The Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Legal Aid Law No. 05/2026/QH16

Based on the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which has been amended and supplemented in accordance with Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly promulgates this Law amending and enacting some articles of the Law on Lawful Assistance No. 11/2017/QH14, which has been amended and supplemented in accordance with Laws No. 53/2024/QH15 and Law No. 59/2024/QH15.

Article 1. Amend and Enact Some Articles of the Law on Lawful Assistance 1. Amend and enact paragraph 2 of Article 5 as follows: “2. State budget funds shall be allocated in the annual state budget according to the provisions of laws on state budget, public investment, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, digital industry, and relevant specialized laws. For localities that have not achieved balanced budgeting, priority shall be given to allocating budgetary funds from the supplementary budget each year to support the implementation of complex legal assistance cases.”

2. Amend and enact Article 7 as follows: “Article 7. Persons entitled to lawful assistance 1. Revolutionaries; parents (fathers and mothers), spouses, children of martyrs and persons who have cared for martyrs. 2. Members of poor households, members of near-poor households. 3. Persons affected by dioxin. 4. Persons with disabilities. 5. Children. 6. Ethnic minorities residing in areas with special economic and social difficulties; ethnic minorities with very small populations. 7. Persons receiving monthly social assistance who are elderly, victims of domestic violence, persons infected with HIV. 8. Low-income workers who are accused or harmed parties. 9. Persons facing sudden difficulties due to natural disasters or fires shall receive lawful assistance in matters directly related to the consequences caused by such events. 10. Persons aged between 16 and under 18 years old who are accused, indicted for prosecution, detained in urgent cases, accused, harmed parties, witnesses, persons subject to alternative measures of punishment, juvenile offenders as provided in the Law on Juvenile Justice. 11. Victims, persons currently being determined as victims of human trafficking and children under 18 traveling with them as provided in the Law on Prevention and Combating Human Trafficking. 12. Individuals who suffer losses without hiring a legal representative according to the provisions of the State Liability Compensation Law. 13. Foreign nationals entitled to lawful assistance under international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party. 14. Other persons entitled to lawful assistance as provided by law.”

3. Amend and enact paragraph 2 and paragraph 3 of Article 11 as follows: “2. The State Legal Assistance Center may have Branches. A Branch is a subordinate unit of the State Legal Assistance Center. The State Legal Assistance Center shall be responsible for all activities of the Branch. Based on economic and social conditions, and legal assistance needs in the locality, the People's Committee of each province decides to establish a Branch of the State Legal Assistance Center. 3. The Government shall specify the organization and operation of the State Legal Assistance Center, its Branches; procedures and formalities for establishing, dissolving, or merging Branches of the State Legal Assistance Center.”

4. Amend and enact Article 19 as follows: “Article 19. Criteria for legal assistance counselors Citizens of Vietnam who are civil servants of the State Legal Assistance Center and meet the following criteria may become legal assistance counselors: 1. Good moral character; 2. Bachelor's degree in law or higher; 3. Trained as a lawyer or exempted from lawyer training; 4. Completed an internship for practicing law or legal assistance, except if they have previously been a legal assistance counselor; 5. Sufficient health to perform legal assistance.”

5. Amend and enact Article 21 as follows: “Article 21. Appointment, issuance of cards, reissuance of legal assistance counselor cards 1. The People's Committee of each province shall examine and appoint legal assistance counselors and issue legal assistance counselor cards to persons who meet the criteria for a legal assistance counselor provided in this Law, except if they fall under any of the following cases: a) Currently within the period of disciplinary action; currently subject to administrative measures involving mandatory rehabilitation or compulsory education institutions; b) Currently being investigated for criminal responsibility; previously convicted of serious crimes due to intentional acts, very serious crimes due to intentional acts, particularly serious crimes due to intentional acts, including cases where an expungement order has been issued; previously convicted and not yet expunged of very serious crimes due to unintentional acts, particularly serious crimes due to unintentional acts, or minor crimes due to intentional acts. 2. The People's Committee of each province shall examine and appoint legal assistance counselors and issue legal assistance counselor cards to persons who have been relieved from their duties and had their legal assistance counselor cards revoked under the circumstances specified in paragraph 1, point a, d, or g of Article 22 of this Law when they meet all the criteria for a legal assistance counselor provided in this Law and the reasons for relief and revocation no longer apply. 3. The People's Committee of each province shall reissue legal assistance counselor cards in cases where the card is lost or damaged. 4. The Government shall specify the details of this provision; prescribe procedures and formalities for appointment, issuance, and reissuance of legal assistance counselor cards.”

