Indonesia Needs More Lawyers to Expand Legal Access, Says Parliament Member

Indonesia faces a significant shortage of lawyers, hindering broad access to legal services for its vast population, according to DPR member Bambang Soesatyo. He emphasized the need for more legal professionals to ensure justice is accessible to all citizens.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new law office, Soesatyo, also known as Bamsoet, stated that the increase in lawyers must be accompanied by improvements in quality, professionalism, and integrity. "The number of lawyers must continue to grow, but what is more important is their quality and integrity. Indonesia needs more lawyers who can reach communities in the regions, master technological developments, and remain steadfast in upholding the professional code of ethics," he said.

As of late 2025, Indonesia's population is projected to reach approximately 288.3 million. The number of lawyers registered with the e-Court service is around 69,813. Bamsoet acknowledged this data doesn't represent all practicing lawyers but indicates a low ratio of lawyers to the population. This disparity particularly affects those outside major urban centers, potentially limiting their access to legal representation in civil and criminal matters.

A Constitutional Court decision cited a National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) study, which found that public access to legal aid is far from adequate. The study suggests an ideal ratio where one lawyer serves about 1,150 justice seekers annually, highlighting a substantial need for competent, ethical, and evenly distributed legal professionals. The challenges ahead include not only numbers but also adapting to technology-driven legal systems, digital case administration, and evolving laws in the digital economy.