SOFIA, May 31, 2025 — Bulgaria’s lawyers will go on a nationwide strike starting June 1, halting appointments of official and reserve defense attorneys, duty attorneys, and special representatives, in protest against stalled legal aid reforms and insufficient remuneration.
The announcement was made on Friday during a press conference held in Sofia, with representatives of the Supreme Bar Council and regional bar associations in attendance.
The protest has gained widespread support from bar associations across the country, with expectations that almost all legal unions will join the strike, Nova TV reported.
At the heart of the strike lies long-standing discontent among legal professionals over what they describe as the government’s persistent neglect of the legal aid system.
Lawyers argue that the current regulatory framework severely underfunds legal aid services, leaving attorneys with meager compensation for essential work, particularly in criminal and civil cases involving vulnerable populations.
“Justice cannot be delivered if the people tasked with defending rights are themselves denied fair treatment,” said a spokesperson for the Supreme Bar Council. “We have warned the authorities for years, but the time for talk is over. This strike is our last resort.”
The lawyers’ strike is expected to significantly impact Bulgaria’s judicial system, with delays likely in criminal proceedings, detentions, and civil cases requiring appointed counsel.
In many instances, courts rely heavily on duty attorneys or special representatives to ensure the right to defense is upheld, particularly for defendants unable to hire private legal counsel.
The protest comes amid growing frustration within the legal community over the Ministry of Justice’s perceived inaction. Although officials had previously acknowledged the need for reform, little progress has been made in updating the outdated regulations governing legal aid payment.
In a move seen as a response to the mounting pressure, Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev announced on Friday that his ministry had submitted for approval a draft amendment to the Regulation on the Payment of Legal Aid.
The proposed amendment includes an increase in remuneration for legal aid work, effective from early 2026.
“Legal professionals deserve compensation that reflects the value and difficulty of their work,” Minister Georgiev stated. “The draft amendment is designed to address these concerns in a sustainable and fair manner.”
However, many in the legal community have expressed skepticism about the government’s promises, citing a lack of concrete action in previous years. They argue that proposed increases are insufficient and too far off to address the current crisis in the legal aid system.
“The time frame is unacceptable,” said one attorney from Plovdiv. “We need immediate reform, not vague promises for next year. The justice system is in crisis now.”
The lawyers’ strike marks one of the most significant nationwide protests in Bulgaria’s legal sector in recent years.
As tensions rise, all eyes will be on the government to see whether it can avert a prolonged disruption of the judicial process or risk further erosion of trust between legal professionals and state institutions.