Pro Bono Practice and Opportunities in Indonesia

Overview

Indonesia has a tradition of encouraging lawyers to provide pro bono legal services. Although there are no specific laws and regulations mandating the provision of pro bono legal services in Indonesia, Perhimpunan Advokat Indonesia, or the Indonesian Advocate Association (“PERADI”), recommend that domestic lawyers provide at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services each year (see further details below).

According to Rule No.1/2010 issued by PERADI, this pro bono requirement shall be included as one of the requirements that needs to be satisfied by domestic lawyers in order to obtain or renew their advocate identity card with PERADI. The government has also promoted pro bono through a community-centred approach to access to justice, and has introduced legal aid posts at the village level.[1]

In spite of this encouragement, the implementation of pro bono practice still faces various obstacles, such as a lack of institutional support, low appreciation and incentives, and operational constraints. Some argue that there is a need to strengthen policies, budgets, and synergies among stakeholders, including the state, professional organizations, legal aid institutions, and educational institutions.[2]

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At a glance

Minimum pro bono hours requirement for lawyers? Specific pro bono licence required? May foreign lawyers practice pro bono? Insurance required for law firm pro bono? Insurance required for in-house counsel pro bono? Rules to limit advertising pro bono work? Does pro bono work count to CLE credit? Limitations for in-house lawyers to do pro bono?
Yes No Yes No No No No Yes

Pro bono practice and opportunities

1. Describe the laws or rules that regulate the provision of legal services, including any licensing required to provide legal services. Please highlight any differences for lawyers working as in-house counsel.

The provision of legal services in Indonesia is regulated by Law No. 18/2003 on Advocates, which came into effect on April 5, 2003 (as amended several times by different constitutional court decisions [3] ) (the “Advocate Law”).

To be registered as a lawyer in Indonesia, a person must:

  • be an Indonesian national residing in Indonesia,
  • not be a civil servant or public officer (with the exception of civil servant lecturers who provide pro bono legal services as part of implementing the three pillars of higher education: education, research, and community service) [4],
  • be at least 25 years of age, and
  • meet a number of other educational, training and character requirements, including passing the bar exam.

The Advocate Law provides that eight bar organizations would be replaced by a single, unified professional association, which led to the establishment of PERADI.[5]

However, a competing association, the Kongres Advokat Indonesia (“KAI”), was established in 2008. After a lengthy dispute, the Indonesian Supreme Court ruled that an advocate’s organizational registration does not affect their ability to represent clients in court. Thus, the division between PERADI and KAI persists without a unified body.

It is unclear how many advocate organizations currently exist in Indonesia; some reports suggest that as of August 2024, there were approximately 94 advocate organizations in Indonesia,[6] while other reports suggest that there were 46 organizations as of September 2024 [7].

Foreign lawyers practicing in Indonesia are known as foreign legal and must provide the Ministry of Law & Human Rights (now Ministry of Law) with the following documentation to practice:

  • a curriculum vitae,
  • certified copies of academic degrees,
  • clarification letters on practicing status,
  • proof of membership in the bar in the country of origin,
  • immigration documentation,
  • a copy of a valid passport,
  • a passport photo and
  • the tax numbers of the sponsoring law firm and the foreign lawyer. The license granted is valid for one year.

Foreign lawyers practicing in Indonesia are not permitted to:

  • appear before any court or
  • set up law firms or branches of their overseas law firms in Indonesia.

The Advocate Law does not recognize the term “in-house counsel” and further does not address matters concerning in-house counsel. The scope of the Advocate Law is limited to governing the lawyer-client engagement in legal services.[8]

As opposed to engaging in a lawyer-client framework, in-house counsel typically works exclusively for a company under an employment agreement. Consequently, in-house counsel may not be required to obtain any advocate license to perform their function of assisting the company’s legal matters.

Additionally, considering pro bono services (as defined below) may only be directly rendered by advocates and are conducted in a lawyer-client framework, we generally view that this has caused legal uncertainty as to whether in-house counsel may also provide pro bono legal services.

Regulatory landscape for pro bono

2. Describe the laws or rules that regulate the provision of pro bono legal services.

The mechanism to give pro bono is elaborated on Government Regulation number 83 of 2008 regarding Requirement and Mechanism of pro bono and further detailed on Indonesian Advocates Association Regulation number 1 of 2010 concerning the Implementation Guide of pro bono.[9]

According to Article 1 Clause (1) of Indonesian Advocates Association Regulation Number 1 of 2010 concerning the Implementation Guide of pro bono, stated that pro bono is, “a legal service given by advocates without receiving honorarium that includes law consulting, exercising of power, to represent, to accompany, to defend, and to do any other legal action in the interest of the justice seeker who cannot afford it”.[10]

However, in 2013, Indonesia established its legal aid program under Law No. 16/2011 on Legal Aid (“Legal Aid Law”), mandating that legal aid be provided free of charge to all impoverished individuals for criminal, civil and administrative matters. Pursuant to the Legal Aid Law, the government accredits existing civil society legal aid organizations and reimburses them for any free legal assistance they provide.

