Interlex About Advocacy Under contemporary Russian juridical system, Advocacy is the only officially recognized institution to professionally defend people and organizations in courts and before authorities. Advocacy activities are controlled by 1980 Regulations that provide an advocate with a certain degree of immunity against authorities while assisting a Client. For example, an advocate may not be questioned on subjects related to the Client's business.
Advocates have the right to request information from officials.
On the other hand, advocates are obliged to maintain professionalism, respect ethics and keep Client's confidentiality. A Collegium of advocates is a legal person with special status different from any other organization, commercial or non-commercial. It must be registered with the Ministry of Justice and regional authorities. Rather, a Collegium looks like a combination of a large law corporation and a self-regulatory professional organization. In its turn, a consultancy has characteristics of a corporate division and a law firm at the same time.