What is pro bono mediation?
What exactly do we understand by the term 'pro bono mediation'? Pro bono mediation, or ‘free legal assistance’, means that the Federal Public Service Justice fully or partially covers the mediator's fees, paying the mediator directly. However, you must meet some conditions in order to be eligible for it.
Are you eligible for free legal aid in mediation?
Only individuals with no income or with an income below a certain threshold can make use of free or partially free legal assistance. The decision on this is made by the Legal Aid Office or, in some cases, by the judge hearing the case. More about income thresholds for legal aid below. Eligibility for assistance depends on a comprehensive assessment of all your potential sources of income. This includes, among other things, wages, benefits, interest on savings, and received maintenance payments. Only your net taxable income is taken into account. However, certain income is disregarded, such as income from your sole residence and any income from a growth package(Opens in a new tab/window). There are also further exceptions and specific rules. All of this information is available for you to read in our full pro bono guide.
Income limits
Access to legal aid depends on income. In some cases, the mediator's services will be entirely free, while in other cases fees will be charged or the client will have to pay part of the mediation costs themselves. The unpaid portion is then covered by the federal government, provided the mediator is accredited by the Federal Mediation Commission. Below you will find an overview of the current income thresholds. The figures are usually renewed twice a year.
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Find an accredited mediator
In the Federal Mediation Commission's database, accredited mediators indicate whether they are open to clients seeking pro bono mediation. You can contact them directly. In every region, there are mediators who provide free legal aid. We would also like to direct you to our brochure, in which you will find everything about pro bono mediation conveniently compiled.