The legislature in Shanxi province passed a legal aid regulation on Dec 25 of last year that became effective on Jan 1.

The 42-article regulation is divided into seven chapters ranging from the forms of legal aid to its application and examination. 

It stipulates that applications for legal aid should be made to legal aid agencies in the same region of the police, the procuratorate or the court that handles the legal proceedings. The application can be filed by legal representatives or authorized agents. 

Suspects, defendants and convicts in custody can file their applications through the police, the procuratorate or the court that handles their legal matter.