Advokato nepriklausomumas teisinių paslaugų rinkos komercializacijos kontekste: reliktas ar būtinybė?

The lawyer’s professional independence is considered to be the core principle of the profession. It is often used as defense against the state intervention in the regulation of lawyers. However, drivers in the legal market, such as an increase in competition, concentration of lawyers in large law firms, as well as the globalization, development of information technologies and social networks, which influence the commoditizing of the law and consumer awareness, certainly have shaken up the foundations of the legal profession and require the renewed approach to seemingly immovable values of the profession, including the principle of lawyer’s independence. Hence, the goal of the article is to answer the question whether this principle is still valid in the context of commercialization of the legal market. The first part of the article analyzes the dimensions of the principle of lawyer’s independence, i.e. independence from the state, from the client and other influences, by comparing continental and common law systems. The second part reveals how different approaches to the role of the lawyer influence the realization of this principle in legal regulation and practice. The third part is devoted to the analysis of radical changes in the legal market and new forms of legal services, such as incorporation of law firms, that affect the devaluation of the principle of lawyer’s independence. The article justifies that the lawyer’s independence from the state is realized primarily through strong self-governance and independence of the bar, but the trends in common law countries show that legal professional associations have lost their previous positions, especially in the area of self-disciplining, as they were not able to cope effectively with customers (clients) complains. In addition, the legal market liberalization reforms in Australia and the UK, which enable outside capital invest into law firms, have a tendency to expand to other jurisdictions. Changes in capital ownership structure of legal firms can change the governance and decision-making processes that may lead to the devaluation of the principle of lawyer’s independence yielding to the idea of entrepreneurship.Advokato nepriklausomumas laikomas pamatiniu profesiniu principu, kuriuo dažnai naudojamasi ginantis nuo valstybės kišimosi į teisininkų veiklos reguliavimą, tačiau tokios tendencijos teisinių paslaugų rinkoje kaip konkurencijos augimas, teisininkų koncentravimasis į dideles kontoras, taip pat globalizacijos, informacinių bei socialinių tinklų plėtros įtaka teisinių paslaugų komodizacijai (suprekinimui) bei vartotojų informuotumui neabejotinai supurtė advokato profesijos pamatus ir verčia naujai pažvelgti į, atrodytų, nepajudinamas šios profesijos vertybes, tarp jų ir į nepriklausomumo principą, bei atsakyti į klausimą, kiek jis yra validus teisinių paslaugų komercializacijos kontekste

Vertybinių nuostatų ugdymo, rengiant teisininkus universitete, galimybės

Nowadays ethics plays a vital role in numerous professions. Due to social requirements and technical advances, changes in the accreditation rules in legal, economic, medical and engineering education have emerged in many countries, often requiring the inclusion of an ethics requirement in such professional programmes. In this work, the authors demonstrate that such changes are absolutely necessary in the legal profession in Lithuania. Specifically, the record low level of prestige of the judiciary and lawyers in the Lithuanian society and the fact that lawyers are often accused of legal nihilism, clannish behaviour, and protectionism, demand that legal ethics assumes a far greater role in Lithuanian legal education. It is necessary to stress that the topic of lawyers’ ethical violations and the consequences of such violations is discussed in the society in only in a fragmentary, and not transparent manner; moreover, the significance of ethics in the education and training of lawyers has not been properly evaluated either. Especially having in mind Lithuania’s Soviet heritage (during most of the Communist era there was almost no education on those issues), it becomes obvious that legal ethics must be continuously stressed in the legal profession’s education and development [...]Etika teisininko profesijoje atlieka esminį vaidmenį. Straipsnyje analizuojami klausimai, ar profesinė etika reiškia tik etikos normų, numatytų kodeksuose, laikymąsi, ar aukštoji mokykla iš principo gali išmokyti vertybinių nuostatų bei koks yra išsilavinimo ir moralinio asmens suvokimo išvystymo lygmens santykis pagal Lawrenso Kohlbergo moralinės raidos taksonomiją ir pan. Pirmojoje straipsnio dalyje analizuojama, ar profesinės teisininkų etikos formalizavimas padeda formuoti aukštesnius moralinius standartus praktinėje teisininkų veikloje. Antroji straipsnio dalis skirta teisinės etikos disciplinos svarbos studijų programoje pagrindimui ir tikslų, turinio bei dėstymo metodų paieškoms, trečiojoje straipsnio dalyje akcentuojama artes liberales išsilavinimo reikšmė asmens moralinio suvokimo vystymui

Teisės studijų tobulinimo gairės esminių aukštojo mokslo kokybės užtikrinimo parametrų kontekste.

