An application to the European Court of Human Rights is an effective remedy when national courts fail to ensure a fair hearing or violate rights guaranteed by the Convention. A lawyer in ECtHR cases analyses the materials, identifies the relevant Convention articles, prepares a well-reasoned legal position, and drafts the application in accordance with the Court’s standards. Proper submission is crucial for admissibility, as many applications are rejected due to formal errors or insufficient justification.
The most common violations in cases against Ukraine involve the right to a fair trial, excessive length of proceedings, ineffective investigations, property rights violations, inhuman or degrading treatment, and non-enforcement of domestic judgments. Experience in such matters enables an objective assessment of the case’s prospects, proper preparation of evidence, accurate completion of the ECtHR application form, and effective communication with the Court. Timely legal assistance significantly increases the chances of a successful outcome.
A well-considered decision today shapes the outcome tomorrow.
Contact usApplying to the European Court of Human Rights is not merely an opportunity to challenge a state decision, but a mechanism that works only when strict procedural requirements are met. An application may concern only those rights guaranteed by the Convention and its Protocols. Therefore, correctly identifying the specific Article of the Convention and substantiating the alleged violation in accordance with ECtHR case law is of fundamental importance.
It is important to note that an application to the Court is possible only after all domestic remedies have been exhausted. In Ukraine, this requires completing the full judicial cycle - the first instance, appeal, and cassation review. Only after the final decision of the highest judicial authority does the four-month time limit for submitting an application to the ECtHR begin to run. This deadline cannot be reinstated, which makes timely preparation particularly critical.
The procedure for completing the application form also involves specific requirements. The application must contain not only a description of the circumstances but also a coherent legal analysis, references to the relevant provisions of the Convention, arguments challenging the State’s explanations, and a clearly assembled evidentiary basis. Even minor errors - from a disorganized presentation of facts to the absence of necessary documents - can result in the application being rejected as inadmissible. For this reason, the ECtHR dismisses a large proportion of applications at an early stage.
A lawyer in ECtHR cases plays a crucial role in ensuring the admissibility and substance of an application: analysing the circumstances, formulating the legal position, drafting the application in a manner clear to the Court, and managing further communication with the ECtHR. Experience in handling such cases makes it possible to assess the prospects accurately, avoid common mistakes, and build the argumentation in a way that gives the case a real chance of success.
The lawyer’s fee is an important aspect and is usually determined individually for each specific case. This is influenced by a number of factors, including but not limited to the following:
Therefore, a lawyer’s fee is flexible and determined individually in each specific case, and is usually discussed during the initial consultation with the client.