Legal Aid and Reforms in Bulgaria: Highlights from Georgiev

A 50% increase in funds for free legal aid for the most vulnerable citizens is among the highlights of Bulgaria's reform efforts this year. This was stated by the Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev during the global meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which took place in Madrid, according to a press release from the Ministry of Justice.

The Minister took part in a dialogue of justice leaders, where he met with fellow ministers and representatives of the judicial systems of over 40 countries. He presented the country's progress within the framework of the process of joining the OECD, holding a meeting with the Deputy Secretary-General of the organization, Mari Beth Goodman. At the meeting, Georgiev expressed gratitude for the recognition of the positive results reflected in the latest rule of law report. He also introduced the relevant director in the European Commission (EC), Anne Gallego, to the latest reforms undertaken by the Bulgarian government.

Over 60,000 cases a year are covered by the activity of the lawyers working with the National Legal Aid Bureau, who provide consultations and legal support, Georgiev emphasized. In addition, together with the bar associations in the regional cities, regional centers for free legal aid are being created.

The focus is on victims of domestic violence, who, in addition to legal aid, also receive psychological support, as well as free accommodation in crisis centers, as part of the state support, Georgiev said, according to the official statement.

Also, from July 1 this year, the digitalization of the order procedure has been introduced, with 94% of the applications now being submitted online. This is the result of the large-scale reform and the construction of an electronic system in the Bulgarian courts, which was completed in the summer. In 2024, newly filed order cases reached nearly 190,000, representing more than 50% of all cases in the district courts, the minister added.

Georgiev explained that the statistical data for the period from July 2025 to date show that the new automated method of distribution of order cases supports their even distribution in all district courts. Before the reform, some courts were loaded seven times more than others. The goal is to gradually reduce this difference, the Minister of Justice explained.

"In the last year, we have achieved the creation of a fully digitized process. It overcomes the imbalance in the workload of the courts and relieves the judges in the larger cities, makes the court proceedings more efficient, reduces costs, eliminates the risk of corruption," Georgiev emphasized.

At an event held at the end of October, in connection with Bulgaria's path to the OECD, Georgi Georgiev highlighted key legal reforms aimed at improving the business environment. Among them are mandatory mediation, including in commercial cases, legislation on personal bankruptcy, changes in legislation in the field of insolvency and liquidation of companies, digitalization in the distribution of court cases, as well as a law on lobbying, which is to be presented in the near future.