Ukraine · Overview
The legal system of Ukraine
A civil-law system built on the 2003 Civil and Commercial Codes and extensively reformed since 2014 toward EU alignment, including a new anti-corruption architecture and land-market liberalisation. Martial law introduced in February 2022 has been repeatedly extended and modifies procedural deadlines, mobilisation duties and some rights.
Legal tradition
Ukraine belongs to the civil law tradition. A civil-law system built on the 2003 Civil and Commercial Codes and extensively reformed since 2014 toward EU alignment, including a new anti-corruption architecture and land-market liberalisation. Martial law introduced in February 2022 has been repeatedly extended and modifies procedural deadlines, mobilisation duties and some rights.
How power is divided
Semi-presidential: a directly elected President appoints key security and foreign-policy figures while the Cabinet is formed by and answerable to the Verkhovna Rada.
Where law comes from
- Constitution
- Directly applicable; basis of the constitutional complaint.
- International treaties
- Ratified treaties form part of domestic law under Article 9.
- EU association commitments
- The 2014 Association Agreement drives approximation of Ukrainian law.
- Codes and laws
- Civil Code, Commercial Code, Criminal Code, Land Code.
- Presidential decrees and Cabinet acts
- Including martial-law decrees requiring Rada approval.
- Supreme Court Grand Chamber conclusions
- Must be taken into account by all courts.
The legal profession
Advocates are admitted by the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) after qualification examination and traineeship; representation before the courts is reserved to advocates in most categories of case.
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