Legal aid institutions are institutions responsible for organizing, guiding, coordinating, supervising and implementing legal aid work in their own regions, collectively referred to as "legal aid centers". The Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China has a legal aid center to guide and coordinate the legal aid work throughout the country. Judicial administrative organs at all levels should actively report to the Party committee and government, strive for the support of relevant departments, set up legal aid centers as soon as possible, and guide, coordinate and organize legal aid work in their own regions. Where there is no legal aid center, the judicial bureau shall appoint personnel as legal aid centers. Law firms, notary offices and grassroots legal service institutions shall implement legal aid under the unified coordination of local legal aid centers. Legal aid activities carried out by other organizations and schools shall be subject to the guidance and supervision of the local legal aid center.
Legal aid refers to a legal guarantee system in which legal aid agencies set up by the government organize legal aid personnel to provide free legal services to the parties in financial difficulties or special cases. The legal aid institutions in China have basically formed a four-level organizational structure:
1. At the national level, a legal aid center of the Ministry of Justice will be set up to guide and coordinate the legal aid work throughout the country.
On May 26th, 1997, the Legal Aid Center of the Ministry of Justice was formally established in Beijing. The Legal Aid Center of the Ministry of Justice is mainly responsible for providing professional guidance on legal aid work, formulating national legal aid rules and regulations, medium-and long-term development plans and annual work plans, coordinating national legal aid work, and carrying out exchange activities with foreign legal aid groups and people.
On the same day, China Legal Aid Foundation was established. The main duties of China Legal Aid Foundation are to raise, manage and use legal aid funds, publicize the national legal aid system and promote judicial justice. Its sources of funds mainly include donations and sponsorship from domestic associations, enterprises, trading companies and individuals; Interest charged on funds deposited in financial institutions; Earnings from purchasing securities such as bonds and company stocks.
2, in the provincial places, the establishment of xx province (autonomous region) legal aid center, to guide and coordinate the legal aid work within their respective jurisdictions.
3. In local, municipal (including sub-provincial) places, set up xx regional (city) legal aid centers to exercise the dual functions of legal aid management and organization and implementation.
4. Establish xx county (district) legal aid centers in qualified counties and district-level places, and organize the implementation of local legal aid work. Do not have the conditions for the establishment of legal aid institutions, the county (District) Judicial Bureau to organize the implementation of legal aid work.