Institutional Guarantees Of The Independence Of The Legal Profession: The Case Of Uzbekistan

Abstract

The independence of the legal profession is a key element of the rule of law and access to justice. This article offers a brief overview of how institutional and functional guarantees for lawyers’ independence can be strengthened in a reforming legal system, using Uzbekistan as an example. It distinguishes between the institutional independence of the bar as a self-governing body and the functional independence of individual lawyers. The analysis focuses on self-governance, admission and discipline, state-funded legal aid, protection of lawyer–client privilege and immunity, and digitalisation.