Law of Georgia on Legal Aid

LAW OF GEORGIA

ON LEGAL AID

Chapter I – General Provisions

Article 1 – Purpose of the Law

1. The purpose of the Law shall be to create a sustainable and reliable legal aid system oriented on social requirements, which is necessary to ensure the right of protection guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and international agreements, and an efficient legal aid administration system for transparent and effective spending of budget funds.

2. Everyone shall have the right to take advantage of consistent and qualified legal advice and legal aid at the expense of the State, according to the procedure established by this Law.

3. Legal aid shall be based on the principles of rule of law, equality of arms and shall ensure unhindered enjoyment of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia.

4. According to the procedure established by this Law, legal advice shall be rendered on any legal issue, and legal aid shall be provided during criminal, civil and administrative legal proceedings.

Article 2 – Definition of terms

Terms used in this Law shall have the following meanings:

a) legal aid – preparation of legal documents, representation in a court with respect to administrative and criminal cases and an administrative body, as well as in criminal proceedings at the expense of the State;

b) legal advice – provision of publicly available legal consultation on any legal issue;

c) register of invited public lawyers (the ‘Register’) – the list of lawyers providing legal aid compiled by the Legal Aid Service on the basis of the Georgian Bar Association data;

d) public lawyer – a lawyer of the Legal Aid Bureau, a legal aid provider, or a lawyer recorded in the register who provides legal aid under this Law;

e) legal aid provider (the ‘Provider’) – a legal person under private law or a lawyer who provides legal aid;

f) legal aid beneficiary – a citizen of Georgia, a stateless person, or a foreign citizen who meets the criteria established by this Law and other legislative acts;

g) indigent person – a member of a family registered in the unified database of vulnerable families, whose socioeconomic index is below the limit established by the Government of Georgia.

Chapter II – Legal Aid

Article 3 – Types of legal aid

For the purposes of this Law, the types of legal aid shall be as follows:

a) drafting of legal documents (applications, claims, complaints, statements of defence, motions and other documents);

b) defence of an accused, convicted, or acquitted person in criminal proceedings;

c) protection of victims in criminal proceedings when conducting a defence in cases provided by the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia at the expense of the State;

d) provision of representation in court with respect to administrative and civil cases;

e) provision of representation in an administrative body.

Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 – LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 3013 of 26 December 2014 – website, 31.12.2014

Article 4 – Legal aid beneficiaries

A natural person shall have the right to receive legal aid at the expense of the State in cases provided for by this Law and under the procedure established by this Law.

Article 4¹ – A minor enjoying legal aid

1. A minor shall enjoy the right to free legal advice and legal aid if the lawyer (defence by agreement) he/she has retained does not participate in the proceeding.

2. The Legal Aid Service shall ensure equal accessibility of the legal advice and legal aid to all minors through approaches of justice tailored to children, which are provided for in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, its optional protocols and other international agreements of Georgia, and in the Code on the Rights of the Child.

3. At any stage of criminal proceedings, an accused/convicted person from the age of 18 to 21 shall enjoy the right to legal aid if the lawyer (defence by agreement) retained by him/her does not participate in the proceedings.

Law of Georgia No 3716 of 12 June 2015 – website, 24.6.2015

Law of Georgia No 2388 of 30 May 2018 – website, 12.6.2018

Law of Georgia No 5016 of 20 September 2019 – website, 27.9.2019

Law of Georgia No 5916 of 21 May 2020 – website, 25.5.2020

Article 4² – Permanent Group of Lawyers Specialising in Juvenile Justice

There shall be the Permanent Group of Lawyers Specialising in Juvenile Justice operating within the Legal Aid Service, which will provide legal aid to minors immediately upon request, in the shortest period of time, in cases provided for by law.

Law of Georgia No 3716 of 12 June 2015 – website, 24.6.2015

Article 4³ – Persons with disabilities enjoying legal aid

The Legal Aid Service shall ensure:

a) provision of services of a lawyer by public lawyers to persons with disabilities in court regarding civil, administrative and criminal cases, including representation in administrative proceedings, and legal advice;

b) mandatory access to all territorial units of the Legal Aid Service for persons with disabilities, which means the access to services and to the internal and external infrastructure of buildings and structures for persons with disabilities;

c) retraining of personnel for the development of skills for communicating with persons with disabilities.