2. The Article 7 is amended and supplemented as follows: “Article 7. Eligibility for Legal Aid 1. Persons with revolutionary merit; biological parents (father and mother), spouse, children of martyrs and persons who have cared for martyrs. 2. Persons from poor households, persons from near-poor households. 3. Persons exposed to dioxin. 4. Persons with disabilities. 5. Minors. 6. Ethnic minority residents in areas with special economic and social difficulties; ethnic minorities with very small populations. 7. Persons receiving monthly social assistance who are elderly, victims of domestic violence, persons infected with HIV. 8. Low-income workers who are accused or harmed parties. 9. Persons facing sudden difficulties due to natural disasters or fires receive legal aid in matters directly related to the consequences caused by such events. 10. Persons aged from 16 to under 18 years old who are accused, indicted, detained in urgent cases, accused, harmed parties, witnesses, persons subject to alternative measures of disposal, juvenile offenders as provided for in the Juvenile Justice Law. 11. Victims and those undergoing determination as victims of human trafficking and minors under 18 years old as provided for in the Anti-Human Trafficking Law. 12. Individuals who have suffered losses without hiring a legal protection service provider as provided for in the State Liability Compensation Law. 13. Foreign individuals entitled to legal aid under international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party. 14. Other persons eligible for legal aid as provided for by law.”

3. The Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 11 are amended and supplemented as follows: “2. The State Legal Aid Center may have Branches. Branches are subordinate units of the State Legal Aid Center. The State Legal Aid Center is responsible for all activities of the Branch. Based on economic and social conditions and legal aid needs in the locality, the Provincial People's Committee Chairman decides to establish a Branch of the State Legal Aid Center. 3. The Government shall prescribe the organization and operation of the State Legal Aid Center, its Branches; procedures and formalities for establishing, dissolving, or merging Branches of the State Legal Aid Center.”

4. The Article 19 is amended and supplemented as follows: "Article 19. Standards for Legal Aid Attorneys. A citizen of Vietnam who is a civil servant of the State Legal Aid Center and meets the following standards may become a legal aid attorney: 1. Possesses good moral character; 2. Has at least a bachelor's degree in law; 3. Has undergone lawyer vocational training or has been exempted from such training; 4. Has completed a period of lawyer apprenticeship or legal aid internship, except where the person has previously served as a legal aid attorney; 5. Is in good health to perform legal aid services."

4. Article 19 is amended and supplemented as follows: “Article 19. Qualifications for Legal Aid Attorneys Citizens of Vietnam who are civil servants of the State Legal Aid Center and meet the following qualifications may become legal aid attorneys: 1. Good moral character; 2. Bachelor's degree in law or higher; 3. Trained as a lawyer or exempted from lawyer training; 4. Completed an internship for practicing law or legal assistance, except where previously served as a legal aid attorney; 5. Sufficient health to perform legal aid.”

6. The following amendments and additions shall be made to Article 22: "Article 22. Removal and Revocation of Legal Aid Officer's Card 1. A legal aid officer shall be removed from their position and have their legal aid officer card revoked in any of the following cases: a) No longer meeting the standards for a legal aid officer as specified in Article 19 of this Law; b) Failing to participate in litigation proceedings continuously for twelve months, except where such failure is due to an objective reason; c) Subjected to disciplinary action resulting in dismissal; d) Subjected to disciplinary action involving a warning or higher for actions as defined in Clause 1 of Article 6 of this Law; e) Currently subject to a prohibition on practicing legal aid services pursuant to a decision by the competent authority; f) Convicted and the judgment has become legally effective; g) Subjected to administrative measures resulting in placement in a compulsory rehabilitation facility or a compulsory education facility. 2. A legal aid officer shall be automatically removed from their position and have their legal aid officer card automatically rendered invalid in any of the following cases: a) Transfer to another post, resignation, or dismissal; b) Retirement. 3. The People's Committee Chairman at the provincial level shall decide on removal and revocation of the legal aid officer card. 4. The Government shall provide detailed regulations for this Article; specify procedures and formalities for removal and revocation of the legal aid officer card."

7. The following amendments and additions shall be made to Article 24: "Article 24. Legal Aid Collaborator 1. The following individuals may become a legal aid collaborator: a) Individuals who have retired or resigned due to personal wishes or objective reasons, are of full civil capacity, possess good moral character, are physically fit, and wish to provide legal aid services, including those who were previously: legal aid officers, judges, court investigators, prosecutors, procuratorial inspectors, investigators, enforcement officers, court investigators, individuals holding a senior professional level or equivalent position engaged in legal work; individuals holding a professional level or equivalent position with at least five years of experience in legal work within the Communist Party of Vietnam, State organs, Vietnamese Fatherland Front and its constituent organizations; those who have previously served as a legal aid collaborator; b) Civil servants holding a Level III or higher position for at least five years or civil servants holding a Level I, II, or equivalent position engaged in legal work with written approval from their employer. 2. The Director of the Department of Justice shall examine and issue a legal aid collaborator card to individuals who meet the standards and conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article and do not fall under any of the following circumstances: a) Currently undergoing criminal responsibility investigation; have been convicted for serious crimes committed intentionally, very serious crimes committed intentionally, or particularly serious crimes committed intentionally, including cases where the conviction has been expunged; have been convicted without expungement of a very serious crime committed unintentionally, a particularly serious crime committed unintentionally, or a minor crime committed intentionally; b) Currently undergoing administrative measures resulting in placement in a compulsory rehabilitation facility or a compulsory education facility; currently under disciplinary action. 3. The Director of the National Legal Aid Center shall enter into a contract to provide legal aid services with individuals who have been issued a legal aid collaborator card to offer legal consultation and representation outside litigation proceedings at the local level. 4. A legal aid collaborator's card shall be revoked when any of the following circumstances occur: a) No longer meeting the standards and conditions specified in Clause 1 of this Article; b) Failing to provide legal aid services for two consecutive years, except where such failure is due to an objective reason; c) Engaging in actions as defined in Clause 1 of Article 6 of this Law or having been administratively penalized for violations in the field of legal aid but not to the extent of revocation of their legal aid collaborator card and continuing to engage in such violations; d) The contract to provide legal aid services has terminated, or a legal aid collaborator does not enter into a contract with the National Legal Aid Center within thirty days from receiving an offer for such a contract without justifiable reasons; e) A civil servant is subjected to disciplinary action resulting in dismissal; f) Subjected to administrative measures resulting in placement in a compulsory rehabilitation facility or a compulsory education facility; g) Convicted and the judgment has become legally effective. 5. The Director of the Department of Justice shall decide on revocation and reissuance of legal aid collaborator cards, as well as issuance of new cards upon loss or damage of existing ones. 6. The Government shall provide detailed regulations for this Article; specify procedures and formalities for issuing, reissuing, and revoking legal aid collaborator cards."

8. Clause d shall be added after clause c in paragraph 1 of Article 26 as follows: "d) Matters transferred in accordance with the provisions of Clause 3 of Article 35 of this Law."

9. Sửa đổi, bổ sung Điều 30 như sau: “Điều 30. Yêu cầu và thụ lý vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý 1. Khi yêu cầu trợ giúp pháp lý, người yêu cầu phải nộp hồ sơ cho tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý. 2. Yêu cầu trợ giúp pháp lý chỉ được thụ lý khi có vụ việc cụ thể liên quan trực tiếp đến quyền và lợi ích hợp pháp của người được trợ giúp pháp lý và phù hợp với quy định của Luật này. 3. Tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý phải từ chối thụ lý và thông báo rõ lý do bằng văn bản cho người yêu cầu khi thuộc một trong các trường hợp sau đây: a) Yêu cầu trợ giúp pháp lý không đáp ứng quy định tại khoản 2 Điều này; b) Yêu cầu trợ giúp pháp lý có nội dung trái pháp luật; c) Người được trợ giúp pháp lý đã chết; d) Vụ việc đang được một tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý khác thụ lý, giải quyết; đ) Yêu cầu trợ giúp pháp lý đã được giải quyết và không phát sinh nội dung mới. 4. Trường hợp người yêu cầu chưa thể cung cấp đầy đủ hồ sơ nhưng cần thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý ngay do vụ việc sắp hết thời hiệu khởi kiện, sắp đến ngày xét xử, vụ việc do cơ quan có thẩm quyền tiến hành tố tụng, cơ quan tiến hành tố tụng chuyển yêu cầu trợ giúp pháp lý cho tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý hoặc để tránh gây thiệt hại đến quyền và lợi ích hợp pháp của người được trợ giúp pháp lý thì người tiếp nhận yêu cầu báo cáo người đứng đầu tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý và thụ lý ngay, đồng thời hướng dẫn người yêu cầu trợ giúp pháp lý bổ sung các giấy tờ, tài liệu cần thiết. 5. Bộ trưởng Bộ Tư pháp quy định chi tiết Điều này; quy định trình tự, thủ tục thụ lý, thụ lý ngay, từ chối thụ lý vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý.”

