MAGISTERS / ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
Administrative Lawyer in Ukraine
We challenge unlawful decisions, actions and inaction of public authorities. Legal representation in disputes involving recruitment centres, immigration authorities, government agencies and administrative offences, from document review to litigation and enforcement.
Kharkiv · Kyiv · Odesa · in person and remotely
Decisions and actions of authorities
Review of legal grounds, procedure and deadlines
Administrative litigation and offences
Distinct remedies and procedural frameworks
Legal practice since 2012
MAGISTERS lawyers · engagement by agreement
01 / WHEN YOU SHOULD ACT PROMPTLY
Contact an administrative lawyer urgently if
A dispute with a public authority often turns on the date of a decision, when it was received and which procedure applies. Delay may result in missing a specific deadline or enforcement of the disputed measure.
REFUSAL
Your application, payment or status was refused
We establish who made the decision, when you received it, which rules were applied and what documents support a challenge.
TCC / MMC
You received a recruitment or medical commission decision
We review the authority’s powers, the wording of the decision and the applicable administrative or judicial review process.
INACTION
A public authority has not responded
We document the submission date, proof of delivery, the authority’s legal duty and the period allowed for a response.
DEADLINES
A hearing is scheduled or a fine has been imposed
We identify whether the Code of Administrative Justice or the Code of Administrative Offences applies and what remedies remain available.
02 / AREAS OF PRACTICE
Administrative and public-law disputes we handle
Different government decisions require different appeal procedures. For immigration, military, social benefits and tax matters, we identify the applicable rules, the proper respondent and the remedy capable of restoring your rights.
RECRUITMENT
Territorial Recruitment Centres and military registration
Challenges to decisions, actions or inaction of Territorial Recruitment Centres (TCCs), registration issues, deferment refusals and other public-law procedures.
MEDICAL REVIEW
Military Medical Commissions
Review of Military Medical Commission (MMC) findings, examination procedures and possible administrative or judicial remedies.
IMMIGRATION
State Migration Service decisions
Document refusals, cancellation of residence permits, nationality questions, removal orders and other immigration disputes.
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
Local government and state bodies
Challenges to individual administrative acts, unlawful restrictions and actions or omissions of public officials.
Pensions and social benefits
Appeals against refusals, incorrect calculations and failures to act in relation to public benefits and pension entitlements.
Administrative fines
Decisions by public officials, administrative offence allegations and defence through the applicable statutory procedure.
Tax and regulatory bodies
Review of individual tax or regulatory decisions, administrative complaints and judicial challenges.
Licensing and registration
Unlawful refusals to register, issue documents, grant permits or complete required administrative steps.
State Enforcement Service
Challenges to actions and decisions of enforcement officers before the court with relevant jurisdiction.
Border Guard Service and departure from Ukraine
Review of refusal-to-exit decisions and the available remedies: appealing refusal to leave Ukraine.
03 / TWO DIFFERENT LEGAL PROCEDURES
Administrative litigation is not the same as an administrative offence
The expression “administrative case” covers more than one legal framework. We first determine who made the decision, the nature of the dispute and which Ukrainian code governs the proceedings.
Public-law disputes under the Code of Administrative Justice
A claim against a public authority may seek cancellation of a decision, a declaration that an action or omission was unlawful, or an order requiring the authority to consider an application or perform a legal duty. Special deadlines and jurisdictional rules may apply.
Administrative offence proceedings under the CUOAP
Defence of a person accused of an administrative offence, review of an administrative penalty or adjudication by a court. These proceedings have separate evidence and appeal rules, including defence under Article 130 CUOAP.
Choosing the wrong procedure may lead to rejection or return of a filing and loss of time. Before submission, we check jurisdiction, the appropriate court and the required form of legal relief.
04 / THE LEGAL ROUTE
From an administrative decision to a court judgment
We do not begin with a generic claim template. The sequence depends on the type of dispute, available evidence and the client’s objective.
The objective must be practical: a declaration that an authority acted unlawfully may be insufficient unless the decision also restores the client’s position.
01
Record the event and dates
Obtain the decision, order, refusal or official reply and verify delivery and the history of earlier submissions.
02
Determine jurisdiction
Distinguish a public-law claim, a CUOAP case and other procedures; identify the competent court.
03
Review the legal basis
Examine the body’s authority, applicable law, factual grounds and compliance with statutory procedure.
04
Collect supporting evidence
Obtain documents, official replies, registry records, investigation materials, medical evidence or video.
05
Prepare an appeal or claim
Frame the legal remedy, select administrative or judicial review and assess interim relief if necessary.
06
Represent the client in court
Submit arguments, address the opposing evidence and, where appropriate, appeal the resulting judgment.
05 / DOCUMENTS AND EVIDENCE
What we examine before challenging a decision
An effective administrative case requires a coherent assessment of authority, facts, procedure and remedy. Evidence should support the particular legal claim being made.
DECISION
Original decision or certified copy
Full wording, reference number, attachments, stated grounds, manner of service and receipt date.
SUBMISSIONS
Applications and correspondence
Filing numbers, electronic confirmations, official letters, responses, delivery records and elapsed periods.
EVIDENCE
Materials on the substance
Medical opinions, certificates, register extracts, recordings and documents establishing the relevant circumstances or status.
06 / PROCEDURAL DEADLINES
Not every administrative case has the same filing deadline
Under Article 122 of the Code of Administrative Justice of Ukraine, the general time limit for individuals to bring an administrative claim is six months unless another rule applies. Some categories have shorter or special periods.
ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIM
General rule under Article 122
Normally six months from the day a person learned or should have learned of the infringement. Prior administrative review may affect the calculation.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFENCE
Appeal under Article 289 CUOAP
The general period is ten days; certain automatically recorded offences have a different starting point.
