This seminar takes place under the first main component of the project “Access to Justice and Legal Aid”. Most experts consider that training is the core issue in any process of change affecting well functioning institutions and good governance. A complete training, balanced and plural, is a prerequisite if the Judiciary wants to be respected and worthy of respect. For this reason, this second phase of the EuroMed Justice II project will play a relevant role through the training activities in order to contribute to the strengthening of the Euro‐Mediterranean justice area. The title of this seminar “Cost of justice and the right to defence” was agreed during the Working Group meetings held on this component. In particular, this session is focused on the relationship between cost of justice and right of defence. In addition, we will pay special attention to the relevant role acquired by legal aid to guarantee an effective access to justice and right to defence. In this respect, the different subtopics will enable us to carry out an in‐depth analysis of several relevant aspects which are directly linked with the topics under review. We are going to share the international experts’ opinion and the participants’  approach on these topics from their own perspective, experience and respective competences. Through an in‐depth and detailed discussion, we will know the current situation related to the topics under discussion, among others: Legal aid systems: international approach; Right to defence and legal aid; Legal aid: the cost of defence; and the Role of Bar Associations and other professional bodies in access to justice. Thanks to this seminar, we will get to know the different features prevailing in the region and we will learn from each other through the different experiences and views of the participants.