Indonesian Journal of Advocacy and Legal Services
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): Legal Advocacy and Justice Innovation

Bridging the Justice Gap: A Study on the Challenges and Solutions for Legal Aid in Indonesia

Suteki Suteki (Faculty of Law, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia)
Abdul Jalil (Faculty of Law, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia)
Aga Natalis (Faculty of Law, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia)
Evis Garunja (University Aleksandër Moisiu of Durrës, Municipality of Durrës, Albania)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Jun 2026

Abstract

Legal aid represents an essential tool for ensuring access to justice for all citizens, particularly the impoverished who are frequently marginalised by prohibitive costs and limited legal knowledge. Under Law No. 16 of 2011 on Legal Aid, the Indonesian state formally guarantees the right to free legal aid for the poor. In practice, however, the implementation of legal aid faces various challenges. These include uneven dissemination of information, budget limitations, and a reimbursement-based funding system that obstructs smooth operations. Furthermore, administrative difficulties continue to act as barrier to those seeking legal services. This study adopts a socio-legal approach, combining two types of research: doctrinal legal research to examine the normative aspects of the law, and empirical social research focused on data collection through interviews and field observations related to social phenomena in the provision of legal aid. The method employs descriptive analysis to scrutinise  and interpret the collected data, as well as identify factors affecting the effectiveness of legal aid implementation in Indonesia. Based on research in Pontianak and Bogor, this study identifies that the main obstacles to providing legal aid include the poor understanding of their rights among the poor and the unequal distribution of legal aid in remote areas. Consequently, this study proposes several strategies interventions to improve the effectiveness of legal aid – such as strengthening broader and more systematic outreach, improving a more flexible funding system, enhancing the capacity of legal aid institutions, and utilising information technology to expand public access to legal aid services.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijals

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

Indonesian Journal of Advocacy and Legal Services (Indonesian J. Advoc. Legal Serv.) is a double blind peer reviewed journal published by the Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Semarang. Indonesian J. Advoc. Legal Serv. published twice a year (biannual), every March and September and has been ...