New ways are being sought to improve the legal aid system in Shanghai by increasing staff numbers and funding, said a local senior judicial official.

The Shanghai Justice Bureau is analysing the situation as the country prepares to enact China's first national legal aid regulation, which is due to take effect on September 1.

Liu Zhongding, the bureau's deputy director, said: "Under the improved system, those who are living above the city's poverty line but are not wealthy enough to go to court (using their own finances) could also benefit from legal aid."

Liu emphasized that legal aid should be the government's responsibility instead of relying on lawyers providing a free service, as was the case before.

He said of the previous way of operating: "It is unreasonable."

The bureau is researching the possibility of drafting a local regulation on legal aid that would take account of the city's particular situation and be more practical to operate, he said.

"We hope it will be on next year's agenda of regulations to be approved by the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee," the deputy director said.

Shanghai started its own legal aid service in 1995 by setting up the Chinese mainland's first such centre. It now has a three-level citywide legal aid network, which has handled 14,760 cases.

Liu said the bureau will this year make it obligatory for all the lawyers' firms under its jurisdiction to accept applications for legal aid.

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