The law permeates the everyday life of human society. Although its presence in the daily life is not always strongly felt, each member of society is affected by the law from the moment of birth. When a citizen unwittingly invades the rights of another or conversely is injured by another; or is being charged with punishment for contravention of the law, the Foundation opens its doors to those who are not professionally represented due to the lack of finance. The Foundation grants aid fully or partially to an applicant whose case is meritorious and meets the prescribed financial eligibility criteria.

The Foundation was established pursuant to the Legal Aid Act, which was promulgated in January, 2004. Since then, branch offices opened in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Changhua, Yilan, Taitung, Keelung, Miaoli, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and Banciao.  Currently, twenty branch offices have been established around Taiwan, and more than 2000 lawyers have been assigned with legal aid work. To date, the Foundation has granted aid to around 30,000 applications in which eligible citizens have received assistance in the resolution of legal disputes and problems.

The Foundation has extended the availability of legal aid services to prisoners and the accused in custody. Recently, branch offices have set up Legal Aid Referral Networks around Taiwan as signposts for those in need to access our services quickly. Also, to reduce the gap in the availability of resources between remote areas and the metropolitan, the Foundation has also been expanding outreach services. To contribute to the protection of human rights, the Foundation is planning to run a pilot program in the near future, which provides duty services to suspects at police stations and during investigations by Prosecutors.

The Foundation will persevere with the same enthusiasm in serving the needs of the disadvantaged. Morever, the Foundation welcomes the continued support and guidance from legal aid lawyers and leaders involved in the administration of legal aid.  The goal is to uphold justice and to implement the Constitutional right of equality and the right to access the courts.