Free Legal Aid to Realize Access to Law and Justice for Vulnerable Citizens (A Comparative Study of Indonesia and Thailand)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Fulfilling the right to legal aid requires services that address the economic, social, and institutional barriers faced by vulnerable citizens. This study examines Legal Aid Institute (LBH) services in Indonesia specifically in Semarang and Kudus, Central Java and the Muslim Attorney Center Foundation (MAC) in Yala, Southern Thailand, which assists the Malay Muslim minority in Pattani and Yala in navigating security and emergency laws. The research employs qualitative methods, a descriptive analytical approach, and functional legal comparison. Data were gathered through document analysis and 2024 interviews with 26 informants, including representatives from the Central Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, LBH and MAC lawyers, and legal aid recipients. The study covers Indonesia’s Legal Aid Law, the Thai Constitution, the Justice Fund Act, and Islamic family and inheritance laws in Southern Thailand. While services in Semarang and Kudus benefit from state accreditation and funding, they face challenges regarding administration, limited budgets, and the imposition of costs on recipients. MAC’s community-based approach in Thailand facilitates access for the Malay Muslim minority and their families while fostering trust; however, language barriers, resource constraints, and difficulties in accessing detainees held under security and emergency laws limit the scope of assistance. Findings from both regions highlight the need for sustainable funding, service oversight, and more accessible procedures, alongside strengthened community-based approaches and legal assistance from the onset of detention. This research provides a foundation for improving legal aid services by linking institutional governance with recipient experiences, ensuring services are more responsive to the needs of vulnerable citizens and that assistance remains available for as long as it is required.
Institution: IAIN Kudus
Language: English
Subfield: Law
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225310029