TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL the global coalition against corruption When Neven* was sacked rom his job, he hoped that his claim or unair dismissal would be processed quickly and airly . Instead, the court proceedings dragged on without an outcome or 11 years, putting Neven under great personal and fnancial strain. Neven fnally contacted Trans parency International (TI) Croatia, explaining that he couldn’t aord a lawyer and wasn’t entitled to ree legal aid under Croatian law. His ormer employers could drag out the court proceedings or years because Neven lacked the legal expertise to represent himsel properly. TI Croatia provided Neven with ree legal advice, and helped him make an appeal or his case to be ast tracked on the grounds that the process had been unnecessarily lengthy. Soon ater, Neven was inormed by the county court that his c ase had been reclassifed as a priority case. Within a month, his appeal was heard and Neven won the case against his ormer employers. As well as securing justice and compensation or Neven, TI Croatia created a public debate about the oten excessive duration o minor court cases in Croatia, which results rom high lawyer ees and narrow eligibility criteria or receiving ree legal aid. Neven’ s experience is not an isolated case and highlights the urgency or much needed improvement in the country’ s judicial system. TI Croatia continues to push or a air and expedient legal system, as well as providing legal advice to those who struggle to receive justice. *Names have been changed. This case is one o thousands processed by Transparency International’s Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres. The centres, now in more than 40 countries, provide ree assistance to victims and witnesses o corruption, helping them to pursue their complaints. “The court proceedings dragged on without an outcome or 11 years, putting Neven under great personal and fnancial strain” JUSTICE CAN’T WAIT www.transparency.org ©2011 Transparency International. All rights reserved ©Photograph: Flickr/wblj Printed on 10 0% recycled paper.