Access to Justice Mission: Free Legal Aid Guide

The fundamental purpose of law is to guarantee the freedom of every individual to seek their rights. However, for many people, the cost of legal proceedings can be a barrier to this fundamental right. Our professional understanding is based on the principle that access to justice should not be constrained by an individual's financial situation.

Our approach is inspired by the professional stance of a 13th century jurist who dedicated his practice to the most vulnerable in society. He provided free legal assistance to the poor, the disenfranchised and orphans, prioritized settlement of disputes through compromise before they went to court, and was known for his integrity. This historical model forms the basis of our efforts to reach out to individuals who are most in need of legal assistance in today's Turkey.

The aim of this page is to provide clear, comprehensible and completely free legal information and guidance to citizens, migrants and refugees living in Turkey who are unable to seek their rights due to financial constraints.

Considering the diversity of legal needs, we offer services through two different support channels:

This service is designed for cases that do not require legal fees or formal representation in court. Our goal is to help you take the first step when you face a legal problem.

• Who Can Benefit?

Citizens of the Republic of Turkey experiencing financial hardship, people who have migrated to Turkey, migrants and individuals with international protection status.

• Scope of Service:

1. Oral and written legal advice.
2. Helping to understand the content of legal documents such as notices, warnings, contracts.
3. General information about your legal rights and obligations.
4. Strategic guidance on the paths to follow in the face of a legal problem.

Where a dispute requires litigation, recourse to Turkey's formal Legal Aid system is mandatory. This system includes the appointment of a state-funded lawyer and exemption from all court costs.

Our role at this point is not to replace the official system, but to guide you to successfully apply to it . We aim to help you understand the application process, prepare the necessary documents and increase the likelihood of your application being accepted.

Legal Aid is a public service established to remove financial obstacles to the freedom to seek rights guaranteed by the Constitution. It ensures access to justice for those who cannot afford to hire a lawyer and cover the costs of the proceedings. This system consists of two basic supports:

• Appointment of a Free Lawyer:

It is provided by the Legal Aid Offices of the Bar Associations.

• Exemption from Judicial Expenses:

It is provided by the court where the case is heard and covers costs such as fees, notification and expert witness fees.

Important Note For comprehensive support, you can usually contact both the Bar Association (for a lawyer) and the Court (for costs) apply separately is required.

Two basic conditions are required to benefit from legal aid:

• Financial Inadequacy:

The applicant was unable to pay the costs of the proceedings without causing substantial hardship to himself and his family.

• Justification of Demand:

The lawsuit or claim must not be "manifestly ill-founded".

The application is submitted to the Legal Aid Office of the relevant Bar Association or to the court where the case will be heard. The most important part of the application is to submit complete documents proving your financial situation and the justification of your claim. The basic documents required are the following (most of which can be obtained through e-Government):

• Photocopy of T.R. Identity Card
• Population Registration Sample (With Proof of Provenance)
• Certificate of Residence
• Real Estate (Tapu) Inquiry Result Registered in Your Name
• Vehicle Registered in Your Name Inquiry Result
• SSI Registration and Service Transcript (Indicating Employment Status)
• Social Assistance Information Inquiry Result
• Existing Documents Related to the Case (Contract, cease and desist letter, petition, etc.)
• Lease Contract (if you are renting)

Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Turkey also have the right to access to justice. Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (LFIP) guarantees their rights.

• Criminal Cases: When a foreign national is suspected of a criminal offense, he or she has the right to request a free lawyer from the bar association, regardless of his or her financial situation.

• Civil Cases: Legal aid in civil cases (divorce, receivables, etc.) is generally subject to the condition of "reciprocity". In other words, the country of citizenship of the person making the request must recognize the same right for Turkish citizens.

• Exception: Reciprocity is not required in cases such as international protection applications, administrative detention or objections to deportation orders .

If you have a legal problem that does not require court proceedings and your financial situation prevents you from seeking professional support, we are here to guide you.

Please briefly summarize your problem in your first message, without sharing personal and confidential information. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible and provide information on how to proceed.