The services of the Legal Aid Centre should be more accessible to a wider range of people. The income threshold for clients, which is one of the conditions for eligibility for legal aid, will be raised. This follows from an amendment to the law on the provision of legal aid to persons in material need, which was signed by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini on Wednesday.
The amendment also introduces the possibility of waiving the fee for a preliminary consultation and sets a maximum upper limit for the financial contribution of an eligible person in the provision of legal aid.
Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) stated after the law’s approval that the changes are aimed at the most socially vulnerable citizens who are in material need. The amendment introduces a new regulation for assessing the income and expenses of applicants for legal aid.
The new legislation is set to come into force on July 1, 2025.
Source: TASR
