You can get a lawyer free of charge from the Public Defender’s Office in the following order:
According to Article 41 of the RA Law on Advocacy, public defense is the free legal aid in the matters provided by this article.
Free legal aid involves:
1) advice: composing applications, appeals and other legal procedural documents, including provision of legal information,
2) representation or defense on criminal, civil, administrative and constitutional cases,
According to this article the representation or defense is implemented on criminal cases at pre-trial proceedings, in the RA Courts of First Instances, in the Court of Cassation and in the Court of Appeals, as well as in the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia.
The body carrying out criminal proceedings, provides free legal aid through the Public Defender’s Office, in the cases ensured by the RA legislation or international agreements, or if it is required by the interests of Justice.
Besides providing legal aid to the suspected or accused on criminal cases, the Public Defender’s Office provides free legal aid to the following people:
1) the family members of a serviceman who was killed(died) while protecting the borders of the Republic of Armenia,
2) the invalids of the 1st and 2nd disability groups,
3) prisoners,
4) the members of the family who have an insecurity score higher than 0, registered in the family insecurity assessment system
5) the participants of the military operations during the Great Patriotic War and defense of the borders of the Republic of Armenia
6) unemployed people,
7) retired people who live alone,
8) children without parental care,
9) refugees,
10) those who have a temporary asylum in the Republic of Armenia,
11) those who are not able to pay and who can present reliable data proving it. This refers to individuals who do not have enough income, or a working person living with them, as well as any real estate or a vehicle worth more than a thousand times the minimum wage, except the flat.
12) people with mental disorders who are treated in psychiatric organizations,
13) people who are recognized as victims of trafficking and exploitation by the identification commission.
The above mentioned persons cannot get a free legal aid:
1) on the cases of entrepreneurial nature, including corporate disputes.
2) on the cases where more than a thousand times the minimum wage is required, except for the cases where the person acts as a defendant or a third person on the defendant’s side.
3) If there are reliable factual data denying the insolvency of the applicant.
