The Public lecture "Organization of Free Legal Aid in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe: standards and approaches", organized by OSCE Office in Minsk took place on May 11, 2008 in the Palace of Republic (Minsk).

The lecture was organized for students, lecturers and postgraduates of the law faculties of Belarusian Universities, representatives of student law clinics. Other interested parties with high motivation to improve their knowledge on international standards of organization of free legal aid were also invited to participate in the event.

Leading European experts in the sphere of access to free legal aid, systems of granting legal aid and approaches to reforming the systems have taken the floor:

• Martin Fincke (Germany) – professor, Doctor of Laws – "System of Free Legal Aid in the Countries of Continental Law on the example of Germany"
• Nadejda Hriptievschi (Moldova) – specialist of the Pilot Public Defender Office in Chisinau - "Reform of the Free Legal Aid System in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe: Prerequisites and Tendencies"
• Dmitry Shabelnikov (The Russian Federation) – Russia country director of the Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) - "Development of the System of Granting Subsidized Legal Aid in Russia: Tendencies and Prospects"
• Arkady Bushchenko (Ukraine), lawyer, member of the Coordination Council on Reform of Free Legal Aid System under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, - "Reforming the Free Legal Aid System in Ukraine: Pilot Projects Experience".

After the lectures a substantial discussion took place.

Participants of the Public lecture have mentioned acuteness of the topic chosen for the event, high level of lecturers’ professional competences, high organizational level of the meeting and their further wish to improve knowledge on the concepts and approaches on organizing free legal aid presented during the activity.