Models and Methods of Dissemination and Legal Education of Legal Aid Centers in Ho Chi Minh City

Tran Thanh Ngan

Graduate Student, National Academy of Public Administration, Vietnam

ABSTRACT: With its essential role in socioeconomic development and defense security, Ho Chi Minh City faces many diverse and complex legal challenges. Disseminating and educating the law residents, especially disadvantaged people, is one of the main tasks of legal aid centers. However, currently, this work faces many limitations and difficulties. This article focuses on researching models and methods of legal dissemination and education in Ho Chi Minh City. These models include on-site legal aid activities, participation in legal proceedings, and the activities of legal aid clubs. Using document analysis, the article argues that residents are equipped with basic legal knowledge through these activities, helping them clearly understand their rights and obligations in daily life. This helps improve citizens’ awareness and respect for the law and promotes their active participation in nation-building and sustainable development.

KEYWORDS: Popularizing the law; Legal education; Legal Aid Center; Legal work; Legal awareness; Ho Chi Minh City Residents.

INTRODUCTION

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest urban area in the country, playing an important role in socio-economic development, ensuring national defense – security, and international integration. Legal relations are complex and diverse, placing many high demands on legal dissemination and education (Chien & Thanh, 2022). The Legal Aid Center is one of the agencies and organizations tasked with disseminating and educating the law for people, especially those in difficult and disadvantageous circumstances. However, the legal dissemination and education work of legal aid centers still faces many limitations and inadequacies (Duong, 2022).

Law dissemination and education is one of the essential tasks of the State and society to raise citizens’ awareness and respect for the law. Providing legal knowledge to citizens helps them understand their rights and obligations in society. It creates favorable conditions for them to actively and proactively participate in building and promoting justice and national development. Through legal dissemination and education activities, citizens can access basic law concepts, the legal system, and mechanisms for handling violations (Hoang Thi Hong Nhan, 2019). They will be guided about their rights and obligations in marriage, family, labor, finance, criminal, and civil matters. Citizens will also be informed about the rights and social standards protected by the law and how the law is applied in everyday life. According to the 2012 Law on Dissemination and Education, legal dissemination and education are specific activities of competent agencies, organizations, and individuals to inform, propagate, guide, advise, and help people learn, study, and implement the law (Hoang Thi Tuyet Mai, 2023).

There are many forms of disseminating legal education, but giving legal education through legal aid centers effectively provides information, advice, and legal support to people. Especially those in difficult and disadvantageous circumstances. According to the 2012 Law on Dissemination and Legal Education, a legal aid center is an agency or organization established by the law to provide legal aid to poor and incapacitated people—The ability to protect one’s legitimate rights and interests (Le Thi Thu Ha, 2018). Regardless of the method or form, there needs to be consensus and consensus in determining goals, strategies, and resources to succeed in legal dissemination and education (Le Thi Thuy, 2012).

Legal aid centers have played an essential role in legal dissemination and education. Organize seminars, workshops, and conferences to raise awareness of legal issues for people. Coordinate with press agencies to produce and broadcast programs and columns on legal matters. Build and maintain electronic information channels such as websites, fan pages, and YouTube to update and share legal information with people. Participate in grassroots conciliation work, supporting people to resolve civil disputes through negotiation and conciliation. Compile and distribute legal propaganda and dissemination materials such as leaflets, legal leaflets, books, tapes, and discs… (Lu Van Tuyen, Huong Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, 2022).

The legal aid center is a public service unit under the Department of Justice, established by the Provincial People’s Committee, with legal status, seal, headquarters, and separate accounts (Pham Dinh Kien, 2016)). The legal aid center is an essential and reliable unit in the legal system of a province. As a legal entity, it has the right and responsibility to represent and act legally, protecting the rights and interests of the people. The Legal Aid Center’s seal is a legal symbol of the representation and reputation of this unit in transactions and interactions with outside parties (Le Thi Thu Ha, 2018).

The legal aid center serves as a place where legal advice and support activities take place. This is where people can find information, request advice, and receive legal help. This headquarters provides a professional and trustworthy environment for people seeking legal help and advice. The Legal Aid Center offers free legal services to legal aid recipients according to the provisions of the Law on Legal Aid 2017 (Duong, 2022). Legal aid centers are essential in providing free legal services to legal aid recipients to ensure citizens’ rights to justice and equality before the law. This function is regulated and guided in detail in the 2017 Legal Aid Law.

The legal aid center also performs other tasks such as developing and promulgating legal documents, programs, and plans on legal dissemination and education; directing, guiding, and organizing the implementation of law dissemination and education work; fostering legal knowledge, professional training, dissemination skills, and legal education; statistics and summaries of law dissemination and education; inspect, examine and resolve complaints; international cooperation on law dissemination and education (Le Thi Thu Ha, 2018).

