AS OF June this year lawyers in Slovakia may not receive compensation for court delays, if a Justice Ministry amendment is approved.
The ministry is proposing an amendment to the current law on pay and remuneration for lawyers because it sees no reason why clients should be charged for delays caused by the courts, the SITA news agency reported.
"The obligation handed to the client by this law isn't in accord with good practice," stated the ministry.
At present the law allows lawyers to claim extra pay for delays of 30 minutes or longer.
The Justice Ministry is also preparing a revision that would see lawyers and legal trainees dress in black gowns with blue velvet lining at court proceedings and other official hearings as of next year, according to the Národná Obroda daily.
The ministry wants lawyers to be accorded the same status as attorneys and judges, who all wear gowns.
However, lawyer Ondrej Mularčík said that gowns are "the last thing the Slovak judicial system should be worried about", the daily reported.
