Circular No. 18/2025/TT-BTP guides the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of public service units under the judicial sector at local levels.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of public service units under the judicial sector at local level

On the basis of Law on Legal Aid No. 11/2017/QH14;

On the basis of Law on Auctions No. 01/2016/QH14 has been amended and supplemented with some articles pursuant to Law No. Decision No. 16/2023/QH15, Law No. 37/2024/QH15;

On the basis of Notary Law No. 46/2024/QH15;

Decree No. Decree No. 144/2017/NĐ-CP detailing certain provisions of the Law on Legal Aid;

Decree No. Decree No. 172/2024/NĐ-CP detailing certain provisions of Law on Auctions No. 01/2016/QH14 amended and supplemented by Law No. 37/2024/QH15;

Decree No. Decree No. 104/2025/NĐ-CP detailing certain provisions and measures for implementation of the Notary Law;

Decree No. Decree No. 120/2020/NĐ-CP concerning establishment, organization, dissolution of public service units;

Decree No.  of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Justice; detailing functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Justice;

Decree No. Decree No. 150/2025/NĐ-CP detailing the organization of specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees and central city People's Committees and People's Committees of communes, wards, and special administrative regions under provincial and central city People's Committees;

The phrase "or examination" is abolished pursuant to Clause 6, Article 8 of Circular No. 15/2025/TT-BVHTTDL dated November 25, 2025, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism amending and supplementing certain articles of Circulars prescribing job codes, qualification standards, and salary grades for civil servants in the heritage culture, library, grassroots cultural activities, sports, fine arts, art performance, film, and cultural propaganda sectors, which takes effect from January 15, 2026.

The Minister of Justice issues this Circular to guide the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of public service units under the judicial sector at local level.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular guides the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of public service units under the judicial sector at local level.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to State Legal Aid Centers, Auction Service Centers, Notary Offices under Departments of Justice in provinces and cities, and other public service units under Departments of Justice operating within the scope of management of the Ministry of Justice.

Article 3. Position and Functions

1. Position

State Legal Aid Centers, Auction Service Centers, Notary Offices, and other public service units under Departments of Justice operating within the scope of management of the Ministry of Justice are public service units under Departments of Justice, established by Provincial and City People's Committees, having legal personality, office premises, seals, and separate bank accounts in accordance with the law.

2. Functions

a) State Legal Aid Centers have the function of providing free legal services to beneficiaries of legal aid in legal aid cases and performing tasks serving state management as prescribed by the legal aid laws and related laws.

b) Auction Service Centers have the function of providing auction services and performing tasks serving state management as prescribed by the auction laws and related laws.

c) Notary Offices have the function of providing notarization and authentication services and performing tasks serving state management as prescribed by the notarization and authentication laws and related laws.

d) Other public service units under Departments of Justice operating within the scope of management of the Ministry of Justice perform their functions as prescribed by the relevant specialized laws and related laws.

Article 4. Tasks and Powers

1. Tasks and Powers Related to Serving State Management

a) Drafting long-term, annual, or ad hoc Programs and Plans of work or other documents within the authority of public service units in the fields of legal aid, auctions, notarization, authentication, and other fields under the management of the Ministry of Justice for approval by competent authorities.

b) Implementing approved Programs and Plans of work; applying information technology in activities of legal aid, auctions, notarization, authentication, and other fields under the management of the Ministry of Justice as managed by Departments of Justice in accordance with the law.

c) Participating in drafting and providing comments on draft documents as assigned by Department of Justice leaders or upon request from units under the Department of Justice or other relevant units.

d) Implementing statistical reporting systems; compiling and providing information on databases regarding legal aid, auctions, notarization, authentication, and other fields under the management of the Ministry of Justice as prescribed by the law.

2. Tasks and Powers Related to Providing Public Services

a) State Legal Aid Centers provide free legal services to beneficiaries of legal aid in legal aid cases as prescribed by the legal aid laws and related laws.

b) Auction Service Centers provide auction services as prescribed by the auction laws and related laws..

c) Notary Offices provide notarization and authentication services as prescribed by the notarization and authentication laws and related laws.

d) Other public service units under Departments of Justice operating within the scope of management of the Ministry of Justice perform tasks and powers related to providing public services as prescribed by the relevant specialized laws and related laws.

3. Implementing financial and accounting systems; managing and using public assets in accordance with the law.

4. Implementing record-keeping, archiving, commendation, and award activities; managing organizational structures, job positions, number of employees, civil servants, and workers of the unit according to delegated authority and the law.

5. Performing other tasks and powers as prescribed by specialized laws and other tasks and powers delegated by provincial and city People's Committees, Chairmen of provincial and city People's Committees, and Directors of Departments of Justice according to delegated authority and the law.

Article 5. Organizational Structure

1. State Legal Aid Center

a) Leadership: The State Legal Aid Center has a Director and Deputy Directors.

b) Organizations under the State Legal Aid Center: Branches (if any), appropriate specialized departments (if any).

c) Professional positions under the State Legal Aid Center: Legal aid officers, support staff, civil servants, and other workers as prescribed by the law.

2. Auction Service Center

a) Leadership: The Auction Service Center has a Director and Deputy Directors.

b) Organizations under the Auction Service Center: Management Board (if any), constituent organizations (if any).

c) Professional titles within the Asset Auction Service Center: Auctioneer, business support staff, civil servants, and other employees as prescribed by law.

3. Notary Office

a) Leadership: The Notary Office has a Director and Deputy Directors.

b) Organizations under the Notary Office: Management Board (if any), constituent organizations (if any).

c) Professional titles within the Notary Office: Notary Public, business support staff, civil servants, and other employees as prescribed by law.

4. Other public service units under the Department of Justice operating in areas under the Ministry of Justice's administrative jurisdiction:

a) Leadership: Public service units have a head and deputy heads of the public service unit.

b) Organizations under public service units: Management Board (if any), constituent organizations (if any).

c) Professional titles within public service units: Civil servants and other employees as prescribed by law.

5. The establishment of a Management Board (if any), Branches (if any), appropriate specialized departments (if any), constituent organizations (if any), and the number of deputy heads of public service units shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of law.

Article 6. Effectiveness and Responsibility for Implementation

1. This Circular takes effect from November 1, 2025.

2. People's Committees at provincial and municipal levels ensure material conditions and resources for public service units in the judicial sector in their localities as stipulated in this Circular to operate effectively and efficiently.

3. Directors of Provincial Departments of Justice, heads of public service units under the Department of Justice, and related agencies and organizations are responsible for implementing this Circular.

4. In the process of implementing this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, public service units under the Department of Justice and related agencies and organizations are requested to report to the Ministry of Justice for guidance and resolution in accordance with regulations./.