Free or Low-Cost Legal Help in the Czech Republic

What you can do now

1. 1

   Ask the Czech Bar Association to designate a lawyer

   If you cannot find a lawyer yourself, the Czech Bar Association can designate one for you. If your income and assets are low, the designated lawyer can act free of charge or for a reduced fee. The application forms are on the Bar's website.

2. 2

   In a court case, ask the court

   In civil proceedings the court can appoint a lawyer for a party who is exempt from court fees, when it is needed to protect that party's interests. Ask for it in writing as early as possible.

3. 3

   Foreigners: use free counselling

   Non-profit organisations such as SIMI (Association for Integration and Migration) and OPU (Organisation for Aid to Refugees) give free legal and social counselling to foreigners — residence, work, housing and dealing with offices.

4. 4

   Pay only for what you need

   For a defined question, a one-off consultation for an agreed price is often much cheaper than open-ended hourly work. Agree the price and the scope first.

5. 5

   Describe your case on LawBridge — free

   Describe your matter once, see which verified lawyers can take it, and agree the fee directly with the one you choose. Submitting and choosing costs nothing.

Deadlines and money

Free help through the Bar, a court or a non-profit takes time to arrange, and applying for it does not automatically stop a deadline that is already running — act early if a deadline applies. Free counselling and designated lawyers are meant for people who need them; if you can pay, a lawyer chosen and paid by you is usually faster.

Can you handle it yourself, or do you need a lawyer?

Counselling from a non-profit is a good first step for residence, work and everyday problems. When a court case, a large sum or a criminal matter is involved, you need a lawyer — free through the Bar or the court if you qualify, otherwise paid.

Whichever route you take, bring the letters or decisions you received and say on which day they arrived — deadlines usually run from that date.

Documents to Prepare

• •Letters or decisions you received, with the dates
• •Proof of income and assets, if you apply for free or reduced-fee help
• •Identity document and, for foreigners, your residence document

Frequently Asked Questions

Legal background

Designation of a lawyer by the Czech Bar Association is regulated by Sections 18 to 18d of the Advocacy Act (Act No. 85/1996 Coll.), in the version introduced by Act No. 258/2017 Coll. After a Constitutional Court ruling, the Bar can designate a lawyer also for people who are not without means but could not find one. In civil proceedings a court may appoint a representative under Section 30 of the Civil Procedure Code (Act No. 99/1963 Coll.).

Verified Sources

• Advocacy Act (Act No. 85/1996 Coll.), Sections 18–18d — Zákony pro lidi
• Civil Procedure Code (Act No. 99/1963 Coll.), Section 30 — Zákony pro lidi
• Czech Bar Association — Česká advokátní komora
• SIMI — Association for Integration and Migration — SIMI
• OPU — Organisation for Aid to Refugees — OPU

Last reviewed: 2026-10-14

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