site.btaSofia Bar Association Protests to Press for Reform, Higher Pay in Legal Aid System

The Sofia Bar Association Thursday announced a protest to press for reforms in the legal aid system and higher pay for lawyers providing legal aid. As of June 1, the Association will not appoint public defenders, reserve solicitors, duty lawyers and special representatives. The protest will continue until the demands are met, says an announcement on the organization's website.

They demand an increase in the budget and remuneration for legal aid, amendments to the rules on lawyers’ fees and a sufficient budget for special representatives’ fees, payable from the court’s budget in order to ensure the fair remuneration of lawyers appointed as special representatives, which should be comparable to the market levels of remuneration for legal defence.

The Bar Associations in the country are expected to join the protest.

The Sofia Bar Association supports the demands expressed in the position submitted by 21 (out of 27) bar associations in the country to the Justice Minister, the Finance Minister and the National Legal Aid Bureau. The position states the need for the urgent implementation of reforms and the readiness for protest actions in connection with the low remuneration of lawyers' work in the legal aid system, and the lack of a state policy to improve people’s access to court.