Principles Governing the Provision of Free Legal Aid and Challenges to Their Practical Implementation

Free legal aid is the activity of professionals providing legal services gratuitously to certain categories of citizens in the course of exercising their constitutional right to qualified legal assistance. The significance of this legal institution is demonstrated by the State’s particular attention to its progressive development and by its demand among citizens when exercising and protecting their rights and lawful interests. At the same time, the provision of free legal aid gives rise to a number of problems stemming from deficiencies in its regulation, ambiguous interpretation, and practical difficulties. A study of the legal regulation and of the implementation of the principles governing the provision of free legal aid has made it possible to identify the causes and adverse consequences of these problems, and to formulate a set of measures to resolve them and to advance State policy aimed at improving the institution of free legal aid.

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