An issue of concern to many

Free legal assistance: is it realistic to get it in Dubna?

The services of lawyers, as we know, are not cheap. Meanwhile, not only citizens with high incomes sometimes need the assistance of legal specialists. Who is entitled to free legal assistance and what options are there for the citizens of Dubna to get it?

The Law "On Free Legal Aid in the Russian Federation" was adopted in 2011. And at the regional level, in 2013, the Law "On the Provision of Free Legal Aid in the Moscow Region" was approved. These legal acts establish 11 categories of citizens entitled to free legal assistance: those whose average per capita income is below the subsistence minimum; disabled people of I and II groups; disabled children and orphans; adoptive parents; elderly people living in residential care homes; citizens affected by emergency situations; deceived participants of shared ownership construction and others.

The legislation also establishes the grounds on which the categories of citizens listed above can apply for free legal assistance. A total of 18 items, including: transactions with real estate and registration of rights to it; registration of rights to land plots; protection of consumer rights in terms of providing medical and municipal services; labor issues and appointment of unemployment benefits; measures of social support and payment of pensions; collection of alimony; restoration of property rights, others.

In addition, the regional resolution on measures to implement the Law of the Moscow Region "On the provision of free legal aid" contains a list of state institutions that are part of the system of free legal aid. In our city, this is Dubna State University.

Dubna State University does not advertise the fact that it has the right to provide free legal assistance to citizens. According to witnesses that have once applied to the University on legal issues, the possibilities of the educational institution are very limited. Aid and advice in legal matters on a voluntary basis can be provided by the students of the Law department. However, they are unlikely to cope with complex legal topics. Experienced teaching staff is not involved in consulting; probably, there are neither organizational nor financial opportunities for this.

In addition, Dubna State University, as we know, has moved from regional to federal subordination. Formally, the University still appears in the latest edition of the regional list of organizations authorized to provide free legal assistance, but it can be assumed that its exclusion from the regional list is only a matter of time.

As we can see, opportunities to get free legal aid in our city are limited, if not absent. For today, perhaps, the only option is to use the services of the State Public Institution (SPU) of the Moscow Region "Gosurburo" (State Law Office). For a face-to-face consultation, you will have to go to one of its four reception centres - in Krasnogorsk, Odintsovo, Reutovo or Vlasikha. State Law Office periodically holds on-site appointments in cities near Moscow. However, according to the schedule on the organization's website, no such consultations are scheduled to be held in Dubna until at least early May. The schedule has been published until April incl. On 9 March, on-site reception was held in Taldom, on 4 April it will be held in Dmitrov.

You can make an appointment on the State Law Office website and to do it, one needs to fill out an online application. In addition, documents confirming that the applicant belongs to the category of citizens eligible for free legal services will be required.

Dmitry SOLDATENKOV