Legal Aid Regulations

(2003年7月16日国务院第15次常务会议通过　2003年7月21日中华人民共和国国务院令第385号公布　自2003年9月1日起施行)

(Adopted at the 15th Executive Meeting of the State Council on July 16, 2003, promulgated by Decree No. 385 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on July 21, 2003, and effective as of September 1, 2003)

为了保障经济困难的公民获得必要的法律服务，促进和规范法律援助工作，制定本条例。

These Regulations are formulated to ensure that citizens with financial difficulties obtain necessary legal services, and to promote and regulate legal aid work.

符合本条例规定的公民，可以依照本条例获得法律咨询、代理、刑事辩护等无偿法律服务。

Citizens who meet the requirements of these Regulations may obtain free legal services such as legal consultation, agency, and criminal defense in accordance with these Regulations.

法律援助是政府的责任，县级以上人民政府应当采取积极措施推动法律援助工作，为法律援助提供财政支持，保障法律援助事业与经济、社会协调发展。

Legal aid is the responsibility of the government. People's governments at or above the county level shall take active measures to promote legal aid work, provide financial support for legal aid, and ensure the coordinated development of legal aid with the economy and society.

法律援助经费应当专款专用，接受财政、审计部门的监督。

Legal aid funds shall be used for designated purposes only and shall be subject to supervision by financial and audit departments.

国务院司法行政部门监督管理全国的法律援助工作。县级以上地方各级人民政府司法行政部门监督管理本行政区域的法律援助工作。

The judicial administration department of the State Council shall supervise and manage legal aid work nationwide. The judicial administration departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall supervise and manage legal aid work within their respective administrative regions.

中华全国律师协会和地方律师协会应当按照律师协会章程对依据本条例实施的法律援助工作予以协助。

The All China Lawyers Association and local lawyers associations shall, in accordance with the articles of association of the lawyers association, assist in legal aid work implemented pursuant to these Regulations.

直辖市、设区的市或者县级人民政府司法行政部门根据需要确定本行政区域的法律援助机构。

The judicial administration departments of municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities divided into districts, or county people's governments shall determine legal aid institutions within their respective administrative regions as needed.

法律援助机构负责受理、审查法律援助申请，指派或者安排人员为符合本条例规定的公民提供法律援助。

Legal aid institutions are responsible for receiving and examining legal aid applications, and assigning or arranging personnel to provide legal aid to citizens who meet the requirements of these Regulations.

律师应当依照律师法和本条例的规定履行法律援助义务，为受援人提供符合标准的法律服务，依法维护受援人的合法权益，接受律师协会和司法行政部门的监督。

Lawyers shall fulfill their legal aid obligations in accordance with the Lawyers Law and these Regulations, provide legal services that meet the standards to the aided persons, lawfully protect the lawful rights and interests of the aided persons, and accept supervision by the lawyers association and the judicial administration department.

国家鼓励社会对法律援助活动提供捐助。

The State encourages society to provide donations for legal aid activities.

国家支持和鼓励社会团体、事业单位等社会组织利用自身资源为经济困难的公民提供法律援助。

The State supports and encourages social organizations such as associations and public institutions to use their own resources to provide legal aid to citizens with financial difficulties.

对在法律援助工作中作出突出贡献的组织和个人，有关的人民政府、司法行政部门应当给予表彰、奖励。

Relevant people's governments and judicial administration departments shall commend and reward organizations and individuals that have made outstanding contributions in legal aid work.

公民对下列需要代理的事项，因经济困难没有委托代理人的，可以向法律援助机构申请法律援助：

Citizens who need agency for the following matters and have not entrusted an agent due to financial difficulties may apply to a legal aid institution for legal aid:

(一)依法请求国家赔偿的；

(1) Claiming state compensation according to law;

(二)请求给予社会保险待遇或者最低生活保障待遇的；

(2) Requesting social insurance benefits or minimum subsistence allowance;

(三)请求发给抚恤金、救济金的；

(3) Requesting the payment of pensions or relief funds;

(四)请求给付赡养费、抚养费、扶养费的；

(4) Requesting the payment of alimony, child support, or support for the elderly;

(五)请求支付劳动报酬的；

(5) Requesting payment of labor remuneration;

(六)主张因见义勇为行为产生的民事权益的。

(6) Asserting civil rights and interests arising from acts of bravery.