10. Sửa đổi, bổ sung Điều 32 như sau: “Điều 32. Tư vấn pháp luật 1. Người thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý tư vấn pháp luật cho người được trợ giúp pháp lý bằng việc hướng dẫn, đưa ra ý kiến, giúp soạn thảo văn bản liên quan đến tranh chấp, khiếu nại, vướng mắc pháp luật; hướng dẫn giúp các bên hòa giải, thương lượng, thống nhất hướng giải quyết vụ việc. 2. Bộ trưởng Bộ Tư pháp quy định chi tiết Điều này; quy định trình tự, thủ tục thực hiện vụ việc tư vấn pháp luật.”

11. Sửa đổi, bổ sung Điều 33 như sau: “Điều 33. Đại diện ngoài tố tụng 1. Trợ giúp viên pháp lý, luật sư thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý, cộng tác viên trợ giúp pháp lý đại diện ngoài tố tụng cho người được trợ giúp pháp lý trước cơ quan nhà nước có thẩm quyền. 2. Bộ trưởng Bộ Tư pháp quy định chi tiết Điều này; quy định trình tự, thủ tục thực hiện vụ việc đại diện ngoài tố tụng.”

12. Sửa đổi, bổ sung Điều 34 như sau: “Điều 34. Phối hợp xác minh vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý 1. Trường hợp cần xác minh các tình tiết, sự kiện có liên quan đến vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý ở địa phương khác thì tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý đã thụ lý vụ việc yêu cầu tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý nơi cần xác minh phối hợp thực hiện. Yêu cầu xác minh phải bằng văn bản, nêu rõ nội dung cần xác minh và thời hạn trả lời. 2. Bộ trưởng Bộ Tư pháp quy định chi tiết Điều này; quy định trình tự, thủ tục phối hợp xác minh vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý.”

13. Sửa đổi, bổ sung tên Điều và bổ sung khoản 3 vào sau khoản 2 Điều 35 như sau:

a) Sửa đổi, bổ sung tên Điều như sau: “Điều 35. Chuyển yêu cầu, vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý”;

b) Bổ sung khoản 3 vào sau khoản 2 như sau: “3. Trung tâm trợ giúp pháp lý nhà nước đang giải quyết vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý có thể chuyển vụ việc đó cho Trung tâm trợ giúp pháp lý nhà nước ở địa phương khác khi vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý đã được chuyển cho cơ quan có thẩm quyền tiến hành tố tụng, cơ quan tiến hành tố tụng tại địa phương đó giải quyết và thông báo cho người được trợ giúp pháp lý biết.”

14. Sửa đổi, bổ sung Điều 36 như sau: “Điều 36. Kiến nghị trong hoạt động trợ giúp pháp lý 1. Trong quá trình thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý, tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý kiến nghị bằng văn bản với cơ quan nhà nước có thẩm quyền về các vấn đề liên quan đến việc giải quyết vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý. Cơ quan nhận được kiến nghị, trong phạm vi nhiệm vụ, quyền hạn của mình, có trách nhiệm trả lời bằng văn bản theo quy định của pháp luật. 2. Trường hợp cơ quan nhận được kiến nghị không trả lời theo quy định tại khoản 1 Điều này thì tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý có quyền kiến nghị cơ quan cấp trên trực tiếp của cơ quan đó xem xét, giải quyết. 3. Chính phủ quy định chi tiết Điều này; quy định trình tự, thủ tục kiến nghị trong hoạt động trợ giúp pháp lý.”

15. Sửa đổi, bổ sung Điều 38 như sau: “Điều 38. Hồ sơ vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý Khi thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý, tổ chức thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý, người thực hiện trợ giúp pháp lý có trách nhiệm lập hồ sơ vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý theo quy định của Bộ trưởng Bộ Tư pháp.”

16. Sửa đổi, bổ sung một số điểm, khoản của Điều 40 như sau:

a) Sửa đổi, bổ sung điểm c khoản 2 như sau: “c) Ban hành các quy định hướng dẫn về chuyên môn, nghiệp vụ, đánh giá chất lượng, hiệu quả vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý; mẫu giấy tờ trong hoạt động trợ giúp pháp lý; tiêu chí xác định vụ việc trợ giúp pháp lý phức tạp, điển hình, chất lượng, thành công; thực hiện chế độ báo cáo, thống kê về trợ giúp pháp lý;”;

b) Bổ sung điểm k vào sau điểm i khoản 2 như sau: “k) Ứng dụng công nghệ thông tin, công nghệ số và triển khai chuyển đổi số trong hoạt động trợ giúp pháp lý; xây dựng, quản lý, vận hành và thường xuyên nâng cấp hệ thống thông tin và cơ sở dữ liệu trợ giúp pháp lý; thực hiện kết nối, tích hợp, chia sẻ dữ liệu trợ giúp pháp lý trên Cổng Pháp luật quốc gia.”

