The 12348 Legal Aid Hotline is a free government service designed to provide legal advice, representation, criminal defense and other legal assistance to all citizens. The hotline is managed by judicial administration departments at all levels of government (such as the Ministry of Justice or Bureau of Justice). Most consultants are practicing lawyers, while legal aid lawyers are assigned by legal aid centers as needed to provide services to clients in need of assistance. Importantly, these services are free, and lawyers cannot charge case agency fees from clients; fees are mainly subsidized by the government and protected by the Legal Aid Regulations.
According to Article 2 of the Legal Aid Regulations, citizens are entitled to free legal aid services as long as they meet the conditions. Legal aid is the responsibility of the government. Governments at or above the county level must actively promote legal aid work and provide necessary financial support to ensure that legal aid work is synchronized with social and economic development. Legal aid funds are earmarked for special purposes and are subject to supervision by finance, auditing and other departments to ensure that the funds are used in compliance with regulations.
The judicial administrative department of the State Council is responsible for the supervision and management of legal aid work nationwide, and local judicial administrative departments at or above the county level are responsible for legal aid work in their respective regions. The Lawyers Association also plays a supporting role in legal aid work, promoting the implementation of legal aid services.