#2020-1717Decree No. 2020-1717 on Legal Aid and Lawyer Assistance
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This law extends legal aid and legal assistance to individuals in France, establishing criteria for eligibility based on income and resources, while setting a framework for compensation for lawyers involved in legal processes, both jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional. It provides structured guidelines on the retribution rates for lawyers, particularly in family matters, labor disputes, and various civil litigation, emphasizing access to justice for individuals unable to afford legal fees.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Increased income thresholds for eligibility to legal aid programs.
- Detailed compensation schedule for lawyers working under legal aid.
- Provisions for individuals residing in France and non-residents regarding access to legal aid.
Obligations
What this law requires
Lawyers must apply the specified coefficient base rates for legal aid compensation according to the procedure type (e.g., 24 UV for mutual consent divorce by private deed, 30 UV for judicial mutual consent divorce, 34 UV for other divorce cases)
Lawyers must claim cumulative allowances (majorations) for incidents, mediation measures, expert assessments, personal judge verifications, and other investigative measures, up to a maximum of 16 UV per case
Lawyers assisting in family law proceedings (divorce, post-divorce JAF procedures, guardianship, legal protection) must apply the specific coefficient rates established in Table 1 ranging from 10-34 UV depending on procedure type
Lawyers assisting in criminal proceedings (assizes court, correctional court, juvenile court) must apply the coefficient rates specified in Table 2, ranging from 3-50 UV depending on the role (accused, examined person, civil party) and procedure type
Lawyers claiming additional compensation for supplementary half-day court hearings in criminal matters must apply the specified majorations (e.g., 8 UV for assizes court proceedings)