Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services (Phase II)
December 2021 – March 2024
Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services
(Phase II)
This Project is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Commission.
Context of the project
The project “Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services” builds upon another project successfully implemented by CEPEJ and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) between 2019-2021. Following the experts’ assessment report and recommendations that were formulated during this previous phase, this project aims to support the development of an effective preliminary legal aid mechanism in Latvia while encouraging recourse to mediation.
Project’s objectives
The project’s first objective is widening the scope, availability, and quality of state ensured legal aid in Latvia. In addition, it aims to increase the awareness of and recourse to mediation in Latvia as a means of conflict resolution.
Expected Results
The preliminary legal aid system, which would refer persons to the specific type of legal advice they require, will work using a new model specifically adapted to its national context using a combination of European good practices, and experience from the previous project. A module to train frontline advisers that will provide preliminary legal aid and have the capacity to refer cases to mediation when appropriate, will exist. A quality assurance mechanism will have been developed that enables efficient monitoring of the quality of the provided legal aid services. Lastly, specific groups will be identified for targeted campaigns to raise awareness on the advantages of mediation as an alternative method to judicial dispute resolution.
Main activities
- Report and recommendations on the establishment of quality standards and a quality assurance mechanism for state ensured legal aid, also considering an increased recourse to mediation
- Offering capacity building activities for those involved in providing legal aid by developing and testing a training programme in various focus areas including mediation
- Design, implementation, and analysis of a pilot project using a tailored preliminary legal aid mechanism that considers the possible recourse to mediation. The quality assurance mechanism and training module above will also be tested.
- Report and recommendations on how mediation can be promoted strategically, according to the needs of specific target groups, and development of materials for a communication and public awareness campaign
Project beneficiaries and stakeholders
The main partners of the project are the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Aid Administration of Latvia, the Council of Certified Mediators, and the Judicial Training Centre.
Pilot project on primary legal aid in Latvia : closing event
In the framework of the project “Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services (Phase II),” the CEPEJ and Latvian authorities ran a pilot project from 2 October to 8 December 2023 on offering state-ensured primary legal aid on matters in various...
Pilot project on primary legal aid in Latvia: training for providers
In the framework of the project “Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services (Phase II),” funded by the EU via the Technical Support Instrument of the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European...
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: IMPLEMENTING A PILOT PROJECT OFFERING PRIMARY LEGAL AID IN THREE LOCATIONS IN LATVIA (DEADLINE EXTENDED)
This call for proposals is launched in the context of the joint EU/CoE cooperation project "Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services (Phase II)" for the implementation of a pilot project offering primary legal aid in three locations in Latvia. A...
CEPEJ Workshops with stakeholders on mediation and legal aid in Latvia
In order to raise awareness on mediation and introduce a state-ensured primary legal aid service, from 18-21 October 2022, the CEPEJ carried out a series of workshops with Latvian stakeholders including competent professionals such as social and municipal centres, NGOs, the Council of Certified...
Call for tenders for national experts on legal aid and mediation in Latvia
In the framework of the Project “Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services (Phase II)” funded by the European Union and Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe, the Council of Europe is looking for providers of intellectual...
Call for tenders for the provision of intellectual services related to legal aid in Latvia
In the framework of the Project “Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services (Phase II)” funded by the European Union and Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe, the Council of Europe is looking for providers of intellectual...
Collaborative workspaces: