Pro Bono Practice and Opportunities in Lithuania

The provision of legal services in Lithuania is primarily regulated by Republic of Lithuania Law on the Bar (Law on the Bar) ^[1] and Lithuanian Code of Ethics for Advocates (Ethics Code).^[2]

To practice law as an advocate, an individual must meet several licensing requirements:

• they must be a natural person from Lithuania or an EU member state; at least five years of legal experience or a two-year apprenticeship as an advocate’s assistant;
• hold a law degree (either a bachelor’s and master’s or a unified law degree);
• demonstrate good repute;
• have a t least five years of legal experience or a two – year apprenticeship as an advocate’s assistant;
• be proficient in the Lithuanian language, and;
• pass the Lithuanian Bar Association’s (the Bar) qualification exam. Additionally, they must be admitted to the Bar.

Advocates are subject to strict ethical rules, including confidentiality, conflict of interest restrictions, and professional independence requirements.^[3] Only registered advocates can represent clients in court, except in certain first instance cases.^[4]

In contrast, in-house lawyers do not need to be licensed advocates and are not required to be members of the Bar. Instead, they are employed by companies or organisations under standard employment contracts and may only provide legal services exclusively to their employer. Unlike independent advocates, in-house lawyers do not have the same level of professional independence and cannot represent external clients in legal proceedings.

As such, in-house lawyers’ pro bono services are guided by internal company policies and are often limited as pro bono services typically require involvement of a law firm or non-governmental organization.

Further, the law is silent on provision of pro-bono legal services by in-house lawyers.

According to article 4(5) of Law on the Bar “an advocate shall be entitled to provide legal services free of charge, i.e. to provide legal aid.”^[5] However, there is no official explanation of what it means to provide legal services free of charge, including the scope, conditions, procedures, and when an advocate is allowed to offer such services.

There are no explicit regulations in Lithuania that either promote or limit the provision of pro bono legal services. Notably, there are no mandatory or minimum fees imposed on legal services that would restrict advocates from offering their services free of charge.

No, lawyers in Lithuania do not need a separate license to provide pro bono legal services beyond the standard qualifications required to practice law. However, only licensed advocates can represent clients in court, regardless of whether the service is provided pro bono or for a fee.

Under the Law on the Bar, there is no separate or special “pro bono license.” However, any lawyer qualified outside of Lithuania (and outside the EU, i.e., from a “third country”) who wishes to provide any legal services in Lithuania (including pro bono) must first be registered on the Bar’s list of third-country lawyers.

In other words, the law does not distinguish between paid or pro bono services. As soon as a foreign-qualified lawyer wants to provide legal services in Lithuania (no matter if they are free or paid) they must comply with the registration (and the attendant requirements) set out in Articles 73–76 of the Law on the Bar.^[6]

No, there are no requirements in Lithuania mandating lawyers to complete a minimum number of pro bono hours. As stated by the Lithuanian Court of Appeal “providing free legal aid is a right granted to advocates by law, but it is in no way an obligation”.^[7] Pro bono work in Lithuania is voluntary, and while the Bar encourages legal professionals to assist individuals in need, there is no statutory enforcement of pro bono service obligations.

No, aspiring lawyers in Lithuania are not required to complete a minimum number of hours of pro bono legal services to become licensed lawyers. However, pro bono work is encouraged within the profession as a way to contribute to society, but it is not a formal requirement for licensing.

No, there are no aspirational pro bono hour targets set for lawyers by the Bar, regulatory bodies, or any other organisation.

No, Lithuanian advocates do not receive CLE or equivalent credits for pro bono work. Under the Law on the Bar and Ethics Code, lawyers are required to engage in professional development, but pro bono work does not count toward this requirement. Article 39(5) of the Law on the Bar states that advocates must continuously improve their qualifications, which typically involves attending seminars, courses, or training programs approved by the Bar.

While pro bono work is encouraged, there is no system in place that grants lawyers CLE credit or formal recognition for hours spent providing free legal services.

