Summary

At present, there are no qualification requirements for persons providing legal services outside the Estonian Bar Association and the Chamber of Notaries. This does not ensure the provision of qualified and reliable legal assistance. The draft Legal Services Act tabled before the Riigikogu prescribes requirements for the professional activities of future legal counsel, contains general principles of legal services and regulates the provision of state legal assistance by advocates and legal counsel. The Act establishes the qualification and experience requirements for candidates for legal counsel, and prescribes the requirement to pass professional examinations. Differently from the Bar Association, there are no patrons and there is no autonomous government of the profession in the case of legal counsel. One of the draftsmen of the Act explains the need for the Legal Services Act and why the state interferes in matters regarding the provision of legal services. The author describes the standards of legal services and the professional standards of legal counsel. Also, similarities and differences between the professions of legal counsel and advocate are outlined.