In a bid to enhance access to justice for citizens, a group of 15 judges from North Macedonia strengthened their knowledge of the free legal aid framework and improved their skills in applying free legal aid standards within civil and administrative procedures. Supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe, the capacity-building session was held at the premises of the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors. In addition to the judges, the event also brought together six representatives from the Ministry of Justice and its Regional Offices, as well as representatives from legal clinics and the lawyers.

An experienced local Council of Europe consultant led the training through a combination of presentations, case studies, and group case-based discussions. Participants examined the scope and key principles of the Law on Free Legal Aid, eligibility criteria, and the practical responsibilities of courts in free legal aid procedures. Special emphasis was placed on applying theoretical concepts to real-life legal scenarios, including issues related to costs, expert witnesses, and representation.

Participants also discussed leading ECtHR judgments such as Airey v. Ireland, Kreuz v. Poland, and Steel and Morris v. the United Kingdom, exploring their implications for ensuring effective access to court in national practice.

The activity contributed to strengthening the capacity of judges to apply both domestic legislation and European human rights standards, ultimately supporting improved access to justice for vulnerable groups in North Macedonia.

This training was organised in co-operation with Academy for judges and public prosecutors within the framework of the action “Towards a Consolidated and More Efficient Free Legal Aid (FLA) System in North Macedonia”, part of the of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.