When you Google "free legal advice criminal law", you encounter dozens of ads offering free consultations. Honestly: in criminal law, free defense is rare, limited, and often a signal that something is off.
Let us break down what can actually be free, when to be careful, and what a quality defense really costs. The goal is not to discourage you from free help — sometimes it is legitimate and accessible — but to give you a framework for distinguishing a decent offer from a fraudulent one.
Quick answer: what can actually be free
| Form of help | Genuinely free? | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Ex officio defender (court-appointed) | Often yes for the client, but conditionally | Full defense |
| Free legal clinics organized by the Czech Bar | Yes | 30 min orientation advice |
| Probono Alliance / NGOs | Yes | Assessed by life situation |
| Short orientation call with an attorney | Often yes (5–15 min) | Orientation only, not full advice |
| Ad "free consultation, no commitment" | Often NO — hidden costs or data harvesting | High risk |
The following sections cover each option in detail.
1) Ex officio defender — when the court appoints an attorney
In certain cases the court must appoint a defender who represents the client without their active choice. This is so-called mandatory defense (§ 36 Code of Criminal Procedure) and applies to:
- Custody — the accused is in custody.
- Serious offenses — upper limit of imprisonment over 5 years.
- Juvenile accused.
- Reduced cognitive or volitional ability (mental illness, disability).
- Foreigner who does not understand the language.
- Proceedings after final conviction (e.g., retrial).
Important:
- Ex officio defender is not a free choice — the court appoints them, often from a Czech Bar district roster.
- Not automatically free — defense costs are awarded to the state for reimbursement in case of conviction (potentially tens of thousands of CZK).
- If acquitted, ex officio costs are usually covered by the state.
- Free defense can be claimed by a client in material need — the court decides on state reimbursement.
If you have a choice, you can request your own attorney instead of ex officio. Quality often increases — ex officio is busy with standard rosters and has less time for your case.
2) Free legal clinics of the Czech Bar Association
The Czech Bar Association (ČAK) organizes free clinics open to any citizen. They serve for:
- orientation consultation (30 minutes),
- recommendation of the next step,
- referral to a specialized attorney, if the case requires long-term defense.
Clinic directories are at cak.cz in the section "Free Legal Clinics". Sessions typically happen 1–2× monthly in selected cities.
What to not expect from a clinic:
- they will not take over your case (only advise where to go next),
- they will not prepare documents (only point you in the direction),
- they will not represent you in court.
3) Probono Alliance and NGOs
Some NGOs specialize in free legal aid for people in life difficulty:
- Probono Alliance (probonoaliance.cz) — help for victims of crime and people in difficult social situations.
- Iuridicum Remedium (iure.cz) — protection of fundamental human rights.
- White Circle of Safety — for victims of crime, not perpetrators.
Assessment is individual — NGOs typically help when:
- the client lacks resources for an attorney,
- the case has legal precedent or systemic significance,
- it concerns a victim of crime (not defending a perpetrator).
4) Short orientation call with an attorney
Many attorneys (including our office) offer a short orientation contact free of charge — 5–15 minutes by phone. The goal is to:
- determine whether your case falls within our specialization,
- give first general orientation,
- agree on a possible full consultation.
You cannot expect:
- a legal opinion on your case,
- a specific strategy,
- a legal review of documents.
That is already a paid service — it requires detailed engagement with the case.
5) Why an attorney usually cannot provide full advice for free
There are structural reasons why qualified advice in criminal law is not given for free:
1. Liability and insurance
Every attorney has mandatory professional liability insurance (§ 24 of the Advocacy Act). When giving advice, they are legally responsible for it — the insurance premium is paid from fees. No income means no insured service.
2. Czech Bar ethical code
The professional regulations require attorneys to charge fair compensation. A permanent free-for-all offer could conflict with ethical rules.
3. Quality requires time
Criminal defense requires deep understanding of context — case circumstances, evidence, legal specifics. This cannot fit into a 5-minute call. A full consultation = 60+ minutes plus preparation.
4. The value of the work
In criminal law the stakes are human liberty. A client sentenced to 3 years unconditionally vs. probation experiences a vast difference between "decent" and "excellent" defense. The value of good advice is high — that is why it is charged.
5 risks of suspicious free offers
Red flags to watch for:
Risk 1: Data harvesting for marketing
"Free consultation" by filling in a form. You enter detailed info about your situation → the call from the "law firm" is a sales rep selling expensive "defense" of dubious quality. Often it is lead generation for an external firm for a commission.
How to spot it: Anonymous forms without a specific named attorney. Pages without a Czech Bar license number (verifiable in the attorney directory at cak.cz).
