(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-28 18:50

BEIJING - Cases handled with legal aid totaled 318,514 and 3,193,801 people received law consultancy across China in 2006, up 25.6 percent and 19.9 percent respectively, a white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council said on Thursday.

The white paper, the first of its kind, said financially-straitened citizens can apply for legal aid in civil cases when they demand state compensation, social security or minimum subsistence allowance, pension, relief, alimony, maintenance, child support and labor payment.

The paper, entitled China's Efforts and Achievements in Promoting the Rule of Law, said in criminal procedures, citizens with financial difficulties may apply for legal aid for commissioning lawyers, agents or defenders.

If the defendant is blind, deaf or dumb, or is a minor, and has not a defender, or if the defendant with death penalty has no defender, the people's court will designate a legal aid lawyer to serve as the defender, said the paper.

China set up a legal aid system in 1994 and for now legal aid departments have been established by all-level governments nationwide and equipped with full-time staff.

The paper also noted that the newly promulgated Measures on the Payment of Litigation Fees has reduced litigation fees by 60 percent on average and the newly adopted Measures on the Administration of Lawyers' Service Fees has strict terms on the fees charged by lawyers.