Advocate or legal adviser

For most matters, choosing between an advocate (adwokat) and a legal adviser (radca prawny) makes little difference. Both professions have the same scope of powers before courts and offices, and since 1 July 2015 a legal adviser may also defend in criminal cases. There are two differences:

• an advocate cannot work as an employee; they operate through a law office or company (Prawo o adwokaturze);
• a legal adviser may be employed under an employment contract, but then cannot act as defender in a criminal case (ustawa o radcach prawnych).

More important than the title is whether the lawyer handles your type of case: divorce, inheritance, a criminal case, a dispute with an employer, or a company contract.

How to check a lawyer before a visit

1. Check whether the person is entered on the list: advocates in the Krajowy Rejestr Adwokatów, legal advisers in the Krajowy Rejestr Radców Prawnych. The register also shows whether someone is still a trainee (aplikant).
2. Ask whether the first consultation is paid and how long it lasts.
3. Ask for a written agreement stating the fee and what it covers: advice only, drafting documents, or attending hearings.
4. Bring all documents related to the case and a list of dates. The lawyer will then assess your chances and costs more quickly.

How much an advocate costs

You agree on the fee with the lawyer in a contract. It may be a flat fee for the whole case, an hourly rate, or a fee per hearing. The Regulation on fees for advocate activities sets minimum rates, but these serve mainly so that a court can award reimbursement of representation costs from the losing party. They are not a price list that a law office must follow.

If you cannot afford a lawyer in a court case, you can ask the court to appoint an advocate or legal adviser for you ex officio. With the application you attach a statement about your family status, property, income and sources of livelihood.

Free legal advice in Łódź

Free legal aid (nieodpłatna pomoc prawna) operates at around 1,500 points across Poland, in every county (powiat). Anyone who cannot afford paid advice can use it, including people running a sole proprietorship without employees. You only need a declaration that you cannot bear the cost of advice; you do not need to bring income certificates. At the point, an advocate, legal adviser or trainee is on duty. They will help assess the case and write a simple document, for example a statement of claim or an application for exemption from court fees. However, they will not conduct the case in court.

You can book advice in the Ministry of Justice booking system, by phone using your county's number, or in person at the office. You do not have to go to a point in your own county; you can choose any point in Poland (gov.pl).

In Łódź, advice is given only to people who have booked in advance: call the city Call Center at 42 638 44 44 or book through the Ministry of Justice system. Points operate, among other places, in offices at ul. Piotrkowska 104 and 153, al. Piłsudskiego 100, al. Politechniki 32 and ul. Zachodnia 47 (BIP Łodzi).

7 law firms in Łódź

The order is not a ranking. These are firms from our catalogue that have their own working websites; addresses, phone numbers and areas of practice were copied from those websites (as of 6 November 2026). Call and make an appointment before meeting.

Legal adviser Katarzyna Horzelska-Klamka – ul. Warecka 1

Law office of Legal Adviser Katarzyna Horzelska-Klamka, ul. Warecka 1 lok. 1, 91-202 Łódź (Bałuty), tel. 669 20 10 60. Areas: disputes with banks over loans, deposits and enforcement, complaints about bailiff actions, compensation from insurers, divorce, family and inheritance cases, and servicing of companies, partnerships, associations and foundations. Website: kancelariahk.pl. Catalogue listing.

Advocate Monika Piech-Balicka – ul. POW 17/2

Advocate office of Monika Piech-Balicka, ul. Polskiej Organizacji Wojskowej 17/2, Łódź, tel. 42 633 45 45. The office has operated since 2004; it handles, among other things, divorces and division of property. Website: adwokat-lodz.com.pl. Catalogue listing.

Advocate Grzegorz Kiryczuk – al. Kościuszki 111

Advocate office of Grzegorz Kiryczuk, al. Kościuszki 111, 90-441 Łódź (next to the District Court), tel. 793 751 243; second office in Andrespol. Areas: civil, criminal and fiscal criminal cases, family law (divorce, maintenance), compensation and commercial matters. Website: adwokat-andrespol.pl. Catalogue listing.

Advocate Piotr Sęk – ul. Pomorska 45A

Advocate office of Piotr Sęk, ul. Pomorska 45A lok. 32, Łódź, tel. 723 639 158; offices also in Zgierz and Ozorków. Areas: matters for private individuals and companies, including commercial, administrative and inheritance cases. Website: adwokat-sekpiotr.pl. Catalogue listing.

Legal adviser Adam Majka – ul. Żwirki 19

Law office of Legal Adviser Adam Majka, ul. Kpt. Pil. F. Żwirki 19, 90-539 Łódź, tel. 504 164 629. Areas: primarily tax law, i.e. advice, representation in tax and administrative court proceedings, and analysis of contracts from a tax perspective. Website: opodatkowanie.com.pl. Catalogue listing.

Rumpel, Pągowska, Fijałkowski – ul. Częstochowska 1a

Rumpel, Pągowska, Fijałkowski, a partnership of legal advisers and patent attorneys, ul. Częstochowska 1a, 93-115 Łódź (also an office in Warsaw), tel. 42 600 02 80. Areas: copyright and patents, construction law, commercial and company law, employment law, divorce and family law, debt collection. Website: rumpel.pl. Catalogue listing.

Fiuk & Lamperska – ul. Sienkiewicza 39/29

Law offices of legal advisers Przemysław Fiuk and Katarzyna Lamperska, ul. Sienkiewicza 39 lok. 29, 90-114 Łódź, tel. 42 209 35 90 or 605 640 860. Areas: civil, family and canon law, commercial and company law, employment, transport, administrative, tax, real estate and public procurement. Website: fiuklamperska-kancelarie.pl. Catalogue listing.

All law firms in Łódź

You can find the full list of Łódź advocates and law firms in the catalogue: Adwokaci i kancelarie prawne w Łodzi. Do you run a law office in Łódź and have an outdated address or phone number in your listing? The owner can correct the details after logging in at seoaibiz.pl.

Frequently asked questions

Can a legal adviser (radca prawny) handle a divorce or criminal case?

Yes. A legal adviser may represent a client in a divorce case and in any other civil case, and since 1 July 2015 may also act as a defence counsel in a criminal case. Only a legal adviser employed under an employment contract cannot act as defence counsel.

How can I check whether someone is a genuine attorney (adwokat)?

Enter the person's name in the National Register of Attorneys (rejestradwokatow.pl), and for a legal adviser in the National Register of Legal Advisers (rejestrradcow.pl). The registers show the chamber, the status and the office address.

Who can get free legal advice?

Anyone who cannot afford paid advice, including a person running a one-person business with no employees. At the visit you sign a declaration that you cannot bear the costs, without income certificates.

How do I sign up for free legal advice in Łódź?

Call 42 638 44 44 or register online at zapisy-np.ms.gov.pl. Advice is not given without a prior appointment; pregnant women are seen out of turn.