This Circular sets forth criteria for determining legal proceedings, extrajudicial representation, legal counseling in legal aid which is considered complex and typical.
The Circular applies to the State legal aid centers of provinces or central-affiliated cities and provincial Departments of Justice and relevant entities.
General criteria for legal proceedings are as follow: Legal aid is provided in legal cases which have aroused public concern and have been reported by central and local news agencies; A case where the point of view given by the legal aid-providing person differs from one of presiding agencies and is accepted toward in favor of the legally-aided person at judgments and decisions; Legal aid is provided in a case where there are many materials and items of evidence in conflict or evaluation of items of evidence and application of laws by presiding agencies triggers off different opinions, or a case in conjunction with multiple areas of law; Legal aid is provided in a case where an appeal is filed for further actions under appellate trial or re-trial; Legal aid is provided in a case which relates to multiple provinces; Legal aid is provided in a case where one of involved parties resides, studies or works abroad.
A criminal case in which legal aid is provided will be considered complex and typical when it meets one of the following criteria: Meet one of criteria for legal proceedings; Legal aid is provided for suspects or defendants prosecuted with multiple counts in a case; Legal aid is provided in a case which is under jurisdiction of the inferior presiding agency but the superior presiding agency takes over for handling or legal aid is provided in a case in which the period for trial preparation must be extended; Legal aid is provided in a case in which dossiers are returned for re-investigation or further investigation; Legal aid is provided in a case that the People’s Procuracy requests penalty of imprisonment for at least 2 years, except for cases tried under reduced procedures; Legal aid is provided in a case where an advocate is appointed.
A civil case in which legal aid is provided, except for civil matters and cases tried under reduced procedures, will be considered complex and typical when it meet one of the following criteria: Meet one of criteria for legal proceedings; Legal aid is provided in a case where regulations and laws on matters to be settled in the case are unclear, without guidance on consistent application or without legislative documents that directly govern them; Legal aid is provided in a case which is under jurisdiction of the inferior People’s Court but the superior People’s Court take over for handling or legal aid is provided in a case in which the period for trial preparation must be extended.
A civil case in which legal aid is provided, except for administrative matters and cases tried under reduced procedures, will be considered complex and typical when it meet one of the following criteria: Meet one of criteria for legal proceedings; Legal aid is provided in a case arising in new area that there is no legislative document that directly governs it; Legal aid is provided in a case that related to rights and interests of multiple people; Legal aid is provided in prolonged claims/denunciations in terms of land management, land clearing and compensation or other areas of law at local.
A extrajudicial representation or legal counseling in which legal aid is provided will be considered complex and typical when it meet one of the following criteria: Legal aid is provided in a case with prolonged claim that has aroused wide public concern and has been reported by many central and local news agencies or in a case that the legal aid-providing organization requests agencies matters related to the case; Legal aid is provided in a case that has been settled many times or settled by many competent authorities.
This Circular comes into force as of August 21, 2018. Legal cases in which legal aid is provided will be determined if they are complex or typical  before effective date of this Circular shall apply criteria prescribed in Decision No. 2662/QD-BTP dated December 29, 2016 of the Minister of Justice on criteria for complex and typical legal proceedings with legal aid in 2016 and 2017.