Nguyễn Ngọc Lan, Director of Ngọc Lan Law Firm, discussed several topics to help legal aid officers strengthen their skills in supporting people with disabilities. — Photo baophapluat.vn

LÀO CAI — Việt Nam’s Ministry of Justice has launched a new training programme to improve the quality of legal aid for people with disabilities, part of a broader push to make access to justice more inclusive and effective.

The workshop, held in the northern province of Lào Cai, brought together legal aid officers from eight provinces, including Cao Bằng, Hưng Yên and Tuyên Quang.

It was organised under the World Bank–funded project 'Improved Delivery of Legal Aid for the Poor and Vulnerable,' supported by the Japan Social Development Fund.

Deputy Director Vũ Thị Hường of the ministry’s Department of Legal Dissemination, Education and Legal Aid said the initiative comes as Việt Nam continues a long-term effort to modernise its judicial system and build a rule-of-law state 'of the people, by the people and for the people.'

Since 2023, a dedicated project management board has worked with the World Bank and local legal aid centers to implement four main components of the programme – from training and capacity building to piloting the participation of social groups in providing legal support.

A legal aid officer shared insights on the soft skills needed to support people with disabilities effectively.

Nguyễn Ngọc Lan, Director of Ngọc Lan Law Firm, led sessions on the legal aid for vulnerable groups, international and domestic legal norms and practical skills for working with clients facing social or physical barriers.

Participants discussed real cases and common obstacles. The aim, organisers said, was to help frontline legal aid workers combine technical competence with empathy.

"The training helps us see beyond the paperwork," said Lại Khoa Lâm, Director of Tuyên Quang's provincial Legal Aid Centre.

"We’re learning to understand the daily struggles of people with disabilities and to communicate in ways that make them feel seen and respected."

Việt Nam has around 7 million people with disabilities – roughly 6 per cent of its population. About one in ten of them lives in poor or near-poor households.

The country’s state-run legal aid system, established nearly three decades ago, has assisted in more than 258,000 cases since 2018, including over 5,500 involving people with disabilities.

Participants discussed real-life cases in small groups.

The ongoing World Bank project seeks to expand those efforts by making legal aid services easier to access, raising public awareness and ensuring that support is not just available, but meaningful.

As the workshop ended, organisers said the goal was simple but vital: to make the law a living promise for those who have long stood at its margins. — VNS