Legal basis for implementing forms of law dissemination and education in Vietnam

Legal aid activities have recently received attention, decisions and programs for dissemination and legal education have been implemented through a series of Directives and Decisions of all levels of government, primarily Directive No. 315/CT issued on December 7, 1982, by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. This directive has identified the goal of promoting the dissemination and education of law through the use of many forms and means of dissemination, such as newspapers, radio, television, and other forms of culture and art techniques to convey legal information to the public (Le Thi Thu Ha, 2018). Mass media agencies such as newspapers, radio, and television must also promote and educate the law through talks, answering the law, and praising those who comply. Law, and at the same time, criticize violations of the law. In addition, the publication of popular books introducing state legal documents and the development of legal education programs and materials for schools are also focused on implementation (Lu Van Tuyen, Huong Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, 2022).

Next, Decision No. 02/1998/CT-TTg and Decision No. 03/1998/QD-TTg continued to promote the importance of disseminating and educating the law through oral propaganda and the use of the law. Use mass media. Also, according to this decision, measures to share and inform the law are clearly defined, focusing on promoting the dissemination and education of the law for all classes of people, especially officials—grassroots government (Le Thi Thu Ha, 2018).

In 2003, the Prime Minister continued to approve the Law Dissemination and Education Program from 2003 to 2007, and Circular No. 01/2003/TT-BTP stipulated several forms of legal dissemination and education. Law such as mass media, loudspeakers, law bookshelves, compilation of legal documents, legal competitions, law clubs, legal advice, legal aid, and education. Legal education in school (Pham Hoai Trong, 2021).

In 2008, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 37/2008/QD-TTg to innovate and improve the effectiveness of existing forms of legal dissemination and education and widely deploy these forms of dissemination. , new legal education. In 2012, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam passed the Law on Dissemination and Legal Education to mark an essential breakthrough in regulation and regulation. And strengthen legal dissemination and education nationwide (Pham Hoai Trong, 2021). This law was enacted on July 1, 2013, and has created a solid foundation to promote legal dissemination and education in Vietnam. The 2012 Law on Dissemination and Legal Education has expanded its scope of application from not only state agencies but also to all organizations, households, and individuals in Vietnam. This allows everyone to access and participate in legal dissemination and education, helping to raise the legal awareness of the entire society (Pham Thi Tam, 2022). The law stipulates the duties and powers of agencies and organizations in disseminating and educating the law. This helps increase units’ responsibility and active participation in ensuring that legal dissemination and education work is implemented effectively.

The law stipulates many diverse forms and measures of legal dissemination and education suitable for each type of audience (Pham Thi Tam, 2022). The mass media, schools, meetings, seminars, workshops, law clubs, legal advice, and legal aid are widely used to promote dissemination and education-law for all classes of people. With the participation of all agencies, organizations, families, and individuals, legal dissemination and education work has helped raise the legal awareness of the community (Le Thi Thu Ha, 2018). People better understand their rights and obligations under the law, ensuring their participation in society and their behavior comply with the law.

With a clear understanding of the law, people can resolve problems and disputes that arise in daily life in the community. This helps minimize controversies and conflicts, ensuring reconciliation and fairness in society (Thang & Thanh, 2023). The practical implementation of law dissemination and education has increased people’s trust in the law and the government. People have faith in the legal system’s rights, transparency, and reliability, thereby contributing to building a civilized, developed, and equal society.

Models and methods of dissemination and legal education of legal aid centers

Disseminate and educate the law through legal aid activities at the grassroots

The reality in Ho Chi Minh City shows that the state legal aid center, in close coordination with the city-level People’s Committee and organizations such as the Bar Association and Lawyers Association, unanimously organizes activities-legal assistance at the grassroots level. The importance of lawful content being propagated and disseminated cannot be denied, and to ensure its effectiveness, surveying and understanding the legal learning needs of each target group and specific characteristics is essential. Each locality is necessary (Le Thi Thu Ha, 2018). Through customization and content filtering, participants can access and understand the law more efficiently, thereby overcoming limitations and difficulties in exercising their rights and obligations (Norrie, 1996; Thanh, Thuy, Hoa, & Thien, 2022).

Legal aid officers grasp people’s thoughts, and the selection of legal information content needs to meet the needs and tastes of participants (Thu, Thi, & Nghi, 2023). This also increases people’s interest and acceptance, eliminating the wastefulness and ineffectiveness of disseminating legal information (Norrie, 1996). Thanks to a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of legal information activities, legal aid officers select the most important documents, legal education materials, and information and provide them effectively (Tuoi & Thanh, 2023).

The reality in Ho Chi Minh City shows that in addition to propagating and disseminating legal information, distributing free legal leaflets is an effective measure to reach people directly (Tuoi & Thanh, 2023). These legal leaflets contain essential and valuable information optimized for public access and understanding. They bring convenience and ease for people to absorb and learn about the law while promoting community awareness and the spirit of law compliance.

Disseminate and educate the law through active participation in litigation and non-litigation representation.

Legal advice, a widely recognized and universally available form of legal aid, is commonly dispensed by legal aid organizations. In the course of legal consultations, dedicated legal support personnel furnish individuals with information pertinent to legal documents relevant to their particular case or circumstances. Furthermore, these professionals address the challenges and dilemmas faced by individuals, offering sound advice, potential solutions, or alternative courses of action in alignment with the prevailing legal framework (Pham Hoai Trong, 2021). The ultimate aim of these consultative activities is to enhance individuals’ comprehension of legal regulations, thereby cultivating trust in the legal system and nurturing a respect for principles of social justice.