Law of Georgia No 6830 of 14 July 2020 – website, 28.7.2020  

Article 5 – Conditions for rendering legal aid

1. Legal aid shall be provided in cases directly provided for by law, and under the procedure established by this Law if an accused, convicted and/or acquitted person is indigent.

2. Representation in court in civil and administrative proceedings, and representation in an administrative body in an administrative proceeding shall be provided if a person is indigent and it is appropriate to render legal aid to him/her (represent him/her in court, or in an administrative body) based on the importance and complexity of a case.

2¹. The Legal Aid Service shall ensure that legal documents on any issue with respect to civil and administrative cases are drafted for an indigent person regardless of the importance and complexity of a case.

2². The legal aid under Article 3(a) and (d) of this Law shall be provided to a person with respect to whom a court is to decide the question of recognising the person as a beneficiary of support in connection with the cases provided for in Chapter XLIV¹¹ of the Civil Procedure Code of Georgia, and also to a beneficiary of support who is a party to a civil and/or administrative proceeding, irrespective of his/her ability to pay, unless this person has chosen a lawyer according to the general procedure.

2³. The legal aid under Article 3(a), (d) and (e) of this Law shall be provided to a foreigner, a stateless person or an asylum seeker in the cases provided for by Article 33 of the Law of Georgia on International Protection. In addition, the legal aid under Article 3(a) and (d) of this Law shall be provided to an asylum seeker or a person with international protection, with respect to whom a dispute on application for international protection is to be resolved by a court in connection with a case provided for in Chapter VII³⁰ of the Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia, irrespective of his/her ability to pay, unless this person has chosen a lawyer according to the general procedure.

2⁴. The legal aid under Article 3(a) and (d) of this Law shall be provided to a victim of violence against women/domestic violence when the issue to make a protective order for ensuring the protection of the victim and the restriction of certain acts of the violator is considered by the court under the procedure established by Article 21¹³ of Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia, irrespective of solvency of the victim of violence against women/domestic violence if he/she has failed to choose a defence lawyer under the general rule .

2⁵. The right to enjoy the legal aid under Article 3(a) and (d) of this Law with regard to civil and administrative cases, considering the significance and complexity of a case, shall be granted to a victim of domestic violence, irrespective of his/her solvency, if the case concerns the issue related to an immovable thing, and issues stemming from Books Five and Six of the Civil Code of Georgia, Laws of Georgia on Social Assistance, on State Pensions, on State Compensation and State Academic Stipends, on Health Care, on Patient Rights, on Veterans of War and Military Forces, on Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories of Georgia, on Social Protection of Families of Persons Died, Families of Persons Missing, and Families of Persons Passed Away from Wounds Suffered for the Territorial Integrity, Freedom and Independence of Georgia, on Acknowledgment of Citizens of Georgia as Victims of Political Repressions and Social Protection of Repressed Persons, on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and on Public Service, from the Organic Law of Georgia the Labour Code of Georgia, and issues stemming from the subordinate normative acts issued on the basis of the aforementioned laws and for the purpose of their enforcement, or if the case is related to a fact of domestic violence and the defence lawyer he/she has hired is not involved in the case (private defence). If a civil or administrative case concerns an issue not included in this paragraph or in the list of issues additionally defined by the Director of the Legal Aid Service, the legal aid (representation in court) with regard to such a case shall be provided when the case can be reviewed in court through consolidated adversary proceedings. If the case is singled out as separate proceedings, the legal aid (representation in court) shall be provided only with regard to an issue included in this paragraph or in the list of issues additionally defined by the Director of the Legal Aid Service.

2⁶. At any stage of criminal proceedings, a person affected as a result of a domestic crime under Article 11¹ and/or domestic violence under Article 126¹ of Criminal Code of Georgia, who is considered an insolvent person according to this Law, shall have the right to enjoy free legal aid if the defence lawyer he/she has hired is not involved in the case (private defence), and free legal aid shall be provided to the aforementioned person, who is not considered an insolvent person according to this Law, when the defence lawyer he/she has hired is not involved in the case (private defence) and the existence of one of the following circumstances is confirmed under the procedure determined by this Law:

a) taxable income of a person, as a natural person, did not exceed GEL 6 000 during 12 months before he/she applied to the Legal Aid Service; in addition, the amount of a sum available on the account opened in his/her name at a commercial bank registered in Georgia did not exceed GEL 500 at the moment when an appropriate bank certificate was issued, and the turnover of the sum available on this account during the last 90 days does not exceed GEL 1 500. If there is more than one account available at different or one commercial bank, the total amount of the sums available on the aforementioned accounts shall be taken into consideration when establishing the amount of a sum defined by this paragraph;

b) a person is in a severe financial situation, which is established on the basis of the criteria predefined by the Director of the Legal Aid Service for providing legal aid.

