中国的法律援助制度(英)

中国的法律援助制度（英）LegalAssistanceLegalassistanceisasystemoflegalremedyadoptedbymanycountriesintheworld.Underthissystem,thestate,throughoutthelegalprocessandatalllevels,provideslegalassistance,throughreductionorexemptionoffees,totheunderprivilegedofsocietywhohavedifficultysafeguardingtheirownrightsthroughthenormallegalmeans,becauseofeconomicproblemsorotherwise.Asamajorsafeguardtorealizesocialjusticeandjudicialparityandtoprotectcivilrights,legalassistanceoccupiesaveryimportantpositioninacountry'sjudicialsystem.Article34oftherevisedCriminalProcedureLawofthePeople'sRepublicofChina,passedonMarch17,xx,states,"Forpublic-prosecutedcases,thecourtcandesignatealawyerwhoprovideslegalassistancetodefendtheaccusediftheaccusedfailstoappointadefenseattorneyforeconomicorother第1 页共5页reasons.Iftheaccusedfailtoappointadefenderbecausetheyareblind,deaf,muteoraminor,thecourtshoulddesignatealawyerwhoprovideslegalaidtodefendtheaccused.Iftheaccusedreceivesadeathpenalty,butfailstoappointadefenseattorney,thecourtshoulddesignatealawyerwhoprovideslegalaidtodefendtheaccused."ThisisthefirsttimeinthehistoryofChineselegislationthatlegalassistancewaswrittenintolaw.TheLawyersLaw,passedonMay15,xx,providesmorespecificswithregardtolegalassistance.Chapter6ofthelawsays,"Citizenswhoneedlegalassistancebutcannotaffordtopayforlawyers'fees,may,inaccordancewithstateregulations,seeklegalassistanceinmatterssuchassupportingtheelderly,workplaceinjuries,criminallawsuits,statecompensation,andthegrantingofpensionsforthedisabledorsurvivorsofanaccident.LawyersshouldassumetheresponsibilityoflegalassistanceanddutifullyhelpthoseinneedinaccordancewithStateregulations.Specificrulesforlegalassistancewill第2 页共5页beworkedoutbytheStateCounciljudicialadministrationandsubmittedtotheStateCouncilforapproval."Theseprovisionsdefinethescopeoflegalassistanceandrequirelawyerstoprovidelegalassistance.Inaddition,theylaythefoundationforfuturelegislationonlegalaid.Atpresent,Chinahasformedafour-tierlegalassistancestructure:Atthenationallevel,aCenterforLegalAssistancehasbeencreatedundertheMinistryofJusticetosuperviseandcoordinatelegalassistanceacrossthecountry.Thiscenter,createdonMay26,xx,isresponsibleforsupervisinglegalassistance,draftingregulationsandrules,mappingoutmedium-tolong-termplansandannualplans,coordinatelegalassistanceworknationwide,andconductingexchangeswithforeignlegal-aidgroupsandindividuals.Onthesameday,theChinaLegalAidFoundationwascreatedtoraise,manageandusethefunds,publicizethelegalaidsystem,andpromotejudicialjustice.Fundingcomesfromdonationsandsponsorships第3 页共5页givenbydomesticorganizations,enterprisesandindividuals;interest;proceedsfrombondandstocktrading.2.Legal-aidcentershavealsobeenestablishedinprovinces（autonomousregions）tosuperviseandcoordinatelegal-aidworkintheirrespectivejurisdiction.3.Thenexttierisprefecturesandcitieswherethelegal-aidcentersperformadualduty:administerandimplementlegal-aidprogramsintheirjurisdiction.Finally,whereconditionspermit,legal-aidcentersarealsosetupincountiesanddistricts;whereconditionsdonotpermit,theJudicialBureauofthecountiesanddistrictsshouldberesponsibleforlegalaid.Applicantsforlegalaidshouldmeettwoconditions:thathavesufficientreasontoprovetheyneedlegalassistancetosafeguardtheirlawfulrightsandinterests;andthattheyindeedcannotaffordtopay,inpartorfull,thelegalfees.第4 页共5页Legalassistanceisrenderedbythreegroupsofpeople:lawyers,publicnotariesandgrassrootslegalprofessionals.Lawyersprovideproceduralaidincludingdefenseforcriminalcases,representationforcriminalcases,andrepresentationforcivilprocedures）andnon-proceduralaid;publicnotariesprovidenotarizationassistance;grassrootslegalprofessionalsprovidelegalcounseling,documentdraftingandgeneralnon-proceduralaid.InChina,legalaidisfundedbythreesources:government,socialdonationsandvolunteering.Though