In the process of harmonizing domestic legislation with acquis communautaire of the European Union, in Chapter 23 “Judiciary and Fundamental Human Rights“, on 16 May 2008 the Croatian Parliament adopted the Legal Aid Act (LAA) which, in its most important part, has been implemented since 1 February 2009.
The purpose of adopting the LAA was to render possible access to professional legal aid to citizens in poor financial situation in order to exercise certain right as well as to ensure equal access to court and other state administration bodies.
Civil society organizations, the Croatian Bar Association, legal experts,International organizations and beneficiaries themselves have been regularly warning about the problems in the functioning of the newly established legal aid system in the Republic of Croatia.