3. Director of the Legal Aid Service may, based on the criteria predefined by him/her for providing legal aid, decide that legal aid be rendered to a person who is not a member of a family registered in the unified database of vulnerable families.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 – LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 3013 of 26 December 2014 – website, 31.12.2014

Law of Georgia No 3368 of 20 March 2015 – website, 31.3.2015

Law of Georgia No 4064 of 17 July 2015 – website, 29.7.2015

Law of Georgia No 5103 of 27 May 2016 – website, 1.6.2016

Law of Georgia No 48 of 1 December 2016 – website, 15.12.2016

Law of Georgia No 1971 of 22 February 2018 – website, 26.2.2018

Law of Georgia No 1660 of 21 June 2022 – website, 1.7.2022

Law of Georgia No 2479 of 22 December 2022 – website, 29.12.2022

Law of Georgia No 869 of 26 June 2025 – website, 7.7.2025

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 6 – Determination of insolvency of persons

1. Categories of persons who are considered insolvent for the purposes of this Law and the procedure for insolvency confirmation shall be defined by the Government of Georgia.

2. To determine insolvency of a person, when necessary, the Legal Aid Bureau or the Provider may apply to an appropriate administrative body which is obliged to immediately provide the required information.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Article 6¹ – Establishment of the current procedural status and financial status of a person affected as a result of a domestic crime and/or domestic violence

1. At any stage of criminal proceedings, a person affected as a result of a domestic crime under Article 11¹ and/or domestic violence under Article 126¹ of Criminal Code of Georgia, who is not considered an insolvent person according to this Law, shall apply to the Legal Aid Service for the establishment of a circumstance provided for by Article 5(2⁶) of this Law and shall submit the appropriate written documentation to it.

2. The Legal Aid Service shall have the right, on the basis of an application of the person under paragraph 1 of this article, if there is his/her written consent, in order to establish the current procedural status of a person under Article 5(2⁶) of this Law and to determine the qualification specified in the ordinance on recognition as an affected person, to request the information in question from a body conducting criminal proceedings. The body shall immediately provide the aforementioned information to the Legal Aid Service.

3. The Legal Aid Service shall, on the basis of an application of the person under paragraph 1 of this article, if there is his/her written consent, on its own, search for the information necessary for the establishment of a circumstance provided for by Article 5(2⁶) of this Law. Every administrative body and banking institution shall, if the Legal Aid Service submits an application in which the applicant transfers the authority to obtain information to it, immediately and free of charge, provide the Legal Aid Service with information about the property status, income, and bank accounts of the person concerned, and about the balances and the turnover of the sum available on these accounts. The written consent of the aforementioned person must directly contain the information about the one-time transfer of the authority to request the information on his/her financial status from the bodies and institutions under this paragraph to the Legal Aid Service.

Law of Georgia No 1660 of 21 June 2022 – website, 1.7.2022

Article 7 – Reimbursement of legal aid expenses

1. If, when considering civil or administrative proceedings, the court makes a decision in favour of a legal aid beneficiary, the reimbursement of legal aid expenses shall be imposed on the opposing party for the benefit of the Legal Aid Service, under the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

2. If a legal aid beneficiary receives legal aid by way of submitting forged and/or false information about his/her insolvency, he/she must reimburse the rendered legal aid expenses.

Chapter III – Structure of the Legal Aid Service and Guarantees of Independent Activity

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Article 8 –Legal Aid Service

1. The Legal Aid Service (the ‘Service’) shall be a legal entity under public law which is independent in its activity and ensures the availability of legal advice and legal aid on the basis of the Constitution of Georgia, this Law, other legal and subordinate normative acts and the statute of the Service.

2. Articles 11, 12 and 14 of the Law of Georgia on Legal Entities under Public Law shall not apply to the activities of the Service.