Yes, the advocates providing legal services need to have professional indemnity insurance under Article 20 of the Lithuanian Bar Law.^[8] This applies to all practicing advocates as the law mandates coverage for damages caused during legal activities exceeding €290, regardless of whether the services are paid or unpaid. The requirement to maintain professional indemnity insurance applies uniformly, regardless of whether services are provided pro bono or for a fee.

In-house lawyers are generally not subject to this requirement, as they provide legal services only to their employer and do not act as independent advocates.

Lawyers can fulfil the insurance requirement by working under the coverage of a pro bono legal services provider or law firm involved in the same project, provided the arrangement ensures adequate liability coverage.

According to Regulations on the Use of Advertising in Legal Practice, approved by the Lithuanian Bar Association’s Council on March 13, 2014,^[9] advertising pro bono successes is not explicitly prohibited, but it must adhere to professional ethics, accuracy, and may not include misleading information.

It should not diminish the professional activities of other lawyers or law firms or unjustifiably elevate the lawyer’s or law firm’s professional activities. Soliciting new pro bono clients is also not explicitly prohibited, but the manner of solicitation must comply with ethical guidelines. The information provided should not be intrusive, exploit the recipient’s difficult situation, or otherwise violate principles of good morals.

Civil Law. Many individuals require assistance with issues such as family disputes, housing, and social welfare.

Human Rights and Victim Support. The protection of human rights and assistance to victims is a key area where pro bono legal services play a role in Lithuania. Many vulnerable individuals, including victims of violence, refugees, and marginalised communities, lack the financial resources or knowledge to navigate the legal system. Several NGOs (e.g., Caritas, Lithuanian Red Cross, Lithuanian Human Rights Center, etc.), legal aid centers (e.g., the Vilnius University Law Clinic), and pro bono programs focus on providing legal support to these individuals.

1. European Foundation of Human Rights (EFHR) in Lithuania – EFHR provides free legal advice to victims of discrimination and other human rights abuses, particularly focusing on the rights of ethnic minorities.
2. Lithuanian Human Rights Center – is an organization that offers legal support and advocacy for various human rights issues, collaborating with pro bono lawyers to assist individuals in need.
3. Vilnius University Law Clinic – in partnership with law firms, this clinic provides primary legal aid on civil, employment, social welfare, and administrative issues to individuals regardless of their financial status.

No, there are no noteworthy examples of how innovative technology or artificial intelligence are being used to enable access to pro bono in Lithuania at this time.

Advocates in Lithuania commonly source pro bono matters through the Lithuanian Bar Association’s coordinated calls for volunteer advocates and related guidance, which connect lawyers with priority initiatives and referral partners.^[10]

Screened referrals are also available via the Vilnius University Law Clinic, which conducts intake and triage before directing suitable cases to external counsel.^[11]

Rights based and impact opportunities are channelled by the European Foundation of Human Rights, which engages pro bono litigators and researchers through its helpdesk and minority rights docket,^[12] and by the Human Rights Monitoring Institute, which partners with counsel on test case development, amicus briefs and comparative research across privacy, criminal justice and expression.

Community driven discrimination and equal treatment matters are frequently referred through the Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights.^[14]

Local and foreign lawyers can register interest and receive pro bono opportunities through the Lithuanian Bar Association’s coordinated volunteer calls, which periodically invite advocates to join priority initiatives and provide participation guidance.^[15]

The Vilnius University Law Clinic also facilitates engagement by onboarding external lawyers for referred matters following its intake and triage process.^[16]

In Lithuania, the recognition of pro bono legal work is still developing, and there are currently no nationally established awards or rankings dedicated exclusively to pro bono contributions.

However, Lithuanian legal professionals and organizations can participate in various international platforms that honor exceptional pro bono efforts (e.g., Chambers’ Europe award for “Pro Bono: Outstanding Firm”, Pro Bono Institute awards, etc.).