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.

Link to the DPC/DGREF website

Reports

CONTACTS

Moritz Taylor

Project coordinator
+33 (0)3 88 90 21 44 90

News

Back CALL FOR PROPOSALS: IMPLEMENTING A PILOT PROJECT OFFERING PRIMARY LEGAL AID IN THREE LOCATIONS IN LATVIA (DEADLINE EXTENDED)

Iuliia TKACHENKO

Modified 3 Years ago.

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 detailed description of the terms of reference of the future pilot project on legal aid is provided under the ANNEX IV of this call. We encourage lawyers’ offices and NGOs with relevant experiences to apply.

The objective of the pilot project is to provide primary legal aid, with the aim of increasing access to justice in Latvia. The project should be implemented in three locations for 10 weeks.

The deadline for applications is 5 June at 17.00 CET, with the start of the agreement envisioned to be 15 June following the signing of the Grant agreement.

HOW TO APPLY?

Applicants are required to read all documents related to the call carefully, with Annex IV providing detailed terms of reference for the pilot project.

Documents: Call for proposals (REVISED), Annex I Application Form, Annex II Estimated Budget, Annex III Financial Report, Annex IV Terms of Reference of the future pilot project on legal aid, Template Grant Agreement (for information only).

Documents to be submitted:

The completed and signed Application Form (See Annex I), with a copy of the document provided in Word;
A provisional budget (using the template reproduced in Annex II), with a copy of the budget provided in Excel;
CVs of the proposed coordinators and participants/mentors;
Document certifying the registration of the non-profit entity;
Bank/financial statements authorised by a financial officer of the applicant.

The completed application form and supporting documents must be submitted in electronic form to the following e-mail address: [email protected]. Emails should contain the following reference in subject: Legal Aid pilot project.

Applications must be received before 5 June 2023 (at 17.00 CET). Late applications will not be considered.

Other questions :

Other questions regarding this specific call for proposals must be sent at the latest one week before the deadline for the submission of proposals (29 May 2023), in English, and shall be exclusively sent to the following address: [email protected], with the following reference in subject: Question - Legal Aid Grant.

The activity will be carried out in the context of the Project “Strengthening access to justice in Latvia through fostering mediation and legal aid services (Phase II).” The project is funded by the EU via the Technical Project Instrument of the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Commission.

Latvia 16 May 2023