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United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems
(g) To allow, in accordance with national law and regulations, courtaccredited and duly trained paralegals to participate in court proceedings
and advise the accused when there are no lawyers available to do so.
Guideline 15.
Regulation and oversight of legal aid providers
69. In adherence to principle 12, and subject to existing national legislation
ensuring transparency and accountability, States, in cooperation with profes‑
sional associations, should:
(a) Ensure that criteria are set for the accreditation of legal aid
providers;
(b) Ensure that legal aid providers are subject to applicable profes‑
sional codes of conduct, with appropriate sanctions for infractions;
(c) Establish rules to ensure that legal aid providers are not allowed
to request any payment from the beneficiaries of legal aid, except when
authorized to do so;
(d) Ensure that disciplinary complaints against legal aid providers are
reviewed by impartial bodies;
(e) Establish appropriate oversight mechanisms for legal aid provid‑
ers, in particular with a view to preventing corruption.
Guideline 16. Partnerships with non‑State legal aid
service providers and universities
70. States should, where appropriate, engage in partnerships with non‑State
legal aid service providers, including non‑governmental organizations and
other service providers.
71. To this end, States should take measures, in consultation with civil
society and justice agencies and professional associations:
(a) To recognize in their legal systems the role to be played by non‑State
actors in providing legal aid services to meet the needs of the population;
(b) To set quality standards for legal aid services and support the
development of standardized training programmes for non‑State legal aid
service providers;