The Government of the Canary Islands has granted nearly 16 million euros to the Bar and Procurators' Colleges to fund free legal assistance and public defender services during the first half of 2026.
The Minister of the Presidency, Public Administrations, Justice and Security, Nieves Lady Barreto, informed this Thursday at the Government Council about the allocation of 15,995,948 euros in subsidies aimed at the professional colleges of Law and Procurators in the islands. This funding ensures the provision of free legal aid and public defender services for citizens without resources during the first six months of the year.
The funds, managed through the General Directorate of Relations with the Administration of Justice, cover the infrastructure and operational costs involved in providing this essential service. The beneficiaries are the Bar Associations of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de La Palma, and Lanzarote, as well as the Procurators' Colleges of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas. These entities are responsible for compensating the professionals in the public defender service who assist those in need of legal defense and lacking sufficient financial resources.
Progressive increase in payment scales
The 2026 budget includes a new increase in the payment modules for lawyers and procurators in the public defender service. Following the 15% increase applied in 2025, this year the scales have risen by 7%, as detailed by Barreto. The agreement signed with the professional colleges includes a path of updates that will culminate in 2027 with an additional 8% increase, resulting in a cumulative rise of 30% compared to the 2024 rates, adjusted for inflation.
This progression responds to the need to equalise the remuneration of public defenders with the evolution of the cost of living, a long-standing demand from the sector. The minister emphasised that the Canary Executive's commitment is to maintain a quality service, despite the total cost of free legal aid being higher than what the State contributes.
The burden of assistance to migrants
One of the chapters that puts the most pressure on spending is the legal assistance to migrants arriving by sea to the Canary coasts. This service, which includes everything from initial reception to legal procedures, is entirely funded by the autonomous community, as the State continues to not pay its share. Sources from the Justice Department have indicated that this shortfall represents an additional burden on the regional finances, which bear a service that should be funded by the central Administration.
For the average citizen, the news has a direct impact: those needing a public defender in the Canary Islands during the first half of 2026 will have guaranteed coverage, without cuts or delays due to lack of funds. The professional colleges have already received the official communication and are finalising the distribution of compensations among the lawyers registered in the public defender service.
The minister Nieves Lady Barreto has reminded that the service of free legal aid is a pillar of the rule of law and that the Canary Islands maintains its commitment to the most vulnerable citizens, despite budgetary difficulties.
The next milestone will be the 8% increase planned for 2027, which will complete the agreed update plan. Meanwhile, public defenders in the islands will continue to assist thousands of people each year, from cases of gender violence to immigration or criminal matters. For Canary readers, the key is that if they need free legal assistance, they can go to any Bar or Procurators' College in their province and request the service, which will be operational without interruption.
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