3. The Service shall not be subordinated to any State body and shall be accountable only to the Prime Minister of Georgia under the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

4. The Director of the Service (the ‘Director’) shall annually, not later than 1 March, submit to the Prime Minister of Georgia the report on the activities of the Service for the previous year.

5. The Service shall be comprised of the Office of the Service (the ‘Service’), legal aid bureaus and consultation centres established under this Law.

6. The Statute of the Service and the strategy of the Service, as well as the staff list of the Service and limits of funds allocated for remuneration of employees shall be approved by the Government of Georgia upon recommendation of the Director.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 3886 of 6 December 2018 – website, 14.12.2018

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 8¹ – Guarantees for the independence of the activities of the Service

The Service shall be independent in performing tasks assigned to it. Any influence on its activities is inadmissible.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Article 8² – Activities to be preliminarily approved

1. With the consent of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, the Service may:

a) take a loan;

b) act as surety;

c) determine the staff list of the Service and wages fund;

d) (deleted – 4.3.2026, No 1374).

2. With the approval of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, the Service may:

a) acquire, alienate or encumber real property;

b) make other decisions related to Service property if they fall beyond the scope of its ordinary activity.

3. Refusal to perform activities defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article must be substantiated. The refusal may be appealed under the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

4. The Service shall keep records of and reports on its financial and economic activities, draw up balance sheet and submit it for approval to the Ministry of Finance of Georgia under the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia. The Ministry of Finance or an independent auditor appointed by it shall inspect the annual balance sheet of the Service.

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 9 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Article 10 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 4254 of 25 February 2011 – website, 1.3.2011

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 1971 of 22 February 2018 – website, 26.2.2018

Law of Georgia No 415 of 2 April 2025 – website, 3.4.2025

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 11 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 1660 of 21 June 2022 – website, 1.7.2022

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 12 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 12¹ – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 3368 of 20 March 2015 – website, 31.3.2015

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

  Article 13 –Director

1. The Director shall administer the Service, who shall be appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister of Georgia in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Legal Entities under Public Law.

2. The Director shall exercise powers determined in Article 14 of this Law and shall represent the Service in relations with third parties.

3. A citizen of Georgia, at least 30 years old, with higher education in Law and with at least 5 years’ working experience as a lawyer and at least 3 years’ working experience as a manager may be appointed as the Director.

4. The Director may not work as a lawyer or carry out other paid activities except for academic, pedagogical and creative activities.

5. The requirements established by the Law of Georgia on the Fight against Corruption shall apply to the Director.

6. Powers of the Director shall be terminated in accordance with Article 10¹ of the Law of Georgia on Legal Entities under Public Law. Except for the grounds provided for by Article 10¹ of the Law of Georgia on Legal Entities under Public Law, the violation of requirements established under the Law of Georgia on the Fight against Corruption shall also serve as grounds for dismissal (termination of powers) of the Director.

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 3368 of 20 March 2015 – website, 31.3.2015

Law of Georgia No 4359 of 27 October 2015 – website, 11.11.2015

Law of Georgia No 136 of 21 December 2016 – website, 28.12.2016

Law of Georgia No 2217 of 30 November 2022 – website, 15.12.2022

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 14 – Functions of the Director

1. The functions of the Director shall be to:

a) administer the Service, supervise activities of the Legal Aid Bureau, the Consultation centre and the Provider;

b) develop the Statute of the Service and the strategy of the Service and submit them to the Government of Georgia for approval;

c) monitor the execution of the strategy of the Service;

d) annually, not later than 1 March, submit to the Prime Minister of Georgia the activity report of the Service for the previous year;

e) submit the staff list of the Service and the limits of funds allocated for remuneration of employees to the Government of Georgia for approval;

f) determine the amount of remuneration for employees from the limits of funds allocated for remuneration of employees approved by the Government of Georgia;

g) approve a sample of the symbol of state significance of the Service and the procedure for using it, under the Law of Georgia on Symbols of State Significance;

h) submit the draft budget of the Service and reports on implementation of the budget of the Service to the Ministry of Finance of Georgia;

i) establish or cancel Legal Aid Bureaus, consultation centres, as well as determine the jurisdiction of Legal Aid Bureaus and providers;

j) develop the procedure and the form of reporting for a Legal Aid Bureau, a Consultation Centre, a Provider, and a lawyer registered in the registry;

