You must be represented by an attorney at law (in Slovak advokát) in proceeding before the Constitutional Court.
If you are not able to pay for your legal representation, you may ask the Court for free legal aid before the Constitutional Court in some occasions.
The Constitutional Court may appoint a legal representative to a complainant who requests it, if this is justified by a complainant's property status and it is not a clear unsuccessful exercise of the right to protection of constitutionality. In such a case, the costs of the appointed legal representative will be borne by the state.
Centre for Legal Aid
In Slovakia, the Centre for Legal Aid has been established as a state agency entrusted with the role to provide legal aid free of charge or as partially paid service. Legal service is generally provided by employees of the Centre or by an attorney at law appointed by the Centre. In case of a constitutional complaint and following proceeding before the Constitutional Court only an attorney at law may be appointed as legal representative.
You can receive free legal aid if:
- you satisfy condition prescribed by law to be considered as a person of material need
- there is no apparent failure of the dispute on your side
- the value of the dispute exceeds a value of the minimum wage in case of monetary substance of the dispute, unless it is not possible to quantify the value of the dispute in money
If you not qualify for free of charge legal service, you may qualify for service with reduced legal fees.
Detailed conditions of free of charge or partial paid legal aid are listed in the Act on Legal Aid for People in Material Need.
How to apply for legal aid
To get a state-paid lawyer, you must file a request for legal aid to the Centre for Legal Aid. You must file the request in a timely manner and provide full and truthful information about yourself and your situation.