The Role of Legal Aid Organizations in Assisting the Community in Accordance with Law No 16 of 2011 in Langsa City

According to article 1 of Law No. 16 of 2011, Legal Aid is a legal service provided by Legal Aid Providers free of charge to Legal Aid Recipients. Although in practice there are still some people who do not receive free legal assistance. This is due to a lack of budget from the government which only funds 9 cases each year. Referring to the provisions of government regulations No. 83 of 2008 concerning Requirements and Procedures for Providing Free Legal Aid and the provisions of Law No. 18 of 2003 concerning lawyers, advocates or Legal Aid Institutions acting as institutions that provide free legal aid to underprivileged communities. This research discusses how the role of legal aid institutions optimizes the provision of legal aid to underprivileged communities, and what the obstacles in implementing legal aid by legal aid institutions in Langsa City. This research uses empirical research methods with interview techniques. The research results show that the provision of free legal aid to poor people is regulated in Government Regulation Number 83 of 2008, Law No. 18 of 2003 and Law no. 16 of 2011, the role of legal aid institutions in providing free legal aid to poor people is still not optimal. This is due to the lack of comprehensive assistance to poor people who are litigating, and the public does not know about the existence of legal aid institutions that are ready to help people dealing with the law for free, this is due to the lack of socialization about the existence of legal aid institutions in Langsa City, so the public does not know about the existence of legal aid institutions.