Is it against the law when collecting fees from legally-aided persons in Vietnam?

Is it against the law when collecting fees from legally-aided persons in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Law on Legal Aid in 2017 stipulating principles of legal aid services as follows:

1. Compliance with law and professional regulations on legal aid.

2. Timeliness, independence, honesty and respect for objective truth.

3. Best protection of legitimate rights and interests of legally-aided persons.

4. Non-collection of fees, economic benefits or other benefits from legally-aided persons.

Pursuant to Clause 1 Article 6 of the Law on Legal Aid in 2017 stipulating, legal aid-providing organizations and individuals may not commit the following acts:

a) Infringe upon the dignity, honor or legitimate rights and interests of legally-aided persons; discriminate against legally-aided persons;

b) Receive or demand any sum of money, economic benefits or other benefits from legally-aided persons; harass legally-aided persons;

c) Disclose information on legal aid-related cases or legally-aided persons unless it is agreed in writing by legally-aided persons or otherwise provided for by law.

d) Refuse or discontinue the provision of legal aid services, except for cases specified in this Law and regulations on procedures;

dd) Abuse legal aid services for self-seeking activities, encroach on national security and defense, disturb social order and safety, cause adverse impacts on social ethics;

e) Incite, provoke legally-aided persons to declare and supply false information and documents or to make complaints or denunciations or initiate lawsuits in contravention of law.

As regulations above, legal aid services in Vietnam must be free. Legal aid-providing organizations and individuals must not receive or demand any sum of money from legally-aided persons.

Is it against the law when collecting fees from legally-aided persons in Vietnam? - image from internet

Are people infected with dioxin considered legally-aided persons in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 7 of the Law on Legal Aid in 2017 stipulating legally-aided persons as follows:

1. People with meritorious services to the revolution.

2. People in poor households.

3. Children.

4. Ethnic minority people permanently residing in areas with exceptionally difficult socio-economic conditions.

5. Accused persons from 16 years old to under 18 years old.

6. Accused persons in near-poor households.

7. People in one of the following cases having financial difficulties:

a) Blood parents, spouses and children of patriotic martyrs; persons having merits in nurturing young patriotic martyrs;

b) People infected with dioxin;

c) Elderly people;

d) Disabled people;

dd) Victims in criminal prosecutions from 16 years old to under 18 years old;

e) Victims in family domestic violence cases;

g) Victims of human trafficking cases as specified in the Law on human trafficking prevention and combat;

h) HIV-positive people.

The Government shall stipulate in detail the financial difficulties of legally-aided persons in this clause in accordance with the socio-economic conditions.

As regulations above, people infected with dioxin who have financial difficulties are legally-aided persons in Vietnam.

Best regards!