省、自治区、直辖市人民政府可以对前款规定以外的法律援助事项作出补充规定。

People's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government may make supplementary provisions on legal aid matters other than those specified in the preceding paragraph.

公民可以就本条第一款、第二款规定的事项向法律援助机构申请法律咨询。

Citizens may apply to a legal aid institution for legal consultation on the matters specified in the first and second paragraphs of this Article.

刑事诉讼中有下列情形之一的，公民可以向法律援助机构申请法律援助：

In criminal proceedings, if any of the following circumstances exist, citizens may apply to a legal aid institution for legal aid:

(一)犯罪嫌疑人在被侦查机关第一次讯问后或者采取强制措施之日起，因经济困难没有聘请律师的；

(1) A criminal suspect who, due to economic hardship, has not retained a lawyer after being first interrogated by the investigative authority or from the date of being subjected to compulsory measures;

(二)公诉案件中的被害人及其法定代理人或者近亲属，自案件移送审查起诉之日起，因经济困难没有委托诉讼代理人的；

(2) A victim in a public prosecution case, or his legal representative or close relative, who, due to economic hardship, has not entrusted a litigation representative from the date the case is transferred for examination and prosecution;

(三)自诉案件的自诉人及其法定代理人，自案件被人民法院受理之日起，因经济困难没有委托诉讼代理人的。

(3) A private prosecutor in a private prosecution case, or his legal representative, who, due to economic hardship, has not entrusted a litigation representative from the date the case is accepted by the people's court.

公诉人出庭公诉的案件，被告人因经济困难或者其他原因没有委托辩护人，人民法院为被告人指定辩护时，法律援助机构应当提供法律援助。

In a case where a public prosecutor appears in court to support the prosecution, if the defendant has not appointed a defender due to economic hardship or other reasons, and the people's court designates a defender for the defendant, the legal aid institution shall provide legal aid.

被告人是盲、聋、哑人或者未成年人而没有委托辩护人的，或者被告人可能被判处死刑而没有委托辩护人的，人民法院为被告人指定辩护时，法律援助机构应当提供法律援助，无须对被告人进行经济状况的审查。

If the defendant is blind, deaf, mute, or a minor and has not appointed a defender, or if the defendant may be sentenced to death and has not appointed a defender, when the people's court designates a defender for the defendant, the legal aid institution shall provide legal aid without conducting a review of the defendant's financial circumstances.

本条例所称公民经济困难的标准，由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府根据本行政区域经济发展状况和法律援助事业的需要规定。

The standard for economic hardship of citizens as referred to in these Regulations shall be prescribed by the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government based on the economic development of its administrative region and the needs of legal aid work.

申请人住所地的经济困难标准与受理申请的法律援助机构所在地的经济困难标准不一致的，按照受理申请的法律援助机构所在地的经济困难标准执行。

If the economic hardship standard of the applicant's place of residence is inconsistent with that of the place where the legal aid institution receiving the application is located, the standard of the place where the legal aid institution receiving the application is located shall prevail.

公民就本条例第十条所列事项申请法律援助，应当按照下列规定提出：

When a citizen applies for legal aid for the matters listed in Article 10 of these Regulations, the application shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:

(一)请求国家赔偿的，向赔偿义务机关所在地的法律援助机构提出申请；

(1) For a request for state compensation, the application shall be submitted to the legal aid institution at the place where the compensation obligor is located;

(二)请求给予社会保险待遇、最低生活保障待遇或者请求发给抚恤金、救济金的，向提供社会保险待遇、最低生活保障待遇或者发给抚恤金、救济金的义务机关所在地的法律援助机构提出申请；

