With 93,28 per cent of approval votes, the 16th National Assembly passed a Legal aid Law in the 9th session’s June 20 sitting. Under the Law, which will take effect on January 1, 2018, the number of legal aid beneficiary groups has increased from 6 groups to 14.
Eligible persons for getting free legal services include:

1. People with meritorious services to the revolution;
2. Poor people;
3. Children (under 16 years of age);
4. Ethnic minority people permanently residing in areas with exceptionally difficult socio-economic conditions;
5. Accused persons (include those arrest, detainees, suspects, defendants) from 16 years of age to under 18 years of age;
6. Near-poor accused persons (include those arrest, detainees, suspects, defendants);
7. Seven groups in financial difficulties:

1. Parents and spouses of fallen heroes, fallen heroes' children; those who had nurtured fallen heroes;
2. Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin;
3. Elderly people;
4. Victims of Crime from 16 years of age to under 18 years of age;
5. Victims of domestic violence;
6. Victims of human trafficking;
7. People living with HIV.

Legal aid beneficiaries have the right to request legal aid by themselves or via their relatives or civil procedure-conducting agencies and persons, concerned individuals, agencies and/or organizations. They also have the right to select legal aid-providing persons, legal aid-providing organizations which shall be publicly in their localities.