1. Applicants shall have the right to consult, in an effective manner, a legal adviser or other counsellor on matters relating to their applications at all stages of the procedure.
2. Without prejudice to the applicant’s right to choose his or her own legal adviser or other counsellor at his or her own cost, an applicant may request free legal counselling in the administrative procedure provided for in Chapter III, in accordance with Article 16, and free legal assistance and representation in the appeal procedure provided for in Chapter V, in accordance with Article 17.
The applicant shall be informed as soon as possible and at the latest when registering the application in accordance with Article 27 of his or her right to request free legal counselling or free legal assistance and representation.
3. Member States may provide for free legal assistance and representation in the administrative procedure in accordance with national law.
4. Member States may organise the provision of legal counselling and legal assistance and representation in accordance with their national systems.
Correlation table
| Directive 2013/32/EU | This Regulation |
| Article 22(1) | Article 15(1) |
| — | Article 15(2) and (4) |
| Article 20(2) | Article 15(3) |