Free Legal Aid in Serbia

On 9 November 2018, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Free Legal Aid Act, which is published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No. 87/18 from 13 November 2018 which will come into force on 21 November 2018, and it starts to apply on 1 October 2019.

Conditions for providing the free legal aid are established by this Act, as well as its forms, lawfulness and principles.

After many-year-long public controversy about who shall perform and receive free legal aid, in which manner and form, new law that is enacted stipulates requirements that a receiver of complimentary legal aid and legal support must meet, who can provide such a support or aid, as well as conditions which providers need to meet to be allowed to perform such an activity.

In order to control fulfilment of mentioned conditions, the law prescribes a procedure for approval of complimentary legal aid.

Complimentary legal aid will be financed from a budget of a local self-government.

This law also regulates international complimentary legal aid.

In order to ensure a level of service in providing the free legal aid, mechanisms of supervision and quality control are prescribed and conducted by Ministry for justice.