Does legal aid cost money to litigate?

Legal aid is free. Legal aid refers to a legal protection system in which legal aid agencies established by the government or lawyers established by non-governmental organizations organize legal aid in accordance with the law to provide free legal services to parties with financial difficulties or special cases, especially those in rural areas.

Article 35 of the Criminal Procedure Law

If a criminal suspect or defendant fails to retain a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, his or her close relatives may file a lawsuit with a legal aid agency Apply. For those who meet the conditions for legal aid, the legal aid institution shall designate a lawyer to defend them.

If the criminal suspect or defendant is blind, deaf, mute or a mental patient who has not completely lost the ability to recognize or control his own behavior and has not appointed a defender, the people's court, people's procuratorate and public security organs shall notify legal aid The agency is represented by its appointed attorney.

The suspect or defendant may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. If a defender is not appointed, the People's Court, People's Procuratorate and Public Security Bureau shall notify the legal aid agency to appoint a lawyer to defend the case.