restrictions and infringements, providing legal services to all in need of them, and
cooperating with governmental and other institutions in furthering the ends of justice and
public interest, The Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, set forth below, which have
been formulated to assist Member States in their task of promoting and ensuring the proper
role of lawyers, should be respected and taken into account by Governments within the
framework of their national legislation and practice and should be brought to the attention
of lawyers as well as other persons, such as judges, prosecutors, members of the executive��
and the legislature, and the public in general. These principles shall also apply, as
appropriate, to persons who exercise the functions of lawyers without having the formal
status of lawyers.
Access to lawyers and legal services
1. All persons are entitled to call upon the assistance of a lawyer of their choice to protect
and establish their rights and to defend them in all stages of criminal proceedings.
2. Governments shall ensure that efficient procedures and responsive mechanisms for
effective and equal access to lawyers are provided for all persons within their territory and
subject to their jurisdiction, without distinction of any kind, such as discrimination based on
race, colour, ethnic origin, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, birth, economic or other status.
3. Governments shall ensure the provision of sufficient funding and other resources for legal
services to the poor and, as necessary, to other disadvantaged persons. Professional
associations of lawyers shall cooperate in the organization and provision of services, facilities
and other resources.
4. Governments and professional associations of lawyers shall promote programmes to
inform the public about their rights and duties under the law and the important role of
lawyers in protecting their fundamental freedoms. Special attention should be given to
assisting the poor and other disadvantaged persons so as to enable them to assert their
rights and where necessary call upon the assistance of lawyers.
Special safeguards in criminal justice matters
5. Governments shall ensure that all persons are immediately informed by the competent
authority of their right to be assisted by a lawyer of their own choice upon arrest or
detention or when charged with a criminal offence.
6. Any such persons who do not have a lawyer shall, in all cases in which the interests of
justice so require, be entitled to have a lawyer of experience and competence
commensurate with the nature of the offence assigned to them in order to provide effective
legal assistance, without payment by them if they lack sufficient means to pay for such
services.
7. Governments shall further ensure that all persons arrested or detained, with or without
criminal charge, shall have prompt access to a lawyer, and in any case not later than forty‐
eight hours from the time of arrest or detention.
8. All arrested, detained or imprisoned persons shall be provided with adequate
opportunities, time and facilities to be visited by and to communicate and consult with a