From January 1, 2027, more groups of people will receive free legal aid

According to new regulations, 6 groups of subjects currently receiving legal aid continue to be kept unchanged, including: people from poor households; people with meritorious services to the revolution; children; ethnic minorities residing in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions; some people from 16 years old to under 18 years old participating in legal proceedings according to the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Law; victims, people who are in the process of being identified as victims of human trafficking and people under 18 years old accompanying them.

More groups receive legal aid

Notably, Law No. 05/2026/QH16 expands some groups in the direction of not depending on difficult financial conditions.

Specifically, the biological father, biological mother, wife, husband, children of martyrs and people who have contributed to raising martyrs; people infected with Agent Orange; people with disabilities who are eligible for legal aid.

In addition, people from near-poor households are also legally assisted; people receiving monthly social allowances who are elderly people, people who were abused in domestic violence cases and HIV-infected people are also eligible for assistance under the prescribed legal conditions.

The new law also supplements 5 groups of subjects, including: very small ethnic minorities; low-income workers who are accused or victims; people who encounter unexpected difficulties due to natural disasters and fires in cases directly related to consequence recovery; individuals who are damaged but do not hire people to protect their legitimate rights and interests according to the Law on State Compensation Liability; foreigners under international treaties to which Vietnam is a member with provisions on legal assistance.

Can be supported immediately during the proceedings

People eligible for legal aid can access this service right during the investigation and trial without having to search and contact themselves in all cases. Law No. 05/2026/QH16 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Legal Aid, effective from January 1, 2027, has legalized the mechanism of direct legal aid at the People's Court and in criminal investigation.

According to Clause 1, Article 41 amended, the competent authority conducting legal proceedings is responsible for coordinating and organizing the implementation of the legal aid direct mechanism; and at the same time creating conditions for legal aid recipients to enjoy this right and for legal aid providers to participate in legal proceedings according to regulations. Thus, people eligible for legal aid can receive timely legal support in procedural stages, contributing to ensuring their legitimate rights and interests.

Thus, from January 1, 2027, people belonging to the above groups can be provided with free legal services by the State if they fully meet the conditions of each group and cases within the scope of legal assistance according to legal regulations.

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