Legal Aid Website — Lao PDR
Legal Aid

Legal Aid

Decree No. 77/LA on Legal Aid

The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic issued Decree No. 77/LA, dated 28 February 2018, on Legal Aid. Pursuant to this Decree, legal aid means the provision of legal services free of charge to poor persons, disadvantaged persons, persons with disabilities, children requiring special protection, alleged offenders for whom the law requires the assistance of a lawyer, women and children who are victims of violence, and victims of human trafficking, through organizations providing legal aid, in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the Decree.

Click on the image to view the detailed eligibility criteria

Persons Eligible to Receive Legal Aid
Types of Legal Aid
Types of Legal Aid Services

Providing Information

The provision of legal information refers to providing legal information by allowing individuals to read, take notes on, or obtain copies of legal instruments relevant to their requests or submissions. Such information may be provided through various means, including on-site services, mobile outreach services, communication channels or electronic devices, legal awareness and dissemination activities, and printed publications, as follows:

  • On-site provision of legal information shall be carried out at the office of the Legal Aid Office.
  • Mobile provision of legal information refers to outreach activities conducted to provide legal information to people in local communities or villages. Such activities shall be carried out in conjunction with legal awareness and dissemination campaigns and the provision of mobile legal consultation services.
  • Provision of legal information through communication tools and electronic devices refers to the provision of legal information via telephone, radio broadcasting, television, public address systems, and the Internet to applicants or requesting persons.
  • Provision of legal information through printed media refers to the provision of legal information via newspapers, magazines, newsletters, official notices, printed sheets containing text or images to applicants or requesting persons.

Legal Consultation

Legal consultation refers to oral or written advice and explanations regarding laws related to a request or submission. Such consultation may be provided through various methods, including on-site consultation, mobile consultation services via communication tools or electronic devices, as follows:

  • On-site legal consultation refers to oral or written advice and explanations on legal matters, provided at the office of the Legal Aid Office.
  • Mobile legal consultation refers to oral or written advice and explanations on legal matters, provided in conjunction with the provision of legal information during outreach activities for legal consultation and legal awareness dissemination, carried out outside the office of the Legal Aid Office.
  • Legal consultation via communication tools or electronic devices refers to providing advice and explanations on legal matters through telephone or the Internet, as authorized by the relevant authorities.

Assisting in drafting documents

Assistance in drafting documents refers to assisting applicants in preparing and completing various documents, such as complaints, answers to complaints, contracts, wills, and other documents related to a request or submission.

Assistance in drafting documents shall be provided on-site. In cases where the beneficiary is unable to access on-site services due to illness or other credible reasons, legal aid personnel shall provide services at the place where the person resides or at another appropriate location.

Court or trial representative

Representation in legal proceedings refers to participation in legal proceedings in accordance with judicial procedures on behalf of legal aid beneficiaries, carried out by a lawyer appointed by the Bar Association. This includes participation in investigation and inquiry procedures, appearing in court hearings, and monitoring the enforcement of court judgments.

Legal Aid Office

Legal Aid Office of the Justice Sector

Ministry of Justice
  • Department of Administration and Promotion of Justice Affairs, Ministry of Justice
  • National Institute of Justice, Northern–Central–Southern Justice Institutes
  • Provincial and Vientiane Capital Justice Division
  • District, Municipal, and City Justice Offices

Legal Aid Office of the Women’s Union

Women's Union
  • Lao Women’s Union Central Committee: Counselling and Protection Centre for Women and Children
  • Provincial and Vientiane Capital Women’s Unions: Counselling and Protection Section for Women and Children
  • District, Municipal, and City Women’s Unions: Counselling and Promotion of Women’s Advancement Unit

Legal Aid Office of the Lao Bar Association

  • Office of the Bar Association
  • Provincial and Vientiane Capital Bar Association Offices
  • District, Municipal, and City Bar Association Units

Legal Aid Office of Law Enterprises

  • Law enterprises or legal consulting companies

Introductory video of the Legal Aid Office by BABSEACLE Laos