Free legal aid, free civic counseling and mediation points run by the Youth People Foundation in 2023. 

Pursuant to the Act of August 5, 2015 on free legal aid, free civic counseling and legal education, services will be provided to any natural person who declares that he is unable to bear the costs of paid legal aid.

Free legal aid and free citizen counseling include: 

• informing the entitled person about the applicable legal status, 
  about her rights or obligations, including in connection with pending preparatory, administrative, court or administrative court proceedings; 

• indicating to the entitled person how to solve his legal problem 

• drawing up a draft letter on matters referred to in Art. 3 sec. 1 point 1 and 2 of the Act of August 5, 2015 on free legal assistance, free civic counseling and legal education (Journal of Laws 
  of 2017, item 2030, as amended d.), excluding pleadings 
  in pending preparatory or court proceedings and pleadings 
  in pending administrative court proceedings; 

• drawing up a draft letter for exemption from court costs 
  or appointment of an official attorney in court proceedings 
  or appointment of an attorney, legal advisor, tax advisor 
  or a patent attorney in administrative court proceedings; 

• informing the entitled person about the applicable legal status 
  and the possibility of using amicable dispute resolution methods, in particular mediation; 

• drawing up a mediation agreement or request for mediation; 

• preparation of a draft application for mediation in a criminal case; 

• mediation; 

• providing assistance in preparing a court application for approval of a settlement concluded before a mediator; 

• citizen advice; 

• Citizens’ advice with the preparation of an action plan together with the entitled person 

• providing an authorized person with information about other units of free counseling referred to in art. 5 sec. 4 of the Act of August 5, 2015 on free legal aid, free civic counseling and legal education in the following counseling areas: family counseling, psychological counseling, pedagogical counseling, social assistance, solving alcohol problems and other addictions, counteracting domestic violence, counseling in as part of crisis intervention, consumer rights, children’s rights, patient’s rights, social security law, tax law, labor law, for the unemployed, for people in disputes with financial market entities, for crime victims and others. 

Free legal aid does not include business related matters, except preparation for the start of business. 

HOW, WHERE AND WHEN 

The condition for using free legal assistance or free civic counseling is making an appointment by phone. Advice is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. A pregnant woman is advised out of sequence. 

People with significant motor disabilities who cannot appear in person, and people experiencing difficulties in communication, referred to in the Act of August 19, 2011 on sign language and other means of communication (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 1824), free legal aid or free civic counseling may be provided, excluding free mediation, also outside the point or via means of distance communication. 

Before obtaining free legal aid or free citizen counseling, you must make a written declaration that you cannot afford to pay for legal aid. The statement should be forwarded to the person providing assistance. Moreover, each case of providing assistance is documented by the person who provides such assistance with the help of an information card. The card contains information on how to provide legal aid and anonymous data about the person who benefited from the assistance. 

In 2023, the Youth People Foundation runs points of free legal aid, points of free civic counseling and mediation in the following poviats and cities with poviat status: 

1. Poviat Brzeziński – voivodeship łódzkie 

2. Poviat Głubczycki – voivodeship opolskie

3. Poviat Kluczborski – voivodeship opolskie

4. City of Łódź 

5. Poviat Łódzki Wschodni – voivodeship łódzkie

6. Poviat Łukowski – voivodeship lubelskie

7. Poviat Opolski (Opole Lubelskie) – voivodeship lubelskie

8. City of Piotrków Trybunalski 

9. Poviat Pabianicki – voivodeship łódzkie

10. Poviat Pajęczański – voivodeship łódzkie

11. Poviat Sieradzki – voivodeship łódzkie

12. Poviat Sochaczewski – voivodeship mazowieckie

13. Poviat Skierniewicki – voivodeship łódzkie 

14. Poviat Tomaszowski – voivodeship łódzkie

15. Poviat Nyski – voivodeship opolskie

16. Poviat Wieruszowski – voivodeship łódzkie

17. Poviat Włoszczowski – voivodeship świętokrzyskie 

18. Poviat Zduńskowolski – voivodeship łódzkie 

19. Poviat Zgierski – voivodeship łódzkie 

A detailed list of points of free legal aid and free civic counseling along with their locations, operating hours and contact telephone numbers for making appointments is available on our Facebook page. 

Free helpline for people who want to take advantage of free counseling at points run by the Young People Foundation – telephone 519-686-888 

ATTENTION! 

In connection with the amendment to the Act of August 5, 2015 on free legal aid, free civic counseling and legal education, in accordance with Art. 4 (1) of the above-mentioned of the Act, free legal aid and free civic counseling are available to a person who is unable to bear the costs of paid legal aid, including a natural person running a sole proprietorship who does not employ other persons in the last year, who submits a relevant declaration. 

Before obtaining free legal aid or free civic counseling, the entitled person submits a written declaration that no is able to bear the costs of legal aid. A person using free legal aid or free civic counseling in the field of business activity additionally submits a declaration of not employing other people during the last year. The declaration shall be submitted to a person providing free legal aid or providing free civic counseling.