Polish-Ukrainian Legal Services: A Sociological and Legal Study

Abstract

The rapid development of contemporary Polish-Ukrainian relations and the emigration of Ukrainians to Poland and EU countries require more and more lawyers to provide cross-border legal services. However, the emerging barriers between the countries effectively limit the possibilities for cooperation. It is particularly important to determine the extent of involvement of Polish lawyers in Ukraine and Ukrainians in Poland and to explain the reasons for their lack of involvement. It is also important to determine the consequences of the observed problem and the development strategy for the future. The present research is part of a larger study on the internationalisation of the Polish justice system and the provision of cross-border legal services. Methodologically, the study has been performed through structured interviews among representatives of Polish lawyers and questionnaires among all Polish lawyers. It was supplemented by non-reactive methods: an analysis of statistical data, an anthropomastic analysis, a content analysis of websites, and a functional analysis of legal acts. The results of the study show that Polish lawyers do not practice in Ukraine at all, and no more than 20 Ukrainian jurists work in Poland. The reasons are the border barriers and the lack of demand for mutual legal services, as well as cultural differences. The low level of involvement of the Polish and Ukrainian Bar Associations also contributes to the low level of provision of cross-border legal services. Nevertheless, Ukrainian immigrants to Poland are increasingly becoming Polish lawyers. Currently, the involvement of Ukrainian lawyers in the Polish legal services market is slowly increasing. This confused situation will likely change later this decade.