k) develop the procedure for involving a lawyer registered in the registry in a proceeding, the amount of his/her remuneration and payment procedure;

l) ensure provision of a qualified legal aid by a lawyer registered in the registry and quality control of the provided service under the procedure established by the Statute of the Service;

m) approve the internal regulations of the Service;

n) coordinate and analyse production of statistics by the Service;

o) appoint and dismiss employees of the Office, Legal Aid Bureaus and Consultation Centres, as well as apply disciplinary actions against and incentive measures for them according to the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

p) approve the procedure and criteria for the quality assessment of the legal advice and legal aid rendered by the Service and supervise their implementation;

q) review the claims related to the activities of the Legal Aid Bureau, the Consultation Centre and the provider, as well as the grounds for refusal of legal aid in accordance with the legislation of Georgia;

r) approval of the legal aid criteria provided for by Article 5(2⁶)(b) and Article 5(3) of this Law which may serve as grounds for making a decision on rendering legal aid to a person.

s) provide training courses and workshops to retrain and raise qualification of the employees of the Service and public lawyers;

t) make arrangements for the financial accounting and reporting of the Service under the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

u) ensure publicity and accessibility of the annual Service activity report;

v) ensure promotion of the activities of the Service;

w) conduct research to study the availability and quality of legal aid and legal advice;

x) issue administrative-legal acts within his/her competence;

y) exercise other powers provided by this Law and the Statute of the Service.

2. The Director may terminate a labour contract of the Head of the Legal Aid Bureau under the procedure established by the Organic Law of Georgia Labour Code of Georgia.

3. The decision of the Director may be appealed only to a court.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 4317 of 22 February 2019 – website, 7.3.2019

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 15 – The Office

To effectively administer the Service, the Office of the Service shall be established. The procedure of formation, structure and powers of the Office shall be defined by the Statute of the Service.

Article 16 – Legal Aid Bureaus

1. A legal Aid Bureau shall be a division of the Service that renders legal aid under the procedure established by this Law and within its jurisdiction.

2. A Legal Aid Bureau shall be responsible for provision of qualified legal aid and for maximum protection of the interests of legal aid beneficiaries within its jurisdiction to enable them to completely enjoy the rights granted to them by the legislation of Georgia.

3. A legal Aid Bureau shall be composed of the Head of Legal Aid Bureau, lawyers, consultants and administrative staff.

4. When conducting activities, a lawyer of a Legal Aid Bureau shall be guided by the Constitution of Georgia, this Law, the Law of Georgia on Advocates, the Statute of the Service and other normative acts.

5. Unlawful influence on the activity of a Legal Aid Bureau shall be inadmissible.

6. Lawyers of a Legal Aid Bureau shall act according to the Code of Professional Ethics for lawyers approved by the General Assembly of the Georgian Bar Association.

7. The powers of the Head of a Legal Aid Bureau, lawyers, consultants and administrative staff of the Bureau shall be defined by the Statute of the Service.

8. (Deleted – 4.3.2026, No 1374).

9. (Deleted – 4.3.2026, No 1374).

10. (Deleted – 4.3.2026, No 1374).

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 17 – Consultation Centres

1. Legal advice shall be provided in Consultation Centres established within the unified legal aid system. The duration of legal advice shall not be longer than one hour.

2. A natural person may receive legal advice in any Consultation Centre regardless of his/her place of residence and property status.

3. In those regions of Georgia where no Legal Aid Bureaus operate, a Consultation Centre shall ensure the involvement of a public lawyer in a proceeding from the registry.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Article 18 – Providers

A Provider shall be a legal person under private law or a lawyer selected on tender basis which renders legal aid under this Law and within jurisdiction determined by an agreement.

[Article 18 – Providers

A Provider shall be a legal person under private law or a lawyer who provides legal aid under this Law and within the jurisdiction defined by an agreement. (Shall become effective from 1 January 2030)]

Law of Georgia No 2571 of 9 February 2023 – website, 27.2.2023

Law of Georgia No 4416 of 5 September 2024 – website, 23.9.2024

Law of Georgia No 1704 of 10 June 2026 – website, 15.6.2026

Article 19 –Registry

1. A Lawyer registered in the registry shall render legal aid at the expense of the State in the cases provided for by this Law and based on an application of a Legal Aid Bureau, a Provider or a Consultation Centre.

