The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued a statement recently to help more underprivileged people gain access to legal aid, allowing them to avail of legal services for free.

The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council required the authorities, the statement said, to provide convenient, quality and efficient legal aid to underprivileged people, giving more citizens the chance to settle disputes in court.

The statement also required the authorities to make sure every citizen who is qualified for legal aid has access to such services and that every case is handled justly.

The authorities should boost access to legal aid to people involved in both civil and criminal cases, it said, and they should carry out trial programs to provide such services to those who are financially challenged but want to appeal against a court decision.

The statement also added that the authorities should work carefully on cases involving issues of employment, education, medical services and public insurance for financially challenged people, and provide quality legal aid to migrant workers, laid-off workers, women and minors.

Authorities should also expand the legal aid network to grassroots communities, establish standards to regulate it as well as improve its quality and accessibility.

The central government will strengthen its financial support to regions in central and western China in providing legal aid services, the statement said, and provincial governments should make more transfer payments to underdeveloped regions to help improve legal aid.

The authorities should also improve office supplies and equipment needed to provide legal aid, enhance online management of such services and nurture more professionals.