(2) For a request for social insurance benefits, minimum subsistence allowance, or for the payment of pensions or relief funds, the application shall be submitted to the legal aid institution at the place where the obligor providing such benefits is located;

(三)请求给付赡养费、抚养费、扶养费的，向给付赡养费、抚养费、扶养费的义务人住所地的法律援助机构提出申请；

(3) For a request for payment of alimony, child support, or support for the elderly, the application shall be submitted to the legal aid institution at the place of domicile of the obligor;

(四)请求支付劳动报酬的，向支付劳动报酬的义务人住所地的法律援助机构提出申请；

(4) For a request for payment of labor remuneration, the application shall be submitted to the legal aid institution at the place of domicile of the obligor;

(五)主张因见义勇为行为产生的民事权益的，向被请求人住所地的法律援助机构提出申请。

(5) For a claim of civil rights and interests arising from acts of bravery, the application shall be submitted to the legal aid institution at the place of domicile of the requested person.

本条例第十一条所列人员申请法律援助的，应当向审理案件的人民法院所在地的法律援助机构提出申请。被羁押的犯罪嫌疑人的申请由看守所在24小时内转交法律援助机构，申请法律援助所需提交的有关证件、证明材料由看守所通知申请人的法定代理人或者近亲属协助提供。

When a person listed in Article 11 of these Regulations applies for legal aid, the application shall be submitted to the legal aid institution at the place where the people's court hearing the case is located. The application of a detained criminal suspect shall be forwarded by the detention center to the legal aid institution within 24 hours, and the relevant certificates and evidentiary materials required for the legal aid application shall be provided by the detention center notifying the applicant's legal representative or close relative to assist.

申请人为无民事行为能力人或者限制民事行为能力人的，由其法定代理人代为提出申请。

If the applicant is a person without civil capacity or with limited civil capacity, the application shall be made by his legal representative on his behalf.

无民事行为能力人或者限制民事行为能力人与其法定代理人之间发生诉讼或者因其他利益纠纷需要法律援助的，由与该争议事项无利害关系的其他法定代理人代为提出申请。

If a person without civil capacity or with limited civil capacity has a lawsuit or other interest dispute with his legal representative and needs legal aid, the application shall be made by another legal representative who has no interest in the disputed matter.

公民申请代理、刑事辩护的法律援助应当提交下列证件、证明材料：

When a citizen applies for legal aid for representation or criminal defense, the following certificates and evidentiary materials shall be submitted:

(一)身份证或者其他有效的身份证明，代理申请人还应当提交有代理权的证明；

(1) Identity card or other valid identity certificate; if the application is made by an agent, the agent shall also submit a certificate of authority;

(二)经济困难的证明；

(2) Proof of economic hardship;

(三)与所申请法律援助事项有关的案件材料。

(3) Case materials related to the matter for which legal aid is applied.

申请应当采用书面形式，填写申请表；以书面形式提出申请确有困难的，可以口头申请，由法律援助机构工作人员或者代为转交申请的有关机构工作人员作书面记录。

The application shall be made in writing and an application form shall be filled out; if it is truly difficult to make the application in writing, an oral application may be made, and the staff of the legal aid institution or the relevant institution forwarding the application shall make a written record.

法律援助机构收到法律援助申请后，应当进行审查；认为申请人提交的证件、证明材料不齐全的，可以要求申请人作出必要的补充或者说明，申请人未按要求作出补充或者说明的，视为撤销申请；认为申请人提交的证件、证明材料需要查证的，由法律援助机构向有关机关、单位查证。

After receiving an application for legal aid, the legal aid institution shall conduct a review; if it finds that the certificates and evidentiary materials submitted by the applicant are incomplete, it may require the applicant to make necessary supplements or explanations; if the applicant fails to make supplements or explanations as required, the application shall be deemed withdrawn; if it finds that the certificates and evidentiary materials submitted by the applicant need verification, the legal aid institution shall verify them with the relevant authorities or units.

对符合法律援助条件的，法律援助机构应当及时决定提供法律援助；对不符合法律援助条件的，应当书面告知申请人理由。

If the applicant meets the conditions for legal aid, the legal aid institution shall promptly decide to provide legal aid; if the applicant does not meet the conditions, the legal aid institution shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons.