2. The registry shall be maintained by the Service. A lawyer shall be registered in the registry based on the lawyer’s application on an open competition basis.

3. The forms of the registry and the application shall be approved by the Director.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 20 – Form of reporting

A public lawyer, including a lawyer registered in the registry, shall be submit a report on the rendered legal aid to an appropriate Legal Aid Bureau, Provider or Consultation Centre in the established form and within the set time.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Chapter IV – Involvement of Public Lawyers in Proceedings

Article 21 – Involvement of public lawyers in proceedings and remuneration for their labour

1. Legal Aid Bureaus, Providers, or Consultation Centres shall ensure the involvement of a public lawyer in criminal proceedings:

a) based on an application of an accused, convicted and/or acquitted person or his/her representative or close relative;

b) based on an application of a body conducting proceedings according to the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

2. An accused, convicted and/or acquitted person must be given an opportunity to get in contact with a public lawyer and invite him/her. A body conducting proceedings shall ensure the unimpeded involvement of a public lawyer in the proceeding and the exercise of powers defined by the legislation of Georgia by the lawyer.

2¹. Legal Aid Bureaus, Providers or Consultation Centres shall ensure the involvement of a public lawyer in civil and administrative proceedings:

a) based on the application of a person or his/her legal representative that requests legal aid;

b) based on a reasoned judgment of the court.

3. A Legal Aid Bureau, a Provider or a Consultation Centre shall immediately consider an application of a person with respect to civil and administrative cases; it shall find out whether the application meets criteria established by this Law and other legal acts and within two working days shall decide to appoint a pubic lawyer or refuse to appoint him/her. The Legal Aid Service shall comply with the court judgement to appoint a lawyer at the expense of the State.

4. The refusal to render legal aid must be reasoned. The decision to refuse to render legal aid may be appealed to the Director of the Service. The refusal to satisfy an appeal may be appealed to the court according to the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

5. The procedure for involving a public lawyer in the proceedings shall be defined by the Statute of the Service.

6. A public lawyer involved in the proceedings shall immediately commence to exercise the rights and duties defined by this Law, the Statute of the Service and the procedural law.

7. A public lawyer employed by the Service shall receive a salary for rendering legal aid on criminal, civil and administrative cases and the legal aid rendered by an invited public lawyer shall be remunerated according to the procedure on the Amount of Remuneration of Labour and Its Payment approved by the Director.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 – LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 3013 of 26 December 2014 – website, 31.12.2014

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 21¹ – Guarantees of public lawyers’ independence

A public lawyer shall conduct his/her activity independently. It shall be inadmissible to interfere in the professional activity of a public lawyer, or to apply a sanction or threaten to apply a sanction against him/her for activities that are not in conflict with the legislation of Georgia and the lawyers’ ethics code.

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Chapter V – Financial Guarantees of the Activities of the Service

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Article 22 – Financing sources of the Service

1. Financing sources of the Service shall be:

a) special purpose funds allocated from the State budget of Georgia;

b) donations and grants;

c) other income permitted by the legislation of Georgia.

2. The State funding of the Service shall be defined by the annual State Budget Law.

3. The draft budget of the Service shall be submitted to the Ministry of Finance of Georgia under the procedure established by the Budgetary Code of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1779 of 13 December 2013 – website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 22¹ – Reduction of the budget of the Service

Reduction of the budget of the Service within the amount provided under the article on Economic Classification of the State Budgetary Expenditures of Georgia compared to the respective data of the previous year, shall be possible only with the consent of the Service.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Chapter VI – Transitional Provisions

Article 23 – Measures to be implemented with respect to entry of this Law into force

1. (Deleted).

2. (Deleted).

3. (Deleted).

4. Until 1 January 2009, legal aid shall be provided in criminal proceedings under the procedure established by this Law regardless of the property status of a suspect, accused, defendant and convicted person.

