Access to justice in Indochinese countries

The conditions of access to justice in Indochinese countries vary in important aspects such as the development of formal laws, the number, ability and attitudes of judges, lawyers, and other legal professionals, the costs of using the judicial system, the peoples' expectations towards the legal system, the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), the spread of legal aid, etc. However, some common features may be found such as ex officio initiatives by judges and prosecutors for the provision of justice and dispute resolution by the local community among its members. In order to further promote access to justice in these countries, an integrated approach combining consistent reforms of legal rules, continuous training of the legal professions, and a constant empowerment of citizens will be the most effective. The civil law system seems to be playing a significant role connecting these combined legal development policies. They should be promoted simultaneously and step-by-step so as to gradually enlarge the place of access to justice on the road to a ubiquitous system.