2. What is Legal Aid?
Legal aid is the provision of free legal advice and representation to those individuals and groups who are not able to pay for legal services. These include poor individuals whose rights have been affected.

3. Need for Legal Aid
There is a great need for the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals to have access to free legal advice and representation for resolution of disputes.

4. Benefits of Legal Aid
Legal Aid leads to strengthening of the society. With legal aid, poor and disadvantaged individuals can resolve their legal problems and disputes.

5. Network of LBA offices - Provision of Free Legal Services through Provincial and Unit Offices
To provide free legal services to communities across the country, the Lao Bar Association has a network of offices. This includes a Head Office in Vientiane, 9 unit offices covering Vientiane and 6 provincial offices. Poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged persons can visit unit and provincial offices for seeking legal advice and representation on legal problems or they can contact legal aid clinic at the head office of Lao Bar Association

6. Legal Aid Clinic - Vientiane
The legal aid clinic in Vientiane is currently housed at the head office of the Lao Bar Association at Vientiane Capital Court. The clinic welcomes and assists poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals with legal problems and disputes.

7. Legal Aid Scheme - Beneficiaries and areas of legal services
Provision of free legal services is aimed at men, women and children who need legal advice and/or want to be represented in courts or any other forums.

The clinic is initially providing legal services in some civil, criminal and family laws. Legal problem or dispute may relate to divorce, maintenance, custody of children, rape, domestic violence, human trafficking and criminal defense.

8. Legal Aid Clinic - Staffing and Administration
The clinic is currently supervised by a legal aid clinic Manager who in turn is being supported by a United Nations Volunteer. The clinic relies on support of members of the Lao Bar Association. The clinic will seek the involvement of LBA Interns and students of Faculty of Law, National University of Laos who will serve at the clinic in different capacities.

9. Future Development of Legal Aid Program:
In the near future, the legal aid programme will be expanded into the provinces. Moreover, the types of cases for which legal aid is provided may be increased as well.

10. Role of Legal Aid Sub-Committee
The legal aid sub-committee of the Lao Bar Association is responsible for coordinating the activities of the legal aid clinic and provides guidance for effective implementation of clinic's activities and the legal aid programme.

11. Donations
The legal aid clinic welcomes donations from different segments of the society, corporate sector and those interested in alleviating legal issues and problems of the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens of the Lao PDR. Please contact legal aid clinic Vientiane office for further information.

12. Collaboration
The legal aid clinic of the Lao Bar Association is keen to work with Justice Sector Partners, Women and Children Groups and Organizations, Donors and International Non-Governmental Organizations.

The clinic also intends to cooperate with legal aid organizations, Bar Associations and Law Societies in the ASEAN region and beyond.

13. Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the Eligibility Criteria for receiving Legal Aid?
A. The legal aid programme is being run for individuals whose rights have been affected and are poor and are not able to pay for legal services. 

Q. How Can I Get Legal Aid?
A. Legal aid is provided through the legal aid clinic and network offices of the Lao Bar Association.  Contact the legal aid clinic in Vientiane for further information at Tel: 856-21- 353656 or visit us at Vientiane Capital Court KM3 Road, Tha deua Road, Sisattanak District P.O. Box: 11087, Vientiane, Lao PDR. 

If there is no network office where you live, you may also either write a letter to the legal aid clinic at the address above or ask an official from the People's Court or People's Prosecutor to write a letter our legal aid clinic requesting assistance on your behalf.

Q. What are the documents, which I need to bring with me in order to receive legal aid?
A. Documents which are needed for registration include Identity Card and Certification of Village Office that you are poor and cannot afford a lawyer. Other documents may include: documents relating to the legal issue/dispute and court documents.

Q. Who will help me Register at the Legal Aid Clinic?
A. Legal aid clinic staff will help legal aid applicants to fill application form for legal aid. This is subject to the fact that the applicant is eligible for legal aid.

Q. What types of Cases are covered by the legal aid scheme?
A. Currently, the clinic is providing legal advice and representation in some civil, criminal and family laws.

Q.I do have some earnings but not enough to engage a Lawyer. Am I eligible for legal aid?
A. Depending on people's circumstances and ability to pay, the legal aid clinic will consider provision of legal aid. 

Q. I am a Final Year Law Student in Vientiane and I am interested in Volunteering at the Legal Aid Clinic. What shall I do?
A. The Lao Bar Association welcomes participation of law students in its legal aid programme. To check opportunities available, contact the legal aid clinic at the Lao Bar Association's head office in Vientiane.

Q. I want to make financial donation to the legal aid clinic. How can I do so?
A. Please contact the legal aid clinic in Vientiane for further information.