Risk 2: Hidden follow-up costs
The first consultation is "free", but by signing you accept a framework contract in which all further acts are billed without transparency. Weeks later a bill for 50,000 CZK arrives for "preparatory work" you never approved.
How to spot it: Insist on a written price agreement before any work begins. Demand the scope of "free" clearly defined (e.g., "first 30 minutes of consultation free, further acts 2,500 CZK/h").
Risk 3: Unqualified "adviser"
The internet is full of "legal specialists" and "advisers" who are not attorneys. They may perform limited acts but cannot represent you in criminal court proceedings and lack professional liability insurance.
How to spot it: Verify the Czech Bar license of the specific attorney at cak.cz. If the page does not list the named attorney + Czech Bar ID, it is a warning sign.
Risk 4: Cross-sell / upsell tactics
The free consultation as a psychological hook: after 30 minutes you have invested time, feel committed, the attorney confidently outlines a strategy and recommends a paid "comprehensive package" for 80,000 CZK payable immediately. Pressure for a quick decision.
How to spot it: Insist on a written offer with a 7-day cooling-off period. A decent attorney will give the client space. A request for immediate signature is a warning sign.
Risk 5: Phishing and fraudulent sites
Fake websites mimicking a "law firm" harvest personal data, copies of IDs, bank account details — then misuse them for fraud (identity theft, unauthorized withdrawals, opening credit lines).
How to spot it: No legitimate attorney needs a copy of your ID or bank details as part of a "free consultation". Copy the Czech Bar ID and verify it at cak.cz — if no such attorney exists, it is fraud. Report it to the cybercrime police.
What does a quality defense actually cost
Our office has transparent pricing:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| First legal consultation (flat fee, not time-limited) | 1,800 CZK |
| Standard hourly rate | 2,500 CZK/hour |
| Further defense services (filings, representation, strategy preparation) | individual per case |
Credit-back of the first consultation: If we subsequently provide legal services on the topic discussed at the first consultation, the paid consultation is credited back into the further work. The first consultation is thus effectively free if the client continues with us.
Why we do not offer "free consultation up front":
- The first consultation is not time-limited — you get as much space as your case needs. This is only feasible in a paid format.
- We maintain quality of defense advice — we insure it and prepare for it thoroughly.
- A client who pays for the consultation gets full attention and a complete legal opinion — not a marketing pitch.
- If the client continues with the office, the consultation is effectively free (via credit-back).
The price of the defense itself always depends on complexity, scope of evidence, and stage of proceedings (preparatory/main hearing/appeal). It is agreed in writing in advance in a framework contract so the client knows what to expect.
If you have material need, you can apply for state-covered defense or an ex officio defender — see above.
It pays off to invest in quality defense — the difference between probation and unconditional sentence is measured in years of human life, not in money.
How to proceed if you need help and lack resources
- Czech Bar free clinic — orientation, recommendation (cak.cz).
- Probono Alliance — help for people in difficult situations (probonoaliance.cz).
- Apply for an ex officio defender — the court decides upon initiation of criminal prosecution or on the defendant's request.
- Apply for state-covered defense — § 33/2 of the Criminal Procedure Code — if you document your social situation.
If you need qualified defense and want transparent pricing, our office will gladly share an approximate range for your case before any cooperation starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does free legal aid exist in criminal proceedings?
Yes, but it is limited. Full free defense is realistically possible only through an ex officio defender (court-appointed) in mandatory defense cases, or by applying for state-covered defense in material need. Free clinics of the Czech Bar and NGOs (Probono Alliance) offer a short orientation (30 min), not a full defense.
What is an ex officio defender and who qualifies?
An ex officio defender is an attorney appointed by the court in mandatory defense cases (§ 36 CPC) — typically when the accused is in custody, juvenile, a foreigner who does not understand the language, or it is a serious offense with an upper limit of imprisonment over 5 years. Ex officio costs are awarded to the state for reimbursement on conviction (client pays). On acquittal or proven material need, the state pays.
When is a free consultation offer suspicious?
Warning signs: anonymous forms without a named attorney and Czech Bar license number; promises of immediate solutions; requests for a copy of your ID or bank details as part of a "free consultation"; a framework contract signed before the price is clear; cross-sell to a paid package without a written offer; pressure to decide immediately. Always verify the attorney's Czech Bar license at cak.cz.
How much does criminal defense actually cost?
In our office: first legal consultation 1,800 CZK (flat fee, not time-limited), standard hourly rate 2,500 CZK/hour, further services individual per case under a written framework agreement. If the client continues with the office, the first consultation is credited back into further work — effectively free. The final defense price depends on complexity, scope of evidence, and stage of proceedings (preparatory/ main hearing/appeal). The value of good defense is high — the difference between probation and an unconditional sentence is measured in years of human life.
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