On the issue of criteria for qualified legal assistance

The author analyzes the concept of qualified legal assistance reflected in the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal legislation. The correlation of such assistance with advocacy is considered. The author analyzes the law enforcement practice, from which it follows that qualified legal assistance can also be provided by persons who do not have the status of a lawyer. The author formulates the criteria of qualified legal assistance, the observance of which is important in the aggregate: sufficiency, consistency, effectiveness.