In response to media reports regarding changes in the provision of legal aid to applicants for international protection, the Ministry of the Interior issued a press release.
Until the reform legal aid was provided in two ways at the same time: through law firms and through non-governmental organisations. Following the reform, aid is provided uniformly through law firms in accordance with the applicable legal framework and with no significant increase in costs for the taxpayers. Thus, applicants' access to legal aid is maintained.
Legal services are provided on the basis of a standard selection procedure through which the law firm that will be the service provider is selected. Due to current legislation, according to which only registered lawyers can provide legal services for a fee, non-profit organisations could not participate in the selection process.
More information is available here.
- Ministry of the Interior | Ministerstvo Vnitra (28 April, 2026), Změna právní pomoci sjednocuje systém a odstraňuje duplicity [Legal aid reform unifies the system and eliminates duplication],