If you believe your human rights have been violated and want to seek justice at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), understanding the consultation process is the first and most important step. Our ECHR consultation services provide expert legal guidance tailored to your individual circumstances — helping you understand whether you have a viable case, what steps to take next, and how to protect your rights before critical deadlines pass.
What Happens During an ECHR Consultation
Our consultation process is structured to give you clear, actionable legal advice in the shortest possible time. Here is what you can expect, step by step:
Step 1 — You Share the Facts of Your Case
The consultation begins with you describing what happened — the violation of your rights, the actions of state authorities, and the decisions of national courts. You do not need to know the legal terminology in advance. Our lawyers are experienced at asking the right questions to extract the relevant facts efficiently.
Step 2 — We Assess Admissibility
The most critical part of any ECHR consultation is the admissibility assessment. The ECHR has strict criteria that must be met before any application is examined on the merits. Our lawyers will assess:
- Jurisdiction: Was the violation committed by a Council of Europe member state? Is the respondent state party to the European Convention on Human Rights?
- Exhaustion of domestic remedies: Have you pursued all available remedies in your national courts, including appeals to the highest available court?
- The four-month time limit: Since 1 February 2022, applications must be submitted within four months of the final domestic decision. We will calculate your exact deadline.
- Significant disadvantage: Does the violation cause you a significant disadvantage? Minor or purely technical violations may not meet the Court’s threshold.
- Convention Articles at issue: Which specific rights under the ECHR have been violated — Article 3 (prohibition of torture), Article 5 (right to liberty), Article 6 (fair trial), Article 8 (privacy), Article 10 (free expression), or others?
Step 3 — We Give You an Honest Assessment
After reviewing the key facts, our lawyer will give you a frank legal opinion. We will tell you if your case appears to have prospects, if there are admissibility obstacles that need to be addressed, and what your realistic options are. We do not offer false hope — but where a case is strong, we will tell you that clearly too.
Step 4 — We Outline the Next Steps
At the end of the consultation, you will know exactly what to do next: whether to file immediately, gather additional evidence, pursue a remaining domestic remedy, or engage our team for the full application process. You leave the consultation with clarity — not confusion.
What We Assess During the Consultation
Our lawyers conduct a structured legal assessment covering all the key dimensions of your potential ECHR application:
Admissibility Criteria
The ECHR rejects the vast majority of applications — approximately 90% — at the admissibility stage. Understanding why, and how to avoid it, is one of the most valuable things our consultation provides. We analyse every admissibility criterion as it applies to your case, including the identity of the respondent state, the nature of the alleged violation, and procedural compliance.
Time Limits — The Critical Four-Month Deadline
One of the most common and irreversible mistakes applicants make is missing the ECHR’s time limit. Since 1 February 2022, Protocol No. 15 reduced the deadline from six months to four months from the date of the final domestic decision. We will calculate your exact deadline during the consultation and, if it is approaching, advise on immediate protective steps.
Exhaustion of Domestic Remedies
The ECHR is a court of last resort — you must first exhaust all effective remedies available in your country. During the consultation, we will review which courts and procedures you have already used and advise whether any remaining avenues need to be pursued before the ECHR application can be filed. In some countries, this includes appeals to constitutional courts or specific supervisory review mechanisms.
Identification of Convention Violations
Not every injustice qualifies as an ECHR violation. Our lawyers identify which specific articles of the European Convention on Human Rights may have been breached and explain the legal basis for each potential claim. This helps focus the application on the strongest grounds and avoids wasting the Court’s — and your — time on non-viable claims.
Consultation Formats
We offer flexible consultation options to suit clients wherever they are in the world:
- Video Call (Zoom, Teams, or similar): The most popular option for international clients. Conduct your consultation from anywhere in the world with full visual contact and the ability to share documents on screen.
- Phone Consultation: Available for clients who prefer a simple call. Suitable for initial discussions and quick admissibility checks.
- In-Person — London: Clients in the United Kingdom can meet with our lawyers at our office at 85 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 7LT. Please contact us to arrange an appointment.
- In-Person — Limassol, Cyprus: Clients in Cyprus, the Middle East, or Eastern Europe can arrange a face-to-face meeting at our Limassol office on Makariou III Avenue, 4th floor.
Free Initial Assessment — 30 Minutes
We offer every prospective client a free 30-minute initial assessment. During this session, one of our ECHR specialists will review the key facts of your case, conduct a preliminary admissibility check, and give you an honest initial opinion on your prospects.
There is no obligation to instruct us after the free consultation. It is a risk-free opportunity to get expert legal advice before committing to anything.
What Documents to Prepare
To make your consultation as productive as possible, please try to gather the following before we speak:
- Decisions from all national courts that examined your case (first instance, appeal, and any higher court)
- The date of the final national decision (this is crucial for calculating your ECHR deadline)
- Any correspondence with government authorities related to your case
- Evidence of the human rights violation (arrest warrants, medical reports, administrative decisions, police records, etc.)
- Any constitutional court or administrative review decisions
- A brief chronological summary of events (if available — not required but helpful)
Do not worry if you do not have everything available at the time of the consultation. Our lawyers are experienced at working with partial information and will guide you on what to obtain.
What You Will Receive After the Consultation
For clients who proceed beyond the free initial assessment, we provide a written case assessment document. This typically includes:
- A summary of the key facts relevant to an ECHR application
- An admissibility analysis covering all relevant criteria
- Identification of which Convention Articles have potentially been violated
- An assessment of the strength of each potential claim
- Recommended next steps and timeline
- A fee estimate for full representation before the ECHR
This document gives you a clear, professional legal opinion that you can use to make an informed decision about how to proceed.
Pricing Transparency
We believe that legal fees should be clear and predictable. Here is an overview of our pricing structure:
- Initial 30-minute consultation: Free of charge
- Written case assessment: Fixed fee, agreed in advance before we begin
- Full ECHR representation: Fixed or staged fee structure depending on the complexity of the case and the stage of proceedings
- Urgent interim measures (Rule 39): Available as a standalone service in time-critical situations
We will never charge unexpected fees. All costs are discussed and agreed in writing before we take any action on your case. If legal aid or conditional fee arrangements may apply to your situation, we will advise you accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the consultation take?
The free initial consultation typically lasts 30 minutes. More detailed case assessments, including review of documents, may require a longer paid session. We will advise you on timing when you book.
Is the initial consultation really free?
Yes — completely. The 30-minute initial assessment is provided at no charge and with no obligation. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to understand their legal position before committing to legal fees.
What languages do you work in?
We provide consultations in English, French, Romanian, Portuguese, and Russian. This covers the majority of our client base across Europe and the former Soviet Union. If you need a consultation in another language, please contact us and we will advise on available options.
Can I consult you if I am not based in Europe?
Absolutely. The ECHR accepts applications from individuals worldwide, provided the violation was committed by a Council of Europe member state. Many of our clients are based outside Europe — in the Middle East, Central Asia, or North America — but had their rights violated by a European state. Video and phone consultations are available for clients globally.
What if my deadline is approaching?
Contact us immediately. The ECHR’s four-month time limit is absolute — if it passes, your right to apply is permanently lost. We can conduct urgent consultations and, where necessary, file an interim application to protect your position while the full application is prepared.
Book Your Free Consultation Today
Do not wait until it is too late. The ECHR’s time limits are strict and cannot be extended. If you believe your rights have been violated by a European state, contact our team now to book your free 30-minute consultation. We are available by phone, video call, and in person at our offices in London and Limassol.