To implement the important guidance on upholding and developing the New Era “Fengqiao Experience” and to encourage social participation in governance, the First Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court and Shenzhen Zhongli Legal Services Society established the Neutral Legal Service Station of the First Circuit Court in the court’s litigation service hall. The initiative brings together social resources and third-party expertise to provide the public with diverse, convenient and efficient legal services.
Service Positioning
The Neutral Legal Service Station is guided by the principles of neutrality, professionalism and convenience. It provides one-stop services including pre-litigation mediation, legal consultation and case diversion. By introducing qualified third-party professionals, the station helps reduce the court’s case-handling burden, improve dispute-resolution efficiency and offer the public more options for resolving disputes.
Station Structure
The station maintains positions for volunteer litigation-service experts from different sectors, including experienced practicing lawyers, university professors, deputies to people’s congresses and members of political consultative conferences, people’s mediators, and retired judges, prosecutors, police officers, political and legal officers and university teachers. These volunteers provide public-interest legal services with professional competence and a strong sense of social responsibility.
Working Mechanism
- Pre-litigation mediation: suitable cases may be addressed at an early stage through professional mediation to reduce the burden of litigation.
- Legal consultation: visitors receive free legal consultation and guidance for rational rights protection.
- Case diversion: cases are directed according to their nature and complexity to improve the allocation of judicial resources.
- Public legal education: legal-awareness activities and typical cases help prevent disputes and strengthen the public’s awareness of the rule of law.
Significance and Value
The station is an important practice in innovative social governance. It demonstrates the court’s commitment to participating in grassroots governance and provides a platform for all sectors of society to contribute to the rule of law. By integrating resources and expertise, the station supports a collaborative governance model and continues to explore diverse dispute-resolution mechanisms.
On January 13, 2025, the Society received a letter of appreciation from the Supreme People’s Court. The letter recognized Chairperson He Dongmin’s support for the establishment and sound operation of the station. Since the station began operating, volunteer experts have provided free legal consultation to visitors and helped resolve disputes arising from petitions and litigation-related matters.
The letter also encouraged the station team and its volunteer experts to continue serving with professionalism, objectivity and public spirit, and to contribute to the reception and resolution of litigation-related petitions at the First Circuit Court.