申请人对法律援助机构作出的不符合法律援助条件的通知有异议的，可以向确定该法律援助机构的司法行政部门提出，司法行政部门应当在收到异议之日起5个工作日内进行审查，经审查认为申请人符合法律援助条件的，应当以书面形式责令法律援助机构及时对该申请人提供法律援助。

If an applicant disagrees with the notice from the legal aid institution that the conditions for legal aid are not met, the applicant may raise an objection with the judicial administrative department that established the legal aid institution. The judicial administrative department shall review the objection within 5 working days from the date of receipt. If, after review, it finds that the applicant meets the conditions for legal aid, it shall order the legal aid institution in writing to promptly provide legal aid to the applicant.

由人民法院指定辩护的案件，人民法院在开庭10日前将指定辩护通知书和起诉书副本或者判决书副本送交其所在地的法律援助机构；人民法院不在其所在地审判的，可以将指定辩护通知书和起诉书副本或者判决书副本送交审判地的法律援助机构。

For cases where the people's court designates defense counsel, the people's court shall, 10 days before the court session, send the designation notice and a copy of the indictment or judgment to the legal aid agency at its location; if the people's court does not hold the trial at its location, it may send the designation notice and a copy of the indictment or judgment to the legal aid agency at the trial location.

法律援助机构可以指派律师事务所安排律师或者安排本机构的工作人员办理法律援助案件；也可以根据其他社会组织的要求，安排其所属人员办理法律援助案件。对人民法院指定辩护的案件，法律援助机构应当在开庭3日前将确定的承办人员名单回复作出指定的人民法院。

A legal aid agency may assign a law firm to arrange lawyers or arrange for its own staff to handle legal aid cases; it may also, upon request from other social organizations, arrange for personnel of such organizations to handle legal aid cases. For cases where the people's court designates defense counsel, the legal aid agency shall, 3 days before the court session, reply to the designating people's court with the list of assigned personnel.

办理法律援助案件的人员，应当遵守职业道德和执业纪律，提供法律援助不得收取任何财物。

Personnel handling legal aid cases shall abide by professional ethics and practice discipline, and shall not accept any property in providing legal aid.

办理法律援助案件的人员遇有下列情形之一的，应当向法律援助机构报告，法律援助机构经审查核实的，应当终止该项法律援助：

Personnel handling legal aid cases shall report to the legal aid agency under any of the following circumstances, and the legal aid agency shall terminate the legal aid after verification:

(一)受援人的经济收入状况发生变化，不再符合法律援助条件的；

(1) The economic status of the aided person has changed and no longer meets the conditions for legal aid;

(二)案件终止审理或者已被撤销的；

(2) The case has been terminated or revoked;

(三)受援人又自行委托律师或者其他代理人的；

(3) The aided person has retained another lawyer or other agent on their own;

(四)受援人要求终止法律援助的。

(4) The aided person requests termination of legal aid.

受指派办理法律援助案件的律师或者接受安排办理法律援助案件的社会组织人员在案件结案时，应当向法律援助机构提交有关的法律文书副本或者复印件以及结案报告等材料。

Upon conclusion of a case, the lawyer assigned to handle a legal aid case or the personnel of a social organization arranged to handle a legal aid case shall submit to the legal aid agency copies or duplicates of relevant legal documents and a case closure report.

法律援助机构收到前款规定的结案材料后，应当向受指派办理法律援助案件的律师或者接受安排办理法律援助案件的社会组织人员支付法律援助办案补贴。

After receiving the case closure materials as specified in the preceding paragraph, the legal aid agency shall pay a legal aid case subsidy to the lawyer assigned to handle the legal aid case or the personnel of the social organization arranged to handle the legal aid case.

