations,
- a CRM system for citizen inquiries,
- a hotline 114,
- electronic interaction between lawyers and courts and law enforcement agencies.
Analysis of the workload shows a significant imbalance: staff in the regions are overloaded, while the central office is mainly occupied with organizational issues. In this regard, it is proposed to:
- reduce 15 coordinator positions,
- retain 27 employees at the regional level,
- free up 18 offices, which will be used to accommodate GGLA lawyers in crisis areas.
Licensing for Lawyers Tied to Regions
The draft law also introduces a localized license for lawyers working within the GGLA system. This license will allow lawyers to operate in specific geographical areas where there is a severe shortage of defenders.
As of early 2025:
- there are 3,591 registered lawyers in the country,
- only 464 work within the GGLA system,
- in several districts, there are no GGLA lawyers at all (Toguz-Toro, Kara-Kul, Jumgal, Ak-Talaa),
- in another 26 locations, there are only 1-2 lawyers.
The initiators are confident that the new license will help direct lawyers to regions where their assistance is most needed, ensuring equal access to defense across the country.
Changing the Role of Bar Self-Governance
The draft law also eliminates contradictions between the laws on GGLA and the bar association, clarifying the powers of the Bar Association in developing quality standards for legal assistance.
Additionally, it is proposed to transfer the authority to set membership fees to the Bar Council, which is currently under the jurisdiction of the Congress of Lawyers. This is necessary for more timely decision-making, as convening a congress requires time and resources.
The explanatory note provides a comparative analysis: in Kyrgyzstan, the membership fee is only 2,400 soms per year (27 dollars) — one of the lowest rates in the world. Meanwhile, the average global level is about 512 dollars per year. The developers note that fees can be adjusted either upwards or downwards, taking into account the economic situation and the incomes of lawyers.
Flexibility in Regulating Lawyer Accountability
It is also proposed to clarify the grounds for temporarily suspending a lawyer from working on a specific case without terminating their overall activity. According to the authors, this will help avoid unjust consequences for clients in other cases and make the system fairer.
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