Bali law office, Peradi SAI Denpasar eye joint push on legal aid

Denpasar — The Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Denpasar branch of the Suara Advokat Indonesia bar association (Peradi SAI) have agreed to explore a formal cooperation agreement to expand access to legal aid, following an audience at the regional office in mid-September 2026.

The meeting was held at the Arjuna Room of the Bali regional office and brought together regional head Eem Nurmanah and leaders of DPC Peradi SAI Denpasar. According to coverage of the audience, both sides discussed drafting a Perjanjian Kerja Sama (PKS), or cooperation agreement, in the field of legal aid as a concrete follow-up to the talks.

Reports on the meeting state that the emerging partnership would focus on strengthening free legal services for low-income and vulnerable residents through pro bono work by advocates. The parties agreed to continue technical coordination to identify an integration model that fits their respective duties and existing regulations.

Existing legal-aid network in Bali

In the audience, Eem outlined the legal-aid infrastructure already operated by the Bali office, including a network of 717 legal-aid posts (Pos Bantuan Hukum or Posbankum) spread across all villages and urban wards in the province. The posts were completed in late 2025 and now serve as local access points for legal consultations and assistance.

The Bali office also works with 11 accredited legal-aid organizations, recognized by the National Legal Development Agency (BPHN), to deliver state-supported legal aid. According to official information from the regional office, these organizations receive government funding to provide services such as legal advice and representation to eligible residents.

Regional officials have said that despite the wide network of posts, public understanding of how to obtain free or subsidized legal aid remains limited. Many residents still assume that seeking legal assistance will necessarily entail significant personal expense, even though the legal-aid scheme covers certain services for those who meet income and documentation requirements.

Role envisaged for Peradi SAI

During the meeting, Eem invited Peradi SAI Denpasar to take part in legal-information activities in villages, including outreach at existing legal-aid posts. The presence of advocates is viewed by the office as a way to help residents better understand their rights and the procedures for requesting assistance through the state-backed system.

Peradi SAI Denpasar chairman I Made "Ariel" Suardana was quoted as saying that the organization is ready to support government legal-aid programs on a pro bono basis and to help expand access to justice at the grassroots level. He indicated that the branch would work with the Bali office to quickly translate the discussions into a more structured arrangement, while remaining within the profession’s ethical rules and the government’s legal framework.

Officials from the regional office emphasized that any cooperation will have to respect the mandates of the government, accredited legal-aid organizations and the advocates’ association, and avoid overlap in responsibilities. Further discussions are expected to cover the detailed form of cooperation, including legal outreach activities and the possible involvement of paralegals, but no finalized program has yet been announced.

Next steps

Coverage of the audience describes it as an initial step toward a more formal collaboration rather than a signing ceremony. The parties have not publicly specified when a cooperation agreement might be concluded, which services advocates would provide under the scheme, or how any joint activities would be financed.

The initiative would add an advocates’ organization to Bali’s existing legal-aid ecosystem, which currently relies on the network of Posbankum posts, accredited legal-aid providers and a growing cadre of trained paralegals. Regional officials say these measures are aimed at ensuring that residents across Bali, including in rural areas, can access legal assistance and resolve disputes through both litigation and non-litigation mechanisms.

Sources

• NusaBali – "Peradi SAI-Kemenkum Bali Siapkan Sinergi Bantuan Hukum"
• Kantor Wilayah Kementerian Hukum dan HAM Bali – "Bali Tuntaskan Pembentukan 100 Persen Posbankum, Kemenkum Dorong Penyelesaian Sengketa Secara Restoratif"
• Detik Bali – "Permohonan KI di Bali Tembus 8.871, Hak Cipta Paling Dominan"
• Kantor Wilayah Kementerian Hukum dan HAM Bali – "Bantuan Hukum"
• Forum Keadilan Bali – "Apresiasi Pembukaan Posbankum se-Bali, Koster: Sinergi dan Beroperasi Efektif"