REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated that the process of digital transformation in judicial services continues to be enhanced, announcing that “We are launching our innovative E‑Lawyer application.”

In a message shared on his social media account, Minister Akın Gürlek announced that the E‑Lawyer application will be put into service. He explained that the application will enable convicts and detainees to meet with their lawyers digitally. The message of the Minister Gürlek is as follows:

“We continue to enhance the digital transformation process in judicial services; we are launching our innovative E‑Lawyer application. Convicts and detainees, thanks to this additional opportunity, will be able to hold video meetings with their lawyers without the need for face‑to‑face contact.

Meetings may be held up to twice a week, with a maximum duration of 30 minutes each.

By further increasing accessibility in judicial services, we continue to take steps that facilitate our citizens’ access to justice.”

A NEW SERVICE IN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: E‑LAWYER

Within the scope of the Project for the Integration of Smart Technologies into Penal Institutions (ACEP), the E‑Lawyer application has been developed to provide convicts and detainees with the opportunity to hold video meetings with their lawyers.

The E‑Lawyer application, which has received strong demand from lawyers, allows meetings to be monitored by penal institution officials but not listened to. Meetings are limited to 2 calls per week, with a total duration of 30 minutes, and may only be initiated by the convicts and detainees. Meetings under the E‑Lawyer framework can be held on weekdays between 09:00 and 17:00.

However, the detainees and convicts charged with terrorism, members of organized crime groups, those sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, and those subject to the Article 9/3 of the Law No. 5275 shall not be eligible to benefit from the E‑Lawyer application.

PILOT IMPLEMENTATION TO BEGIN IN ANKARA

The E‑Lawyer application, which has been in high demand from lawyers, will be launched as a pilot project at the Sincan Penal Institutions Campus with the lawyers registered to Ankara Bar Association No. 2. Following the pilot phase, the outcomes obtained will be used to expand the system nationwide.