More than 1,000 people have applied for free legal aid since January, the justice ministry says. Over the same period, the National Legal Aid Bureau reviewed and paid 19,740 lawyers' bills.

The justice minister sets state policy on legal aid, while local bar councils organize it on the ground. The ministry lists who qualifies for free legal defense: people with no income or low income, people on social benefits, and children. People with disabilities also qualify, as do victims of domestic or sexual violence, victims of human trafficking, foreign nationals, and people seeking international protection.

The aid covers more than court representation, the ministry says. It also includes legal advice, help preparing documents for a case or an administrative procedure, representation outside court, and a lawyer's help if someone is detained. For unaccompanied children seeking international protection, legal aid is mandatory, and the National Legal Aid Bureau assigns them a lawyer.

Under the Legal Aid Act, the state can provide a lawyer for people who meet the law's conditions and can't afford one themselves. The law was published 21 years ago today.

Bar associations run 27 regional centers across Bulgaria, where people with incomes below the poverty line get free legal advice. Since 2013, a national legal aid hotline has also run on 0700 18 250, taking calls on weekdays from 9am to 5pm.

Lawyers on the National Legal Aid Register provide this help.

In September, ombudswoman Velislava Delcheva said few people recognize the signs of domestic violence. More than 5,000 protection orders were issued in Bulgaria in 2025.