Members of Parliament will consider the report on the realization of the right to free legal aid in 2012 during the continuation of the session.
Deputy Minister of Justice Sandra Artuković Kunšt reported that the state spent a total of 1.26 million kuna last year on the realization of the right to free legal aid, and announced a new Law on Free Legal Aid. “We recognize the importance of the institute of free legal aid as it is a key element in achieving the rule of law,” said Artuković Kunšt while presenting the report on the realization of the right to free legal aid in 2012.
The Ministry has prepared a draft proposal for this new law, which should soon enter the procedure. The scope of primary legal aid is being expanded, access to its use is being facilitated, and property criteria for obtaining secondary legal aid are being mitigated and defined, she said.
The intention is to provide free legal aid especially to marginalized social groups, and the goal is also to expand sources of funding. Last year, a total of 7068 applications for free legal aid were submitted, and it was granted in 5877 cases.
Free legal aid was most often provided in family law and enforcement proceedings.
