Employment & Social Law · Lithuania
Sick Leave Lawyer in Lithuania
Illness should not cost you your job or your income. We connect you with a Lithuanian advocate who handles sickness-related employment disputes. Tell us what happened and we match you with the right lawyer, free of charge.
- Advocates enrolled with the Lithuanian Bar Association
- Experience with Labour Dispute Commissions
- Free matching, no obligation to instruct
Free matching · Your details stay confidential · Response within 24–48 hours
Get matched with a lawyer
Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Your situation
When illness turns into an employment problem
If illness or injury keeps you away from work in Lithuania, the consequences can reach well beyond your recovery: unpaid or reduced sick pay, pressure to return early, a warning, or dismissal while you are absent. A sick leave lawyer in Lithuania helps you understand where you stand under the Labour Code and how to challenge a decision that harms you. Individual labour disputes in Lithuania do not go straight to a court — they must first be brought before a Labour Dispute Commission. We match you free of charge with a lawyer who regularly handles sickness-related employment disputes, so you can act within the deadlines that apply and protect your income and your job.
Lithuania in practice
How sick leave disputes work in Lithuania
Lithuanian employment law combines a statutory Labour Code with a mandatory pre-trial stage before the Labour Dispute Commissions. Knowing which body hears your case, who may represent you and which deadlines apply makes the difference between a claim that is heard and one that is refused.
The statutory framework
Lithuania follows the continental civil-law model. Employment relations are governed by the Labour Code of 2016, in force since 1 July 2017, while procedure before the courts follows the Code of Civil Procedure of 2002. Statutes, rather than judicial precedent, are the primary source of law, although uniform case law of the Supreme Court of Lithuania guides how those statutes are interpreted in practice.
A mandatory pre-trial stage
Individual labour disputes in Lithuania must first be brought before a Labour Dispute Commission, which operates under the territorial divisions of the State Labour Inspectorate, before any recourse to the courts. Since 1 July 2017 the commissions also decide disputes about dismissal, removal from work and non-pecuniary damage. The commission must resolve the dispute within one month of receiving the application, extendable by a further month in individual cases.
Who may act as your advocate
The title of advocate (advokatas) is reserved to persons entered on the register kept by the Lithuanian Bar Association, a self-governing public-law body. To practise, an advocate must be a citizen of Lithuania or of another EU Member State, hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in law, be of impeccable reputation, command Lithuanian, pass the qualification examination and take the advocate’s oath, usually after practice as an advocate’s assistant.
Costs in a sick leave dispute
The main court fee is the stamp duty (žyminis mokestis) under Articles 79–80 of the Code of Civil Procedure, calculated as a percentage of the amount claimed in pecuniary cases and as a fixed sum in non-pecuniary cases. Certain categories, including employees and claims for damage to health or life, are exempt. Advocates’ fees are freely agreed with the client; there are no binding official tariffs.
Deadlines that decide your case
Employment dismissal claims must generally be brought within one month, whereas general labour claims carry a three-year period. In the social (labour) sphere, representation by a lawyer before the Labour Dispute Commission is optional, but the commission stage comes first, so waiting too long at that level can consume the time you need for a court claim afterwards.
State-guaranteed legal aid
Lithuania operates a two-tier system of state-guaranteed legal aid. Primary legal aid — information, consultation and help drafting simple documents — is free for everyone and provided through the municipalities. Secondary legal aid, covering procedural documents, representation in court and litigation costs, is provided by advocates through the State-Guaranteed Legal Aid Service to applicants whose income and property fall below the statutory thresholds, with the state covering 100% or 50% of costs.
Key time limits — Employment Law
| Matter | Deadline | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Employment dismissal claim | 1 month | The tightest deadline in this list; it applies to dismissal cases, including dismissal during sick leave. |
| General labour claims | 3 years | Covers most other employment claims, such as unpaid wages or compensation. |
Country information on this page is drawn from official Lithuanian bodies, the Lithuanian legal act register and the European e-Justice portal, consulted in 2025.
Common problems
What clients bring to us
These are the situations Lithuanian employees and their families most often describe when they first contact us.
Dismissed while ill
You were on sick leave and received a dismissal notice, or were told your absence was a breach of your duties. The one-month deadline for dismissal claims runs quickly, so early advice matters.
Sick pay withheld or reduced
Your employer questioned your sick note, delayed payment or stopped it altogether, leaving you without income at the very moment you cannot work. A lawyer can test the basis for that decision.
Pressure to return early
You were pushed to come back before you had recovered, or faced a warning for staying away. Understanding what the Labour Code requires of your employer changes how you respond.
Why use our service
Matched with the right Lithuanian lawyer
We screen the matter, explain the route it will take and connect you with an advocate who handles this type of dispute.
Practice-specific matching
We look for advocates who routinely act in employment disputes, including cases that begin before a Labour Dispute Commission rather than in a court.
Local knowledge
Your lawyer will know how the mandatory pre-trial commission stage works in practice and which deadlines in the Labour Code and the Civil Code apply to your situation.
Clarity on costs
Advocates’ fees in Lithuania are freely agreed, so you receive an explanation of how fees are set before you decide whether to instruct. State-guaranteed legal aid may also be available.
Free and confidential
Submitting your situation costs nothing and creates no obligation. Your details are shared only with the lawyer selected for your matter.
Also available in
Cross-border support across Europe
If you worked in Lithuania but now live elsewhere, or your employer operates in several countries, we can also look at matching you with lawyers in these jurisdictions.
Questions and answers
Sick leave and employment law in Lithuania
Do I need a sick leave lawyer in Lithuania if I was dismissed during my illness?
Not in every case, but the timing is unforgiving. A dismissal claim must generally be brought within one month, and the dispute must first pass through a Labour Dispute Commission. A sick leave lawyer in Lithuania can prepare the application, assemble the medical and employment evidence and keep the pre-trial and court stages aligned.
Where does a sick leave dispute actually start in Lithuania?
Individual labour disputes must first be brought before a Labour Dispute Commission, which operates under the territorial divisions of the State Labour Inspectorate. Only afterwards can the matter escalate to the courts. Since 1 July 2017 the commissions also decide disputes about dismissal, removal from work and non-pecuniary damage.
How long does a Labour Dispute Commission take?
The commission must resolve the dispute within one month of receiving the application. In individual cases that period may be extended by a further month. This is a comparatively short first stage, which is why preparing the application and the supporting documents carefully from the outset is important.
How long do I have to challenge a dismissal in Lithuania?
An employment dismissal claim must generally be brought within one month, which is far shorter than the three years applying to general labour claims. Because the mandatory commission stage comes first, delay at that level can consume the time available for a subsequent court claim.
What does a lawyer cost for a sick leave case in Lithuania?
Advocates’ fees are freely agreed between the advocate and the client, and there are no binding official tariffs. Non-binding recommendations issued by the Ministry of Justice and the Bar Association set maximum amounts that may be reimbursed to a winning party. Employees and certain claims, including those for damage to health or life, are exempt from the stamp duty.
Can I get state-funded legal help in Lithuania?
Yes, in two forms. Primary legal aid — legal information, consultation and help drafting simple documents — is free for everyone and delivered through the municipalities. Secondary legal aid, covering procedural documents, representation in court and litigation costs, is provided by advocates through the State-Guaranteed Legal Aid Service where your property and annual income fall below the statutory levels, with the state covering 100% or 50% of costs.
Next step
Describe your sick leave problem today
Tell us briefly what happened, when it happened and what your employer has done. We will review your situation and match you with a Lithuanian advocate who handles sickness-related employment disputes — free of charge and without obligation.