Pyeongtaek Selected as Exemplary Municipality for Village Lawyer Program Operation

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek City announced on the 12th that it received a commendation certificate from the Minister of Justice for being recognized as an exemplary municipality for village lawyer program operation in 2020.

The village lawyer system allows residents in legal blind spots to receive free legal consultations from lawyers.

Since October 2016, Pyeongtaek City has signed a business agreement with Pyeongtaek District Court and the Pyeongtaek Bar Association to activate the village lawyer program, operating village lawyers at the City Hall, Songtan Branch Office civil affairs desk, and 11 locations including nine eups and myeons on the second Monday of each month.

Village lawyers provided consultations for 803 cases across 46 sessions in various fields closely related to residents' lives, including administrative, civil, criminal, family, real estate, and inheritance matters. Currently, 13 lawyers are active as village lawyers in Pyeongtaek City.

As on-site legal consultations became difficult due to strengthened COVID-19 distance restrictions, the city was highly praised for transitioning to non-face-to-face operations including website applications and phone consultations, establishing an open approach that allows many citizens to access legal services.

Mayor Jung Jang-seon said, "I am grateful to the Pyeongtaek Bar Association for providing legal services through volunteer public interest activities based on talent donations," and added, "We will continue to make efforts to realize seamless legal welfare for residents."