Not only in Lithuania, but also in the other countries, there is a growing tendency among young people to choose a legal education. Law is a professional sphere of immense depth and breadth and it is evident that during several years in a school of higher education, designed to grant legal knowledge and skills, it is impossible to convey all aspects and nuances of the law. Legal education in a higher school is only the beginning of a lawyer’s education, while on the other hand it provides a unifying experience among practising lawyers. Consequently, university law schools preparing lawyers certainly provide an important contribution to the creation of a legal state, while providing skills, modelling values and shaping attitudes for future judges, state officials, prosecutors, attorneys and other persons responsible for the implementation of legal mechanisms necessary for the proper functioning of the state. The necessity to improve the level of the preparation of lawyers to engage in the practice of law stems from the changed expectations from both society and students and also from new challenges, specific to the whole environment of higher education. Furthermore we are living in time where globalization and new technology has created vast changes both in the traditional meaning of a university and the purpose of studies. Ongoing international processes, such as increased international cooperation, the internationalization of higher education, the adoption of respective documents such as Bologna declaration and the processes that flow from it necessarily stimulate the reformation of a higher education from one direction. From the other side- higher education, especially in Lithuania, is rather often criticised for the low quality of studies, for excessively long programs which sometimes lack sufficient specialisation, for the lack of participation of social partners in the governance of a university, among other aspects. [...]Teisinis išsilavinimas aukštojoje mokykloje yra tik teisininko išsilavinimo pradžia, kita vertus, tai yra praktikuojančius teisininkus vienijanti patirtis, todėl teisininkus rengiančios aukštosios mokyklos neabejotinai reikšmingai prisideda prie teisinės valstybės kūrimo, suteikdamos gebėjimus būsimiems teisėjams, pareigūnams, valstybės tarnautojams ir kitiems teisinės valstybės veikimui būtinas funkcijas atliekantiems asmenims bei formuodamos jų vertybines nuostatas. Poreikį tobulinti teisininkų rengimo praktiką lemia tiek pakitę visuomenės, tiek studijuojančiųjų lūkesčiai, taip pat nauji iššūkiai, būdingi visai aukštojo mokslo aplinkai, todėl autorės atliko analizę, į kokius gebėjimus tradiciškai orientuojasi teisinės studijos Lietuvoje, bei pateikė teisės studijų kokybės gerinimo gaires, atsižvelgdamos į pasaulines tendencijas Pirmoje straipsnio dalyje analizuojama aukštojo mokslo kokybės samprata ir jos parametrai. Mokslinėje literatūroje, analizuojančioje aukštojo mokslo kokybę, pateikiami įvairūs kokybės apibrėžimai ir sampratos. Vis dėlto, straipsnio autorių nuomone, įvertinus mokslinius tyrimus bei atsižvelgiant į vykstančius pokyčius Europos aukštojo mokslo erdvėje, svarbiausias dėmesys tobulinant studijų kokybę turėtų būti skiriamas studijų rezultatams, t. y. kokius gebėjimus bei kompetencijas atitinkama studijų programa suteiks sėkmingai studijas užbaigusiam asmeniui. Antroji straipsnio dalis skirta adekvačių teisės studijų rezultatų identifikavimui remiantis pasauline patirtimi bei prielaidų jų tinkamam įgyvendinimui aptarimui

Akcininkų išankstinio atsisakymo pirmumo teisės įsigyti parduodamas akcijas teisinis vertinimas.

The pre-emption right of other company’s shareholders to acquire the shares of the company being sold, which is indicated in Article 47 of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, is one of the problems for the seller of the shares of the close company, as well as to the buyer. In practice, the sellers of the shares often conclude the written agreements or formalize one-side statements, under which other shareholders refuse from this pre-emption right in advance. However, the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania indicates an invalidity of the transactions, which impose restrictions on the civil capacity of the person. This article involves an analysis on the matters of juridical assessment (legitimacy) of the preconceived refusal of the pre-emption right to acquire the shares of the close company being sold. Also the practical problems are highlighted. The formulated hypothesis is the following: the preconceived refusal of the shareholder’s pre-emption right to acquire the shares of the close company being sold is a transaction, which impose restrictions on the civil capacity, and therefore is invalid. Primarily, a conception and purpose of the mentioned pre-emption right are disclosed. It is motivated that the shareholders’ pre-emption rights are dual: the pre-emption right to acquire the shares being sold and the pre-emption right to acquire the newly issued shares. The substantial purpose of the first right is to prevent the ’dilution of holding1 of other shareholders. The second right ensures the delectus personae right for other shareholders of the close company. Such a right protects from the coming of the outsiders (third persons) to the company. [...]Šiame straipsnyje nagrinėjami išankstinio atsisakymo nuo pirmumo teisės įsigyti parduodamas uždarosios akcinės bendrovės akcijas teisinio vertinimo (teisėtumo) klausimai. Praktikoje neretai pasitaikantys tokie išankstiniai atsisakymai, visų pirma, kelia abejonių dėl jų atitikimo Lietuvos Respublikos civilinio kodekso 2.6 straipsnio nuostatoms, numatančioms draudimą sandoriais riboti asmenų teisnumą ir veiksnumą bei tokių sandorių pasekmę - negaliojimą. Straipsnyje atskleidžiama minėtos pirmumo teisės samprata ir paskirtis ir pagrindžiama, kad šios teisės išankstinio atsisakymo vertinimas nėra vienareikšmis - kol nėra įvykę tam tikri įstatyme paminėti juridiniai faktai, ši akcininko teisė yra abstrakti ir jos atsisakymas galėtų būti vertinamas kaip teisnumą ribojantis sandoris. Kita vertus, išankstinis atsisakymas nuo pirmumo teisės įsigyti parduodamas akcijas gali būti suformuluotas ir kaip prievolinis įsipareigojimas, jeigu laikomasi tam tikrų reikalavimų

Verslo perleidimas akcijų ar įmonės pardavimo būdu: teisinio reglamentavimo ir praktikos lyginamoji analizė.