COURT APPEAL
Court orders under Article 294 CUOAP
Generally ten days from the date the judge issues the order. An application to restore a missed deadline requires separate review.
SPECIAL MATTERS
TCCs, medical boards and public service
Some categories have their own appeal windows and procedures. We examine the particular decision and the law applicable to it.
Filing an administrative complaint or a court claim does not necessarily suspend enforcement. Where temporary protection is needed, we assess the legal grounds for interim measures.
07 / ADMINISTRATIVE LIABILITY
Fines, offence reports and defence under Article 130 CUOAP
Administrative offences are governed by their own procedure. We examine the preparation of offence reports, admissibility of evidence, applicable time limits, the authority’s competence and the reasoning behind the penalty.
ARTICLE 130
Alcohol, drug impairment and refusal of testing
Review of police video, offence reports, medical testing and technical devices. See defence under Article 130 CUOAP for the dedicated service.
FINES
Orders issued by public officials
We review proof of the alleged event and offence, procedural compliance and whether the person was properly notified.
APPEALS
Challenging a penalty or ruling
We identify the appropriate route and prepare a reasoned appeal, evidence and procedural motions.
08 / AFTER YOU INSTRUCT THE LAWYER
What your administrative lawyer actually does
Our engagement may cover the full case or a clearly defined task. The client receives a specific scope of work, documents and actions.
01
Review the case documents
Identify defects in the decision, procedural violations, gaps in evidence and applicable time limits.
02
Send formal lawyer requests
Obtain relevant records and document any failure or refusal to supply information.
03
Draft complaints and claims
Prepare reasoned legal demands, court submissions, objections, motions and appeals.
04
Build the evidentiary record
Collect administrative acts, official responses, status documents and supporting records; request disclosure where needed.
05
Represent you in court
Attend hearings, examine materials, make procedural applications and respond to the public authority’s arguments.
06
Follow through on the outcome
Review the decision and assess enforcement, further appeals and any subsequent actions of the authority.
09 / POSSIBLE OUTCOMES
The legal objective is to restore your rights
The result depends on the applicable law, facts, evidence and judicial assessment. We identify the available remedy but cannot promise that a court will cancel a particular decision.
REVERSING AN ACT
Declaration that a decision was unlawful
Where permitted, cancellation of an individual administrative act or its relevant provisions.
FAILURE TO ACT
A finding of unlawful inaction
A court may determine that an authority failed to respond to an application or fulfil a legal obligation.
MANDATORY ACTION
An order requiring action
Reconsideration of an application, a lawful decision within the authority’s powers or correction of the violation.
DEFENCE
Cancellation of an unjustified penalty
Under the applicable procedure, reversal of an administrative fine or another remedy available by law.
10 / ADMINISTRATIVE LAW PRACTICE
Hennadii Laguta
Attorney-at-law · Managing Partner of MAGISTERS · legal practice since 2012. Representation in public-law, immigration, military and other administrative disputes.
Consultation
from UAH 1,000 · preliminary case and document review
Preparation of a document
from UAH 2,500 · depending on type and scope
Court representation
from UAH 15,000 · scope agreed individually
Full case representation
from UAH 20,000 · terms set out in an agreement
11 / QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions on administrative matters
If you have already received a decision, please provide its complete wording, the delivery date and details of any previous complaints or applications.
Jurisdiction and deadlines depend on the particular decision, not merely the general label of the dispute.
Can a decision made by a public authority be challenged?
Yes, where it infringes your rights and there are legal grounds to do so. The procedure depends on the decision, authority and type of matter.
What if a government agency ignores my application?
Keep a copy of the application and evidence that it was submitted. We examine the duty to respond and relevant period, then select a remedy for unlawful inaction.
How long do I have to bring an administrative court claim?
The general limit is six months, but many categories are subject to special limits. The calculation depends on the type of dispute and when the infringement became known or should have been known.
Must I complain to a higher authority before going to court?
Not always. Some procedures require prior administrative review, while others permit a direct court claim. It is important to check the effect on deadlines.
Can a disputed administrative decision be suspended?
The court may grant interim relief if the legal criteria are satisfied. Merely lodging a complaint or claim does not automatically suspend the decision.
Can a Territorial Recruitment Centre decision be appealed?
Depending on the type of decision and its circumstances, administrative or judicial review may be available. The document and deadline must be assessed.
What should I do about an MMC decision?
Obtain the written decision and medical records, identify the level of the commission and check the review or appeal procedure that applies.
Do you handle Article 130 administrative offence cases?
Yes. These matters have their own evidentiary, court and appeal rules. See defence under Article 130 CUOAP for details.
Can a State Migration Service refusal be challenged?
Potentially, depending on the grounds of refusal and the applicable procedure. We assess the decision, immigration status, evidence and available remedies.
Can a refusal to leave Ukraine be appealed?
Yes, if legal grounds exist. The route depends on the specific document and circumstances. See appealing refusal to leave Ukraine.
Do I have to attend court in person?
Some matters can be handled by a lawyer remotely. The availability of particular modes of participation depends on procedural rules and the case.
Do you guarantee cancellation of a government decision?
No. We assess the decision, legal grounds, evidence and litigation prospects, and agree the scope of work and fee before proceeding.
12 / INITIAL LEGAL ASSESSMENT
Need to challenge a government decision, fine or failure to act?
Send us the decision, refusal, court order or proof of your application and tell us when you received the documents. We will examine the procedure, deadlines, evidence and practical next steps.
Kharkiv · Kyiv · Odesa · in person and remotely
Contact a lawyer
Phone +38 (097) 718 11 88. Scope and legal fees are agreed before the engagement starts.