China to build unified online legal service platform

Minister of Justice Zhang Jun said Sunday that China will build a unified online platform to offer “one-stop” legal services and legal aid.

Zhang made the announcement at a symposium in Harbin in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, which was attended by provincial heads of justice departments across the country.

Zhang called for the use of modern technology such as the “Internet plus” and WeChat app in making the platform to boost its accessibility.

The platform will provide legal consultations, dispute settlement, legal aid to people in need, as well as access to more complicated legal services, according to Zhang.

For the consultation services, qualified lawyers, notaries and judicial appraisers will answer questions on behalf of organizations, said Zhang.

China began efforts to set up a legal aid system in 1994.

More than 5 million legal aid cases have been handled and over 28 million people have received services since 2013.