From 2019-2021, the Ministry of Law (formerly the Ministry of Law and Human Rights) allocated IDR53 billion (approximately USD3.5 million) to the 524 accredited legal aid organizations during 2019-2021.[11] Since then, there are now 777 legal aid organizations accredited and verified by the Ministry of Law for the period from 2025 to 2027[12] and the Ministry of Law currently intends to increase the legal aid program budget for 2025, exceeding the previous year’s allocation of IDR 56 billion (approximately USD3.7 million) [13].

Advocates are not required to charge VAT on services that they provide for free, and local regulations do not require lawyers to charge minimum tariffs for the provision of pro bono legal services.

3. Do lawyers need a licence to provide pro bono legal services (beyond the usual local qualification to practice law)?

The legal profession is governed by the Advocate Law, which provides that lawyers must be licensed in order to act as advocates (including the provision of pro bono legal services) in Indonesia – please refer to the response above.

Other than the usual local qualification for lawyers to practice law, there are no additional licensing requirements for lawyers to provide pro bono legal services.

4. Do foreign-qualified lawyers need any additional license to provide pro bono services (beyond their foreign qualification to practice law)?

Foreign lawyers do not require any additional license(s), aside from their practicing license, in order to provide pro bono legal services in Indonesia.

However, under Indonesian law, foreign lawyers cannot

  • appear before any court or
  • advise on domestic matters (e.g., family law).
5. Are lawyers required by such rules to work a minimum number of pro bono hours? If so, how many?

Local lawyers are recommended to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono legal assistance each year under Rule No.1/2010 issued by PERADI. This pro bono requirement must be satisfied by lawyers in order to obtain or renew their advocate identity card.

In order to be able to practice law in Indonesia, foreign lawyers must provide a pro bono service plan in the field of education and legal research as a prerequisite to obtain the license from the Minister of Law (formerly Minister of Law and Human Rights) and subsequently provide a letter declaring that the foreign advocate has provided a minimum of 100 hours pro bono hours for the extension of the license to employ foreign lawyers.[14]

6. Are aspiring lawyers required to complete a minimum number of hours of pro bono legal services to become licensed lawyers?

Aspiring lawyers are not required to complete a minimum number of hours of pro bono legal work to become a licensed lawyer. However, they will typically gain pro bono experience during their two-year internship with a registered law firm in Indonesia.

7. Aside from mandatory targets (if any), are there aspirational pro bono hours targets for lawyers set by the local bar association, regulatory body, or other body?

As mentioned above, PERADI suggests advocates undertake pro bono work for 50 hours per year, and the possible consequence for not meeting this requirement is the inability to obtain or renew an advocate identity card registered at PERADI .[15]

8. Do lawyers receive any “Continuing Legal Education” (CLE) or equivalent credit for pro bono hours worked?

In Indonesia, lawyers do not receive any “Continuing Legal Education” or equivalent credit for the provision of pro bono legal services.

Insurance and advertising

9. Do lawyers need professional indemnity legal insurance cover for pro bono legal services they provide? Does the requirement differ for in-house lawyers? If insurance is required, can lawyers meet the requirement by working under the cover of another pro bono provider, e.g., in partnership with a private law firm or organisation working on the same pro bono project?

Professional indemnity insurance is not mandatory for practicing advocates or law firms in Indonesia.

Accordingly, it is not required for the provision of pro bono legal services. Regarding in-house counsel, please refer to our response above as there is currently a lack of legal certainty on whether in-house counsel may provide pro bono legal services.

10. Are there any rules that limit or prohibit advertising of pro bono successes or soliciting new pro bono clients?

There are no rules prohibiting or limiting the advertising of pro bono successes or the solicitation of new pro bono clients in Indonesia.

Pro bono practice and culture

11. What are the main areas of law that require or present opportunities for pro bono? What are the major unmet legal needs?

There are pro bono legal opportunities across the full spectrum of the law in Indonesia.

legal needs for pro bono legal services arise in the areas of criminal law, human rights, police law, the law of domestic relations, environmental law, land law, discrimination law, employment law, and commercial law.

12. Who are the main providers of pro bono legal services?

Indonesia does not have a single largest pro bono institution akin to those found in some other countries. Instead, the country relies on a network of civil society organizations and legal aid institutions that provide pro bono services.

NGOs are the main providers of pro bono legal services in Indonesia. Some prominent organizations include the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia, YLBHI) and various regional legal aid institutes (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum, LBH).

More recently, private practice law firms have become more frequently involved in pro bono legal services.

13. Are there any noteworthy examples of how innovative technology or artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to enable access to pro bono or otherwise as part of pro bono cases or matters?

As of now, the use of innovative technology or artificial intelligence in pro bono matters in Indonesia is still quite rare. However, recent developments show that innovative technology has been utilized for the purpose of providing pro bono services.

