Overview
In Montenegro, lawyers provide free legal aid under the state-run legal aid system; however, this work is state-organized and compensated by the state (not purely pro bono), and is limited to attorneys on official lists. Amendments to the Free Legal Aid Act (FLAA) from 2024 were an important step for improving access to justice for vulnerable groups, as the scope of beneficiaries of free legal aid was broadened.[1]
Pro bono is limited but growing, primarily driven by non-governmental organisations committed to promoting access to justice.[2] Pro bono work is evident in supporting vulnerable groups, human rights initiatives, and legal aid projects.
At a glance
| Minimum pro bono hours requirement for lawyers? | Specific pro bono licence required? | May foreign lawyers practice pro bono? | Insurance required for law firm pro bono? | Insurance required for in-house counsel pro bono? | Rules to limit advertising pro bono work? | Does pro bono work count to CLE credit? | Limitations for in-house lawyers to do pro bono? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Pro bono practice and opportunities
In Montenegro the provision of legal services is regulated by the:
- Legal Profession Law;[3]
- Statute of the Bar Association of Montenegro;[4] and
- Code of Professional Ethics of Attorneys at Law.[5] The right to practice law as an attorney at law is obtained by taking the oath and by inscription in the directory of the attorneys at law held by the Bar Association.
In Montenegro, attorneys at law may practice law:
- as an independent attorney at law;
- in a joint law office; or
- as a member of law firm which has the form of partnership.
The law does not recognise the employment of attorneys at law.
Regulatory landscape for pro bono
Provision 110.1. of the Code of Professional Ethics of Attorneys at Law regulates the provision of pro bono legal services by prescribing that an attorney at law has the right to adjust the collection of remuneration to the financial circumstances of the client, either by way of accepting partial payment or payment after the end of the proceedings, or by waiving the right to collect remuneration from an extremely indigent client.
The Law on Legal Aid regulates the process for the provision of free legal counseling, free aid in the preparation of briefs and representation before the courts, and out of court proceedings for certain individuals (e.g. individuals with poor financial standing, children without parental care, victims of domestic violence, etc.).
Legal aid is excluded in commercial court proceedings and commercial registration matters, libel and defamation proceedings, reduction of child support proceedings and execution on the basis of the authentic documents.
In-house lawyers with active bar status can theoretically provide pro bono services, but they must maintain independence, avoid employer-related conflicts, and comply with employment-related practice limits. In practice, bar rules often restrict or prohibit simultaneous employment and active advocacy.
No, lawyers do not need a license to provide pro bono legal services.
A licence to provide pro bono services is not required, however, to be allowed to practice the law in Montenegro foreign lawyers need to be inscribed in the directories with the Bar Association and need to fulfill certain conditions.
No, lawyers are not required by to work a minimum number of pro bono hours in Montenegro.
No, aspiring lawyers are not required to complete a minimum number of hours of pro bono legal services to become licensed lawyers.
No, in Montenegro, there are no aspirational pro bono hours targets for lawyers set by the local bar association, regulatory body or other body.
No, lawyers do not receive any “Continuing Legal Education” (CLE) or equivalent credit for pro bono hours worked.
Insurance and advertising
All lawyers are obliged to have professional indemnity legal insurance prescribed by law but there is no separate specific requirement relating to pro bono.
Generally, the advertising of an attorney at law is forbidden by law.
Pro bono practice and culture
The main areas of law for which there is a need for pro bono legal services include:
• social security and welfare;
• land and property rights;
• workers’ rights and employment matters;
• family law matters;
• human rights and civil liberties; and
• intellectual property.
Examples include:
• Human Rights Action;[6]
• Civil Alliance;[7]
• the Pravni Centar Legal Center;[8]
• the Association of Youth with Disabilities;[9] and
• attorneys at law under the Law on Legal Aid.
At present, there are no noteworthy examples of how innovative technology or artificial intelligence is being used to enable access to pro bono or otherwise as part of pro bono cases or matters.
Sources of pro bono opportunities and key contacts
In Montenegro, significant pro bono initiatives and resources are primarily managed by the legal aid departments of basic courts, which oversee the provision of pro bono services in accordance with the Law on Legal Aid.
Additionally, several prominent NGOs[10] have formed the Legal Aid Net to support individuals who were previously unable to access pro bono legal assistance through the legal aid departments.
Beyond these institutionalised pro bono services and NGOs, the Faculty of Law at the University of Montenegro [11] has set up a legal aid clinic, which operates under the Erasmus + ENEMLOS project.
No, there are no organisations with which a local or foreign lawyer in Montenegro can register to be made aware of pro bono opportunities.
No, there are no awards, lists or rankings related to pro bono work.
References
- https://www.hraction.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FREE-LEGAL-AID-1.pdf?utm_source (last viewed on 1 March 2026).
- https://pravnicentar.co.me/en/about-us-2/ (Last viewed on 2 March 2026).
- See https://www.advokatskakomora.me/Zakon%20o%20advokaturi.pdf (last visited on 25 September 2025).
- See https://www.advokatskakomora.me/Statut%20-word.docx (last visited on 25 September 2025).
- See http://www.advokatskakomora.me/kodeks1.html (last visited on 25 September 2025).
- https://www.hraction.org/ (last visited on 25 September 2025).
- https://gamn.org/ last visited on 25 September 2025).
- https://pravnicentar.co.me/ last visited on 25 September 2025).
- https://umhcg.com/ last visited on 25 September 2025).
- See, for example: www.cemi.org.me, https://umhcg.com/ and www.sosnk.org (each, last visited on 25 September 2025).
- https://www.ucg.ac.me/pf#lat (last visited on 25 September 2025).
Acknowledgements
Name of Local Counsel: Karanovic & Partners o.a.d. Belgrade
Name of Individual at Local Counsel: Bojana Miljanović Hussey
Related resources
TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono
The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global benchmark report mapping the scale and trends of the pro bono legal sector around the world.
Measuring Pro Bono Impact Guide
A 5-step framework to support legal teams in measuring the impact of their pro bono programmes more effectively, produced by the Thomson Reuters Foundation
Pro Bono Institute Challenge Reports
Providing valuable insights into the pro bono landscape by benchmarking pro bono performance at law firms and in-house legal departments.
Explore the Guide's headline findings
The Guide offers insight and analysis into the global pro bono landscape, beyond the deep-dive country chapters.