法律援助办案补贴的标准由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府司法行政部门会同同级财政部门，根据当地经济发展水平，参考法律援助机构办理各类法律援助案件的平均成本等因素核定，并可以根据需要调整。

The standard for legal aid case subsidies shall be determined by the judicial administrative department of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government jointly with the financial department at the same level, based on the local economic development level and with reference to the average cost of handling various types of legal aid cases by legal aid agencies, and may be adjusted as needed.

法律援助机构对公民申请的法律咨询服务，应当即时办理；复杂疑难的，可以预约择时办理。

Legal aid agencies shall handle legal consultation services applied for by citizens immediately; for complex or difficult matters, they may schedule an appointment for handling at a later time.

法律援助机构及其工作人员有下列情形之一的，对直接负责的主管人员以及其他直接责任人员依法给予纪律处分：

If a legal aid agency or its staff commits any of the following acts, disciplinary sanctions shall be imposed on the directly responsible supervisors and other directly responsible personnel according to law:

(一)为不符合法律援助条件的人员提供法律援助，或者拒绝为符合法律援助条件的人员提供法律援助的；

(1) Providing legal aid to persons who do not meet the conditions for legal aid, or refusing to provide legal aid to persons who meet the conditions for legal aid;

(二)办理法律援助案件收取财物的；

(2) Accepting property in handling legal aid cases;

(三)从事有偿法律服务的；

(3) Engaging in paid legal services;

(四)侵占、私分、挪用法律援助经费的。

(4) Embezzling, privately dividing, or misappropriating legal aid funds.

办理法律援助案件收取的财物，由司法行政部门责令退还；从事有偿法律服务的违法所得，由司法行政部门予以没收；侵占、私分、挪用法律援助经费的，由司法行政部门责令追回，情节严重，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

Property accepted in handling legal aid cases shall be ordered by the judicial administrative department to be returned; illegal gains from paid legal services shall be confiscated by the judicial administrative department; embezzled, privately divided, or misappropriated legal aid funds shall be ordered by the judicial administrative department to be recovered; if the circumstances are serious and constitute a crime, criminal liability shall be pursued according to law.

律师事务所拒绝法律援助机构的指派，不安排本所律师办理法律援助案件的，由司法行政部门给予警告、责令改正；情节严重的，给予1个月以上3个月以下停业整顿的处罚。

If a law firm refuses the assignment of a legal aid agency and fails to arrange for its lawyers to handle legal aid cases, the judicial administrative department shall give a warning and order correction; if the circumstances are serious, a penalty of suspension of operations for rectification for a period of not less than one month but not more than three months shall be imposed.

律师有下列情形之一的，由司法行政部门给予警告、责令改正；情节严重的，给予1个月以上3个月以下停止执业的处罚：

If a lawyer commits any of the following acts, the judicial administrative department shall give a warning and order correction; if the circumstances are serious, a penalty of suspension of practice for a period of not less than one month but not more than three months shall be imposed:

(一)无正当理由拒绝接受、擅自终止法律援助案件的；

(1) Refusing to accept or unilaterally terminating a legal aid case without justifiable reasons;

(二)办理法律援助案件收取财物的。

(2) Accepting property in handling a legal aid case.

有前款第(二)项违法行为的，由司法行政部门责令退还违法所得的财物，可以并处所收财物价值1倍以上3倍以下的罚款。

If there is an illegal act as specified in item (2) of the preceding paragraph, the judicial administrative department shall order the return of the illegally obtained property and may concurrently impose a fine of not less than one time but not more than three times the value of the property accepted.

律师办理法律援助案件违反职业道德和执业纪律的，按照律师法的规定予以处罚。

If a lawyer handling a legal aid case violates professional ethics and practice discipline, punishment shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of the Lawyers Law.

司法行政部门工作人员在法律援助的监督管理工作中，有滥用职权、玩忽职守行为的，依法给予行政处分；情节严重，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

If a staff member of the judicial administrative department abuses power or neglects duties in the supervision and management of legal aid, administrative sanctions shall be imposed according to law; if the circumstances are serious enough to constitute a crime, criminal liability shall be pursued according to law.

本条例自2003年9月1日起施行。

These Regulations shall come into force as of September 1, 2003.