State-provided legal assistance

The state provides legal aid in Constitutional Court proceedings if the person submits a constitutional complaint (application) to the Constitutional Court, with the Constitutional Court having decided to reject the case in question, stating the absence of legal grounds or the clear insufficiency of its legal grounds to satisfy the claim as the sole reason for the rejection.

A person wishing to receive legal aid submits to the Legal Aid Administration an application for legal aid in Constitutional Court proceedings, filling in a legal aid request form, no less than two months before the expiry of the deadline set for the submission of the constitutional complaint. The application must include the decision of the Constitutional Court and documents confirming the right of the person to request and receive legal aid provided by the state.

The state provides legal consulting and aid in the drafting of proceedings documents and at court hearings.

The person must prepare their initial constitutional complaint (application) themselves. Advice on the preparation of a constitutional complaint (application) can be received at the Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Latvia (Baznīcas iela 25, Riga, phone 67686768).

Recommendations for the preparation of a constitutional complaint developed by the Constitutional Court are available on the website of the Constitutional Court, at http://www.satv.tiesa.gov.lv/ieteikumi-konstitucionalas-sudzibas-sagatavosanai.

A constitutional complaint (application) may be submitted to the Constitutional Court within six months after the violation of basic rights took place, or after the last last-instance ruling took effect.