Who is an Attorney-at-law (Radca prawny)?
An Attorney-at-law provides legal assistance, including legal advice and consultations, prepares legal opinions, drafts legal acts, and represents clients before courts and public authorities. The Attorney-at-law may also act as defence attorney in criminal proceedings and in proceedings concerning fiscal offences. The rights and powers of the Attorney-at-law are therefore the same as those of an advocate, and the existence of these two professions is due solely to historical reasons.
The Attorney-at-law practices a profession of public trust. This means they are required to comply with the law and with strict ethical standards. One of the fundamental duties of the Attorney-at-law is to maintain professional secrecy, which protects the client’s interests.
Every Attorney-at-law is covered by mandatory civil liability insurance up to PLN 1.3 million, which provides clients with an additional guarantee of security.
What does the Okręgowa Izba Radców Prawnych w Warszawie (Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law) do?
The Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law is a regional unit of the professional self-government of Attorneys-at-law and one of 19 regional bar associations in Poland. The tasks of the regional bar associations include representing the professional interests of Attorneys-at-law and ensuring the highest standard of legal services they provide. Membership in the professional self-government is mandatory. Assignment to a specific bar association depends on the Attorney-at-law’s place of residence or the place where they complete their traineeship.
In 2025, the Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law brings together nearly 17,700 Attorneys-at-law and trainee attorneys-at-law from the Warsaw region, making it the largest regional bar association in Poland. The Warsaw region includes the following counties and cities with county rights: Garwolin, Gostynin, Grodzisk, Kutno, Legionowo, Łuków, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Otwock, Piaseczno, Płock County, the city of Płock, Pruszków, Siedlce County, the city of Siedlce, Sierpc, Sokołów, Warsaw West, the city of Warsaw, Węgrów, Wołomin, and Żyrardów.
Key tasks carried out by the Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law:
- Professional traineeship (aplikacja radcowska) – During the three-year traineeship, the Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law prepares law graduates to obtain the professional title of Attorney-at-law. The title is granted after passing the professional examination conducted by the Minister of Justice.
- Training for Attorneys-at-law – The Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law supports continuing professional development by offering various forms of training and courses, enabling Attorneys-at-law to fulfil their obligation of continuous learning, both in strictly legal matters and in soft skills.
- Disciplinary judiciary – The Association safeguards the proper practice of the profession and adherence to ethical standards. If the Attorney-at-law acts contrary to the law, the Code of Ethics for Attorneys-at-law, or breaches professional duties, the Disciplinary Prosecutor initiates proceedings and, in certain cases, files charges with the disciplinary court.
- Pro bono activity and legal education – The Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law enables Attorneys-at-law and trainee attorneys-at-law to actively engage in numerous projects aimed at educating society, promoting the rule of law, undertaking activities to protect human rights, and providing free legal assistance within the Attorneys-at-law Pro Bono Centre.
- Community building – For its members (Attorneys-at-law and trainee attorneys-at-law), the Association organises integration events of a sports, recreational, and cultural nature.
- Temidium – The Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law publishes a quarterly magazine promoting knowledge about the law, the profession of Attorney-at-law, and the activities of the Association.
- International activity – The Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law cooperates with foreign bar associations and international legal organisations in order to strengthen the position of the profession of Attorney-at-law internationally and to support the professional development of Attorneys-at-law and trainee attorneys-at-law beyond the scope of domestic law.