Straipsnyje lyginamuoju metodu aptariami iš esmės skirtingai reglamentuojami verslo perleidimo būdai: akcijų ir įmonės pardavimas. Pirmojoje dalyje nagrinėjamos verslo perleidimo, įmonės ir įmonininko sąvokos, nes jų vartojimas Lietuvos teisinėje literatūroje nevienareikšmis. Antrojoje dalyje atskleidžiama akcijų ir įmonės pardavimo samprata praktiniu aspektu. Pagrindžiama, kodėl ne kiekvienas akcijų perleidimas yra laikytinas verslo perdavimu. Trečiojoje dalyje atlikta lyginamoji minėtų verslo perleidimo formų analizė pagal šiuos kriterijus: sandorio formą, kreditorių teisių apsaugos mechanizmą, pardavėjo pareigas pirkėjui bei įmonės trūkumų problematiką

Rethinking the Implications of Transformative Economic Innovations: Mapping Challenges of Private Law

This article participates in mapping existing legal implications stemming from contemporary innovation. The article relies on a case analysis of artificial intelligence, drones and blockchain, to reflect a majority of the underlying legal issues to which many emerging innovations might contribute, and it attempts to map them into different categories of challenges – liability, privacy, and property. It concludes by pinpointing three main reasons behind the identified legal implications: the growing “consciousness” and autonomy of emerging technologies, the growing availability of transformative innovations to the broad public and the development of participatory models in economy and other social spheres, including law, and the tendency for transformative innovations to function in regulatory uncertainty. As a means to cope with challenges generated by technological progress, the article leans towards a process-focused approach that promotes embedding values in the early stages of technological development

Teisininkų etika : nuo status quo pavyzdinio modelio link

Monografijoje pristatomas VDU Teisės fakulteto mokslininkų 2012–2014 metais vykdytas projektas „Teisininkų etikos reglamentavimo bei etinio ugdymo tobulinimo koncepcija“, kuriame pirmą kartą Lietuvoje nuosekliai, išsamiai ir lyginamojoje perspektyvoje buvo tiriama teisininkų etikos, garbės teismų praktikos ir etinio ugdymo reglamentavimo problematika. Monografijoje pateikiami susisteminti ir apibendrinti tyrimo rezultatai. VDU Teisės fakulteto autorių kolektyvo leidinys skirtas teisininkų bendruomenei, studentams, teisininkų savivaldos organizacijoms, įstatymų leidžiamosios ir vykdomosios valdžios atstovams bei plačiajai visuomenei

Freedom of speech in Lithuania. Legal and factual analysis

This article focuses on the issue of freedom of speech in Lithuania. Author examines statutes regulating freedom of speech and the factual situation in Lithuania. Analysis is made in the light of the experience of such democratic countries as Great Britain and the United States.The most urgent problems are examined in detail. These are the freedom of press, protection of privacy, limitations of advertising, state secrets, ect. Analysis of the main Lithuanian laws related to the freedom of speech indicates that regulations and restrictions in Lithuania do not exceed those established in the Constitution of the United States and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and the laws provide satisfactory protection of the freedom of speech. Unfortunately the lack of democratic traditions, judicial decisions as well as political indifference of the society and economical factors create difficulties in the area of practical implementation of this fundamental right in LithuaniaMykolo Romerio universiteta

Issues of nature of shareholder’s rights to the property of corporation

Problem of the ownership rights of shareholder to the property of company is very important for the Lithuanian law science, practice and has a direct impact on the economy. The legislator stated in Civil Code of Lithuania (art. 2.45) that a shareholder does not save any ownership rights to the property of company, but only has liability rights and obligations related to the property of company. This position of legislator is not accurate enoughfrom the theoretical point of view. The issues of this article are whether the rights of shareholder to the property of company are ownership rights or liability rights, what is the theoretical and historical basis of every view, what are the practical consequences and how the doctrine and legal regulation should be developed. Shares is the financial property of shareholder. In the article the historical development of the legal institute of financial property is shortly introduced. Company is a fiction of person as well as a share is the fiction of thing. The fiction of share derives from the fiction of juridical person. The fiction is an instrument for the including into the juridical sphere such phenomenons of economy and social life, that did not exist when the system of law was created in order to save the system of law. But fictions create new legal problems and demand very flexible and accurate approach to the arising legal problems. Otherwise, fictions begin to serve the law only, but not the objects of the law. In the article the nature and features of shareholder's rights is theoretically analized and the conclusion of this analysis is that these rights have the features of ownership as well as the features of liability rights, so the relations of shareholders and company have to be regulated very accurately. On the other hand all problems could not be solved by regulation only, the role of courts putting in practice the laws and legal doctrine is very important