As defined in Article 2 of the Legal Aid Act, legal aid includes:

1. legal consulting;
2. negotiation and settlement;
3. the drafting of legal documents;
4. representation or advocacy in litigation or arbitration;
5. assistance in providing other necessary legal services and expenses; and
6. any other services that the Foundation has resolved to provide.

The Foundation does not give legal advice on a walk-in basis; except in areas such as Hualian, Taitung, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, where there is a lack of local resources.

The Foundation is responsible for the following matters:

1. to promulgate and revise Regulations for providing legal aid;
2. to plan and perform legal aid work;
3. to collect, hold and utilize legal aid funding;
4. to promote legal aid education;
5. to provide the legal aid services requested by governmental or other organizations;
6. to adjudicate appeals from the decisions of the Examining Committees of the Branch Offices; and
7. any other legal aid matters.

The Branch Offices are responsible for the following matters:

1. to assess applications and execute decisions to approve, refuse, revoke or terminate applications;
2. to decide and execute decisions to pay (including advance payments),reduce, cancel, refund, share or be responsible for the fees and other expenses of legal aid providers;
3. to mediate disputes between recipients of legal aid and their providers;
4. to assist in raising legal aid funding; andto perform tasks assigned by the Board of Directors and other legal aid services.

Other Legal Aid Matters

Referral system

1. Referrals to the Foundation: at present the Foundation has established referral channels with the Courts and social welfare groups. If the Courts or social welfare groups come across cases needing legal aid, they complete referral forms and transfer these individuals to the Foundation.
2. Referrals from the Foundation: if there are applicants requiring assistance other than legal aid services, the Foundation refers them to the relevant social welfare groups for their assistance.

Authorized legal aid work
According to Article 10, Clause 5 of the Legal Aid Act, the activities of the Foundation include accepting legal aid matters authorized by governmental or other organizations. At present, the Foundation is handling legal aid relating to voluntary defense matters for the Taipei Bar Association.