2018年1月19日上午，在中国政法大学国家法律援助研究院成立暨法律援助制度学术研讨会上，中国政法大学校长宣布成立“中国政法大学国家法律援助研究院”。
The president of CUPL announced the foundation of National Institute of Legal Aid of CUPL during the ceremony for the foundation of National Institute of Legal Aid and conference on legal aid system on 19 Jan. 2018.
中国政法大学国家法律援助研究院是中国政法大学切实贯彻落实党的十九大精神和习近平总书记“5•3”重要讲话精神的重大举措。作为全国首家以法律援助理论研究为特色的智库型研究机构，中国政法大学国家法律援助研究院将加强法律援助的基础理论研究、立法政策研究和实施问题研究，为我国法律援助制度的发展与完善提供理论和技术支持，不断提升中国法律援助制度的软实力。
National Institute of Legal Aid of CUPL is an important measure of CUPL to follow and put into practice the spirit of the 19th National Congress and the “5•3” Speech of President Xi. As the first “think tank” research institute on legal aid in China, National Institute of Legal Aid will focus not only on the research of fundamental theories of legal aid, but also on the legislation policies and implementation problems. The Institute will provide both theoretical and technical support for the development and improvement of Chinese legal aid system, thereby improving the soft power of Chinese legal aid system.
中国政法大学国家法律援助研究院的成立标志着我国法律援助事业从机构建设迈向制度建设、理论建设的新阶段，标志着我国法律援助制度建设已经完成了“从无到有”的1.0时代，正在迈向“从有到优”2.0时代。同时，对于推进中国政法大学“双一流”建设、培养德法兼修高素质法治人才也具有十分重要的意义。
The foundation of National Institute of Legal Aid of CUPL marks the beginning of a new era where Chinese legal aid work begins to focus more on systematical and theoretical development than institutional development. It demonstrates that Chinese legal aid system has finished the first stage, i.e.“born from nothing”, and now is moving forward to a new stage, i.e. “go for the best”. Meanwhile, The Institute will also play a significant role in the construction of “Double First-Class” initiative of CUPL and in the improvement of moral standard and legal education of people dedicated to making contributions to the rule of law.
