A recent report aired on Telebachennia Toronto has sparked discussion, highlighting several troubling cases of legal services provided—or rather, misprovided—to military personnel. The key points include:

Roman Borysovych, the TikTok Lawyer: This lawyer charged a soldier $200 for assistance in obtaining a military certificate regarding the circumstances of his injury. According to the soldier, Borysovych “led me on for a month, then stopped responding altogether.”
A Defamation Case in Lviv: The wife of a soldier sought help from a Legal Aid Center in Lviv to “challenge slander” against her husband. She claims the firm demanded an upfront payment of 22,000 UAH but failed to issue a receipt. After receiving no updates, she discovered negative reviews about the firm online and requested a refund. Following a police visit and media attention, the firm returned the money. These two incidents, though egregious, can be categorized as either poor service or outright unethical behavior. However, delving into them further feels unnecessary compared to more complex cases.
Missing Soldier, High Fees: A woman approached the same Legal Aid Center for help after her brother, a serviceman, went missing. Her nephew, also a soldier, was entitled to discharge in such circumstances. The firm quoted her 25,000 UAH to draft two reports—a sum she found exorbitant. Journalists consulted other lawyers, who confirmed that preparing such reports is straightforward, with free templates readily available online (e.g., via Legal Hundred or Massi Nayyem’s NGO). The conclusion? The service doesn’t justify the price tag.
Widow’s Compensation Case: A lawyer offered to assist a widow in claiming a one-time payment for her husband’s death in combat. The lawyer’s fee? 10% of the awarded amount, potentially netting them 1.5 million UAH upon success.
Veteran Consultations with Feshchenko & Partners: A veteran consulted this firm regarding social benefits. The initial meeting was free, but the lawyer later proposed a phased plan: “About 5,000 UAH for the first stage, 15,000 UAH for the second… and 5% of the awarded sum at the final stage.” Journalists estimated this would total over $1,000 in fixed fees and an additional 80,000 UAH (5% of the payout). The lawyer explained that the firm sets its pricing policy, which depends on the complexity of the case. Journalists argued that this case did not merit such high fees.

“We understand that lawyers are free to set their fees, but exploiting veterans during wartime to charge exorbitant amounts is morally bankrupt,” concluded the journalists.

Here is the report itself:

For me, “TikTok/Telegram lawyers” are merely a modern iteration of street lawyers. Expecting top-tier service from them is akin to expecting café-quality coffee from a roadside instant coffee vendor. However, while Telebachennia Toronto acknowledged lawyers’ freedom to set fees, lumping poor service with stories of high fees creates the impression that lawyers exclusively overcharge for services that could be easily Googled—and vanish when clients complain.

Most of us from elite firms might find these fees trivial. Yet military personnel and veterans present a unique challenge as clients. Striking a balance between respect and a realistic fee structure is crucial. Their circumstances demand sensitivity and fairness, not exploitation under the guise of legal assistance.

Dima Gadomsky