The term ‘judicial system’ or the judiciary encompasses courts, state prosecutor’s offices, attorneyship, notariat, authorities conducting minor offence proceedings, the state attorneyship, court experts, court appraisers, and court interpreters, enforcement agents, official receivers, the enforcement of criminal sanctions, and probation. All of these areas are regulated by organisational legislation, which ensures the smooth functioning of the entire judicial system of the Republic of Slovenia.

Courts and the court system

The court system of the Republic of Slovenia consists of general and specialised courts. General courts operate at four levels: local and district courts (first-instance courts), higher courts, which allow appeals against first-instance courts, and the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country.

Specialised courts are divided into labour courts, which are competent to reach decisions on labour-law disputes and disputes arising from social security, and the Administrative Court, which provides judicial protection in administrative matters and has the status of a higher court.

The State Prosecutor's Office

State prosecutor functions are carried out before the Supreme Court by the Office of the State Prosecutor General, which is divided into individual departments: Criminal Law Department, Civil and Administrative Affairs Department, Training and Expert Supervision Department, and Organisation and Management Development Department. Furthermore, the State Prosecutor's Office is responsible for the coordination, supervision, and training activities performed for district state prosecutor’s offices and the Specialised State Prosecutor's Office.

State legal aid

State legal aid is the right to judicial protection, which is granted to persons who are unable to cover the costs of court proceedings or legal aid. The conditions under which a person may request legal aid are set forth by law and can serve to cover legal aid costs entirely or a part thereof. Persons entitled to receive state legal aid must make efforts to resolve disputes out of court, if at all possible.