An example of this would be Perqara, an online platform in partnership with PERADI that is also available as a mobile phone application, which facilitates legal consultation between lawyers and clients. While the platform now offers a wide range of services (including monetized legal services), the platform was initially developed to provide the community with easier access to pro bono legal assistance.[16]

Sources of pro bono opportunities and key contacts

14. Describe notable sources of pro bono matters or resources in your jurisdiction.

The following organizations are the main non-governmental pro bono resources in Indonesia:Jakarta LBH;[17] Indonesian Legal Resource Centre (ILRC);[18] Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM);[19] and Program for Women-Headed Households in Indonesia (PEKKA).[20] There are no governmental sources for the provision of pro bono legal services in Indonesia.

15. Is there any public or private organisation with which a local or foreign lawyer can register to be made aware of pro bono opportunities?

There is no governmental organizations dedicated to offering pro bono opportunities with which a local or foreign attorney can register in order to be made aware of pro bono opportunities in Indonesia.

There are various NGOs, such as those listed above, with which a local or foreign lawyer can register for pro bono opportunities in Indonesia.

Law firms can register with TrustLaw through the Thomson Reuters Foundation in order to be made aware of domestic pro bono opportunities in Indonesia.[21]

16. Are there any awards, lists, or rankings related to pro bono work?

Yes, the most renowned award related to pro bono work is the Indonesia Pro Bono Awards, organized by Hukumonline in 2024. Marking its 7th year, the award was presented in several categories, including the Hukumonline Award for Non-Litigation Law Firms with the Highest Pro Bono Impact, the Hukumonline Award for Litigation Law Firms with the Highest Pro Bono Impact, and Indonesia’s Pro Bono Rising Stars 2024.

The winners of each category are further divided into three groups based on the size of the firms.

References

  1. https://kemenkum.go.id/berita-utama/menteri-hukum-sampaikan-capaian-pemerintahan-presiden-prabowo-kepada-anggota-justice-action-coalition-di-madrid-dalam-memperluas-akses-keadilan-melalui-posbankum?utm_source (Last viewed on 24 January 2026).
  2. PRO BONO LEGAL AID AS A SOCIAL RESPONSE TO INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN INDONESIA (Last viewed on 23 January 2026).
  3. Constitutional Court Decision No. 006/PUU-II/2004 dated 13 December 2004, No. 101/PUU-VII/2009 dated 30 December 2009, No. 26/PUU-XI/2013 dated 12 August 2013, No. 112/PUU-XII/2014-36/PUU-XIII/2015 dated 29 September 2015, No. 95/PUU-XIV/2016 dated 3 May 2017, No. 91/PUU-XX/2022 dated 31 October 2022, and No. 150/PUU-XXII/2024 dated 3 January 2025.
  4. Constitutional Court Decision No. 150 / PUU-XXII / 2024 dated 3 January 2025.
  5. See link at https://peradi.or.id/ (last visited on 13 February 2025 ).
  6. See https://www.hukumonline.com/berita/a/dorong-revisi-uu-advokat–juniver-girsang–multi-bar-solusi-banyaknya-jumlah-organisasi-lt66b6f4d12b969/ (last visited on 14 February 2025 )
  7. See https://www.hukumonline.com/berita/a/urgensi-revisi-uu-advokat-demi-menertibkan-banyaknya-jumlah-organisasi-lt66eb7ff0d218b/?page=2 (last visited on 15 February 2025).
  8. Advocate Law, Article 19(1). The provision stipulates that advocates have the obligation to maintain confidential information of their client due to their professional legal relationship, unless otherwise specified by the law.
  9. https://mappifhui.org/implementation-of-pro-bono-in-indonesia-by-shereena-el-islamy-as-coordinator-of-legal-writing-alsa-lc-ui-board-of-2019 (published on 3 April 2019)
  10. See Indonesian Advocates Association Regulation Number 1 of 2010, Article 1.
  11. https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/why-legal-aid-is-not-working-in-indonesia/#:~:text=Indonesia%27s%20legal%20aid%20program%20was,was%20formally%20launched%20in%202013.
  12. Ministry of Law Announcement No. PHN-HN.04.03-01 on the Verified and Accredited Legal Aid Organization as Legal Aid Providers for the Period of 2025 to 2027.
  13. See https://voi.id/en/news/430866 (last visited on 14 February 2025).
  14. Articles 5(1) and 10(4)(i) of Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 26 of 2017 on Requirements and Procedures to Employ Foreign Advocates and Obligation for the Provision of Pro-Bono Services to the Legal Education and Research Sector
  15. Article 11 of PERADI Regulation Number 1 of 2010 governs that advocates are encouraged to provide pro bono legal aid for at least 50 hours every year.
  16. See https://perqara.com/tentang-kami (last visited on 13 February 2025).
  17. See https://www.bantuanhukum.or.id/web/category/pro-bono (last visited on 13 February 2025).
  18. See www.mitrahukum.org (last visited on 13 February 2025).
  19. See www.elsam.or.id (last visited on 13 February 2025).
  20. See www.pekka.or.id (last visited on 13 February 2025).
  21. See http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/ (last visited on 13 February 2025).

Acknowledgements

Name of law firm: Ali Budiardjo, Nugroho, Reksodiputro (ABNR)
Name of lawyer: Emir Nurmansyah

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