JFBA Legal Aid and Assistance Services: Nine Areas and Contact Information

Background and Legislative Advocacy

• In 1952, the JFBA established the Legal Aid Association (an incorporated foundation) and has continued to support its activities, such as advancing litigation expenses, while calling on various sectors to provide substantial national treasury subsidies for legislation and legal aid services. As a result of these activities, the Civil Legal Aid Act was enacted in April 2000, explicitly providing that civil legal aid is a responsibility and obligation of the state.

Transfer and Entrustment of Operations

• Under the Comprehensive Legal Support Act, the Legal Aid Association's civil legal aid operations were transferred to the Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu) in October 2006. In addition, the other operations independently implemented by the Legal Aid Association include the following nine areas, which the JFBA implements as legal aid operations. After October 2007, the JFBA entrusted the implementation of these legal aid operations to the Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu).

Nine Legal Aid Areas

1. Criminal suspect defense assistance
2. Assistance accompanying juvenile protection cases
3. Legal aid for crime victims
4. Legal aid related to refugee recognition
5. Legal aid for foreigners
6. Legal aid for children
7. Legal aid for persons with mental disorders
8. Legal aid under the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act for persons with insanity, etc.
9. Legal aid for older adults, persons with disabilities, and homeless people

Contact Information

• Postal code: 100-0013
• Address: 1-1-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
• Telephone: +81-3-3580-9841
• Fax: +81-3-3580-2866