However, legal education is not confined solely to the provision of advice. It extends to encompass a pivotal role in rendering legal aid and safeguarding the rights of individuals, whether through participation in litigation or non-litigation representation. In the process of engaging with legal proceedings, beyond the execution of legal measures to safeguard the rights of legal aid recipients, the legal aid center, specifically its assistants and collaborators, also assume the responsibility of legal education for the recipients and other relevant stakeholders involved in the proceedings (Pham Hoai Trong, 2021). They undertake the guidance and elucidation of legal regulations pertaining to the rights and responsibilities of all relevant parties, as well as elucidate the intricate processes and procedures entailed in dealing with agencies such as the Investigation, Procuracy, and Court.

The mastery of legal regulations acquired through such educational efforts empowers suspects, defendants, and associated parties to competently exercise their legal rights and fulfill their obligations within the parameters of the law. This proficiency not only facilitates the protection of their legal rights but also instills confidence in their decision-making processes, including trust in the ultimate decisions of the court (Pham Hoai Trong, 2021). Furthermore, the legal assistants and collaborators engage in extensive communication and information exchange activities with legal aid recipients. This includes offering guidance and clarification on legal regulations pertaining to their rights and obligations, as well as elucidating the essential procedures required for effective collaboration with competent authorities in the resolution of their cases (Tuoi & Thanh, 2023). This holistic approach to legal education ensures that individuals are not only informed but also empowered to navigate the legal landscape and exercise their rights judiciously.

Disseminate and educate the law through the activities of legal aid clubs

The legal aid club is a form of community legal aid activity, organized monthly under the guidance and support of the state legal aid center. Activities in the club focus on a series of legal issues, to help people better grasp and understand basic legal regulations and policies (Tuoi & Thanh, 2023). The activities of the clubs are diverse and multi-dimensional, including listening to new information about law and current affairs, and discussing actual legal situations occurring at the facility.

The main goal of the club is to create opportunities for people to learn about the legal provisions on the rights and obligations of citizens in legal regulations, as well as about the construction and implementation of village conventions and regulations. conventions and regulations to implement democracy at the grassroots level. At the same time, the club also helps people learn and update preferential policies and duty exemptions for specific subjects such as the poor, people with meritorious services, lonely elderly people, and ethnic minorities (Pham Hoai Trong, 2021). From learning about local customary laws, the club also supports people in applying legal knowledge to daily life and resolving disputes occurring in the community.

The activities of the legal aid club not only provide one-way legal knowledge but also create opportunities for members to participate in exchanging, discussing and applying the legal provisions that have been learned. into real situations. This helps increase people’s understanding and trust in the legal system, as well as encourage them to take law-abiding actions in everyday life (Pham Hoai Trong, 2021). The club’s organization of regular activities also creates a regular, stable operating environment and continuously updates new legal knowledge for local people, helping to form “living and working” habits. according to the law” in the community. At the same time, these activities also hone skills in applying the law to resolve conflicts and disputes that arise in daily life in the community, contributing to building a civilized and peaceful society (Tuoi & Thanh, 2023).

Conclusion

Ho Chi Minh City, as a sprawling urban metropolis with a high population density and dynamic economic activities, frequently grapples with legal disputes and law-related matters. These issues arise from the intricate interactions within such a complex urban environment (Phan Thu Ha, 2022). In response to these challenges, the establishment of legal aid centers has proven to be an invaluable solution aimed at addressing legal concerns and ensuring equitable access to and comprehension of the legal system for all its residents.

The presence of legal support centers has effectively met the growing demand among the city’s inhabitants for legal information and assistance in resolving various legal issues. These centers have emerged as crucial pillars within the legal aid structure, serving as reliable hubs for disseminating legal knowledge and information (Phan Thu Ha, 2022). By offering citizens access to documents, regulations, and resources pertaining to their rights and responsibilities within the intricate web of social and economic dynamics, these centers have become instrumental in empowering individuals.

In a rapidly evolving economic landscape, the activities of legal aid centers in Ho Chi Minh City have cemented their significance. They have not only facilitated access to the legal framework but also contributed to fostering trust in the legal system. The existence of these centers underscores the importance of creating an environment conducive to learning and increasing legal awareness among the populace (Phan Thu Ha, 2022). This, in turn, encourages active participation from the public in understanding their legal rights and defending them.

The professional qualifications and training of the legal aid workers at these centers are instrumental in delivering effective legal education and support. Their expertise is paired with a pragmatic approach, ensuring that the dissemination of legal knowledge aligns seamlessly with real-world applications (Tuoi & Thanh, 2023). This synergy between theory and practice exemplifies the commitment of legal aid centers in Ho Chi Minh City to provide practical solutions to legal challenges faced by its diverse and dynamic population. In doing so, they not only promote legal literacy but also uphold the principles of justice and equal access to the legal system, contributing significantly to the overall well-being and harmonious functioning of the city’s society.

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