Today, VOLS’ Executive Director Bill Lienhard gave a presentation to a delegation of 22 officials from China’s Ministry of Justice on legal services and pro bono legal assistance in the United States. Under the auspices of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies, the delegation is here as part of a fact-finding mission as China considers expanding access to legal aid in civil and criminal matters.

Mr. Lienhard said, “I was impressed by the group’s sincere interest in comparing how different countries meet the challenge of providing effective legal assistance to low-income people, and what China can learn from this as it considers strengthening its legal aid programs.  I hope to be able to continue this dialogue.”