| Source | Section | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union | Title VI., Article 47 | Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal previously established by law. Everyone shall have the possibility of being advised, defended and represented. |
| Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms | Article 6, paragraph 3/c | 3. Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the following minimum rights: c) to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require; |