At 8:00 that day, four free legal assistance points began operating, available to eligible residents of Legnica. Points 1 and 2 (Legnica, 38 Kościuszki Street) will be open Monday to Friday from 8:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00.
Points 3 and 4 (Legnica, 8 Witelona Street) will be open Monday to Friday from 8:00–16:00.
Free legal assistance at the points at 8 Witelona Street will be provided in person by an advocate or legal adviser and, in particularly justified cases, by a trainee advocate or trainee legal adviser acting under their authorisation.

At the points operated by non-governmental organisations at 38 Kościuszki Street, advice may also be provided by tax advisers—in matters of tax law, excluding tax matters related to conducting business activity—and by graduates of higher legal studies who have at least three years of experience performing activities requiring legal knowledge and directly related to providing legal assistance.

Who is entitled to free legal assistance?

The Act provides that free legal assistance (at the pre-trial stage) will be available to:

  • young people up to 26 years of age
  • individuals who, during the preceding year, were granted a social assistance benefit under the Social Assistance Act
  • people who have reached the age of 65
  • people holding a valid Large Family Card
  • combatants
  • veterans
  • people at risk from or affected by a natural disaster, natural calamity or technical failure.

What does free legal assistance cover?

Legal assistance will consist of:

  • informing the eligible person about the applicable legal situation, their rights or obligations
  • indicating how to resolve the legal problem concerning them
  • assistance in preparing a draft document requiring legal knowledge, to the extent necessary to provide assistance, excluding pleadings in preparatory or court proceedings and documents in administrative court proceedings
  • preparing a draft application for exemption from court costs or for the appointment of a court-appointed representative.

What areas of law will free legal assistance cover?

Eligible persons will be able to obtain information concerning:

  • employment law
  • preparation for starting business activity
  • civil law
  • criminal matters
  • administrative matters
  • social security
  • family matters
  • tax law, excluding tax matters related to conducting business activity.

However, the assistance will not cover matters involving customs, foreign exchange or commercial law, or business activity, except for preparation to start such activity.

How can you prove your entitlement to free legal assistance?

An eligible person proves their entitlement to free legal assistance by:

  • presenting the original or a copy of the decision granting a social assistance benefit, or a certificate confirming the granting of the benefit referred to in Article 106(2) of the Act of 12 March 2004 on social assistance, or
  • presenting a valid Large Family Card referred to in the Act of 5 December 2014 on the Large Family Card, or
  • presenting the certificate referred to in the Act of 24 January 1991 on combatants and certain persons who were victims of wartime and post-war repression, or
  • presenting a valid veteran’s card or injured veteran’s card referred to in the Act of 19 August 2011 on veterans of operations outside the borders of the state, or
  • presenting an identity document.

UM Legnica/ii