On December 5, at the LAS Imereti-Zestaphoni Legal Aid Bureau, the press conference was organized as a part of the ongoing PR campaign. All statistical data, success stories and beneficiaries who received the advocacy service of the public defenders during 10-year work of Legal Aid Service were presented at the conference.
From the beginning, a pilot project had been implemented in Tbilisi and Zestaphoni where 2 legal aid bureaus were set up. This lasted in 2005-2007. On the basis of the pilot project results the decision was made to activate free legal aid service throughout the whole country.
In 2007, the Law on Legal Aid was adopted that became the ground to establish Legal Aid Service. For the past 10 years, the Service has constantly been developing. The Service made all efforts to increase accessibility of free legal aid services. Today the organization is represented by its 12 bureaus and 7 consultation centers. Moreover, the Service is expanding its mandate almost every year. In 2015, the mandate started covering some categories of cases of civil and administrative law – protection of minor accused, victims and witnesses, the advocacy representation regarding cases of recognition of a person as the recipient of support.
During the past 10 years, Legal Aid Service rendered free consultation to hundreds of thousand people. The LAS Imereti-Kutaisi Bureau itself assisted many citizens. The Bureau rendered 10 000 consultations during the past years and provided advocacy representation on up to 2 000 criminal and civil cases.
Legal Aid Service continues to develop and plans to make further efforts to improve its services. Namely, the mandate of the Service will be expanded and cover new categories of civil law. Besides, the organization plans to implement online consultation service that enables the population to receive answers to their legal questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pmPK8B61pU&feature=share