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The Asia Foundation Funding Legal Aid in Laos

The Asia Foundation Funding Legal Aid in Laos. Lao PDR Legal Sector. Civil law system; more than 100 laws passed by the National Assembly Access to justice through formal and informal systems Legal aid and legal education are part of the government policy to improve the access to justice

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The Asia Foundation Funding Legal Aid in Laos

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  1. The Asia FoundationFunding Legal Aid in Laos

  2. Lao PDR Legal Sector • Civil law system; more than 100 laws passed by the National Assembly • Access to justice through formal and informal systems • Legal aid and legal education are part of the government policy to improve the access to justice • Poor people in remote areas find it difficult to access legal information and services • Size of legal profession is small (# of lawyers) • Many law students and legal professionals lack awareness raising of volunteerism / pro-bono

  3. How we Support Access2Justice Provide free legal services to those in remote areas Educate the population on their rights and responsibilities under the law To build communities’ knowledge about the law in order to help resolve local conflicts

  4. Funding Legal Aid: Lao Bar Association • First LBA legal aid clinics (2008): Vientiane Capital, Oudomxay Province (north), Champasak Province (south) • At these clinics, volunteer lawyers provide legal representation, legal advice, legal education/ outreach, paralegal training, etc.

  5. Funding Legal Aid: Faculty of Law and Political Science (FLP) • Volunteer law students can also be a source of in-kind (non-cash) funding for legal aid • Law students can learn and provide legal advice at the legal clinic at FLP • Law students can conduce legal education / law dissemination in communities

  6. Funding Legal Aid: Ministry of Justice • MOJ is formulating a legal aid decree to institutionalize the system of free legal aid for those in need • MOJ will need initial external funding; but should have a strategy to gradually maintain the system • Strategy should consider: pro-bono lawyers; law schools; mass organizations; NPAs; paralegals; tiered fee system

  7. THANK YOU Questions and comments are more than welcome!

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