The study aims to identify challenges in accessing legal aid for children in conflict with the law and suggest effective remedies to ensure an equal access to free of charge legal assistance for all children. While acknowledging that arrest, detention and interrogation are traumatic experience for any child irrespective of the circumstances, it is vital that equal access to legal aid requires not only the prohibition of discrimination but also the provision of specific measures for vulnerable groups. The Hungarian legal framework provides for legal aid for children in conflict with law: children should be assisted by a state-funded defence counsel in a criminal procedure. Pro bono legal assistance is not regulated but still practiced by attorneys, who emphasized that while state-funded legal aid should be improved, pro bono networks might play a role complementing it by supporting major, lengthy cases. The review paper analyses the current situation, identifies gaps and promising practices as well as draws recommendations particularly with regard to legal aid for children in Hungary.
**The views expressed in this document are solely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the organisation.