c) Amend and supplement Clause 3 and Clause 4, insert Clauses 5 and 6 after Clause 4 as follows: “3. Ministries, agencies at the ministerial level, within the scope of their functions and powers, shall be responsible for cooperating with the Ministry of Justice in managing state affairs and organizing the implementation of legal aid; establishing, integrating, sharing, exploiting, and utilizing data through connectivity and interconnection with the national legal aid database on the National Legal Portal. 4. People's Committees at provincial level, within the scope of their functions and powers, shall manage state affairs related to legal aid in their locality, ensure working conditions for the State Legal Aid Center; cooperate with the Ministry of Justice in establishing, integrating, sharing, exploiting, and utilizing data through connectivity and interconnection with the national legal aid database on the National Legal Portal. 5. People's Committees at district level shall cooperate with the State Legal Aid Center in implementing legal aid work within their jurisdiction. 6. The Government shall provide detailed regulations for this Article.”

d) Delete the phrase “and the assessment of the quality of legal aid cases” from Point e, Clause 2;

d) Delete the phrase “Inspection,” from Point g, Clause 2.

17. Amend and supplement Article 41 as follows: “Article 41. Responsibilities of relevant agencies in legal aid activities during proceedings 1. Within the scope of their functions and powers, competent authorities for criminal proceedings, investigative authorities shall be responsible for cooperating and organizing the implementation of inter-agency mechanisms, direct provision of legal aid at People's Courts and during criminal investigations; creating conditions for persons receiving legal aid to enjoy legal aid rights, and creating conditions for those providing legal aid to participate in proceedings according to the provisions of law. 2. The Minister of Justice, President of the Supreme People's Court, Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuracy, Minister of National Defense, Minister of Public Security, Minister of Finance shall cooperate in establishing inter-agency coordination mechanisms for legal aid activities at the central and provincial levels. 3. Relevant agencies involved in legal aid activities during proceedings shall be responsible for cooperating with the Ministry of Justice in establishing, integrating, sharing, exploiting, and utilizing data through connectivity and interconnection with the national legal aid database on the National Legal Portal.”

18. Amend and supplement Article 42 as follows: “Article 42. Responsibilities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, member organizations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and relevant state agencies 1. The Vietnam Fatherland Front, member organizations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, within the scope of their functions and duties, shall supervise the implementation of policies and laws on legal aid; cooperate with relevant state agencies in legal aid work according to the provisions of law. 2. In the process of handling and resolving matters related to citizens, if a citizen falls under those entitled to legal aid, the competent state agency shall explain their right to receive legal aid and refer them to an organization providing legal aid.”

19. Amend and supplement Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 45 as follows: “2. The head of the organization implementing legal aid is responsible for resolving complaints regarding actions specified in Clause 1 of this Article. In case a complainant disagrees with the decision on complaint resolution by the head of the organization implementing legal aid or if the complaint is not resolved within the prescribed period, they may file a complaint to the Director of the Department of Justice. In case a complainant disagrees with the decision on complaint resolution by the Director of the Department of Justice or if the complaint is not resolved within the prescribed period, they may initiate proceedings at the People's Court. The Government shall provide detailed regulations for this Clause; specify procedures and formalities for resolving complaints in legal aid. 3. Complaints and lawsuits regarding legal aid are not subject to the provisions specified in Clause 1 of this Article and shall be conducted according to the laws on complaints and other relevant laws.”

20. Supplement, replace certain phrases, and repeal some articles as follows:

a) Supplement the phrase “, judicial authorities, persons conducting proceedings” after the phrase “competent authorities for criminal proceedings” in Clause 2 of Article 8;

b) Supplement the phrase “, benefits” after the word “policies” in Point d, Clause 2 of Article 18;

c) Replace the phrase “Ministry of Justice's Information Portal” with the phrase “National Legal Portal” in Clause 2 of Article 10 and Clause 2 of Article 17;

d) Repeal Articles 23 and 29.

Article 2. Amendment and Supplement of Certain Articles of Relevant Laws

1. Abolish Clause 6 of Article 177 of the Juvenile Law No. 59/2024/QH15, which has been amended and supplemented in accordance with Law No. 85/2025/QH15.

2. Abolish Article 61 of the Anti-Trafficking Law No. 53/2024/QH15, which has been amended and supplemented in accordance with Law No. 86/2025/QH15.

Article 3. Effective Date

This Law shall take effect from January 01, 2027.