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Article 23¹ – Temporary procedures for providing legal aid

1. Legal aid (representation in court) with respect to civil and administrative legal proceedings, considering the significance and complexity of a case, shall be provided to an indigent person from 1 march 2018 to 1 January 2021 if the case refers to issues related to an immovable item, and issues proceeding from Book Five and Book Six of the Civil Code of Georgia; the law of Georgia on Social Aid; the law of Georgia on State Pension; the law of Georgia on State Compensation and State Academic Scholarship; the law of Georgia on Health Care; the law of Georgia on Patient Rights; the law of Georgia on Veterans of War and Defence Forces; the law of Georgia on Internally Displaced Persons – Refugees from the Occupied Territories of Georgia; the law of Georgia on Social Protection of the Families of Persons Fallen, Missing in Action, or Dead from Injuries Received in the Fight for Territorial Integrity, Freedom and Independence of Georgia; the law of Georgia on Recognition of the Citizens of Georgia as Victims of Political Repressions and Social Protection of the Repressed Persons; the law of Georgia on Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities, the law of Georgia on Public Service, the organic law of Georgia the Labour Code of Georgia, and subordinate normative acts issued on the basis of the above laws and for the implementation thereof.

2. The Council shall be authorised, from 1 march 2018 to 1 January 2021, to define additional issues that are not included in paragraph 1 of this article and with respect to which the Service has to provide legal aid (representation in court) considering the insolvency of a person and the significance and complexity of a case.

3. If a civil or administrative case refers to an issue that is not included in paragraph 1 of this article or is not in the list of issues further defined by the Council, legal aid (representation in court) with respect to the case shall be provided from 1 March 2018 to 1 January 2021 if the case can be considered in court by way of consolidation of claims. If a case is separated, legal aid (representation in court) shall be provided only in relation to the issue that is included in paragraph 1 of this article, or in the list of issues further defined by the Council.

4. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article with respect to the representation in an administrative body regarding administrative cases (except for cases related to the issues concerning an immovable item, or that are proceeding from the Law of Georgia on Public Service and/or Organic Law of Georgia the Labour Code of Georgia) shall apply from 15 June 2016.

5. The validity of this article with respect to the issues related to an immovable item, and that are provided for by the Law of Georgia on Public Service and the Organic Law of Georgia the Labour Code of Georgia shall apply from 1 March 2018.

Law of Georgia No 3013 of 26 December 2014 – website, 31.12.2014

Law of Georgia No 5103 of 27 May 2016 – website, 1.6.2016

Law of Georgia No 1971 of 22 February 2018 – website, 26.2.2018

Law of Georgia No 3606 of 31 October 2018 – website, 2.11.2018

Article 23² – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1971 of 22 February 2018 – website, 26.2.2018

Law of Georgia No 1374 of 4 March 2026 – website, 5.3.2026

Article 24 – (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 968 of 30 December 2008 – LHG I, No 41, 30.12.2008, Art. 340

Chapter VII – Final Provisions

Article 25 – Invalid normative acts

Order No 308 of 17 February 2005 of the Minister of Justice of Georgia on Establishment of the Legal Entity under Public Law – the Public (Treasury) Lawyer’s Service shall be considered invalid upon entry of this Law into force.

Article 26 – Entry of the Law into force

1. This Law, except for the case provided in paragraph 2 of this article, shall enter into force upon its promulgation.

2. This Law shall enter into force from 15 April 2015 in the part of representation in court with respect to civil and administrative cases, except when conducting defence at the expense of the State and defence of victims of domestic violence provided by the Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia. This Law shall enter into force in the part of drawing up legal documents on any issue with respect to civil and administrative cases upon its promulgation.

2¹. This Law, with respect to the representation of a victim of violence against women (except for a victim of domestic violence) in an administrative body and court, shall enter into force from 1 June 2017.

3. This Law shall enter into force from 1 March 2011 when conducting defence at the expense of the State in cases provided by Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia.

4. This Law shall enter into force from 1 January 2016 with respect to the representation in an administrative body, except for the proceedings for disciplinary violations committed by accused/convicted persons provided by the Imprisonment Code and cases of conducting defence of victims of domestic violence.

Law of Georgia No 325 of 7 October 2008 – LHG I, No 24, 20.10.2008 Art. 163

Law of Georgia No 4112 of 17 December 2010 – LHG I, No 75, 27.12.2010, Art. 484

Law of Georgia No 4254 of 25 February 2011 – website, 1.3.2011

Law of Georgia No 6400 of 5 June 2012 – website, 19.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 2700 of 17 October 2014 – website, 31.10 .2014

Law of Georgia No 3013 of 26 December 2014 – website, 31.12.2014

Law of Georgia No 777 of 4 May 2017 – website, 25.5.2017

President of Georgia                                                          M. Saakashvili

Tbilisi,

19 June 2007

No 4955-I ს