Empowering Village Heads/Lurah as Paralegals: A Legal Study of Restorative Justice-Based Legal Dispute Resolution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38035/gijlss.v4i5.1226Keywords:
Village Head/Lurah, Community Paralegal, Legal Aid, Restorative Justice, Dispute ResolutionAbstract
This study aims to analyze the legal basis for empowering Village Heads/Lurah as paralegals in Indonesia, examine the implementation of restorative justice in local dispute resolution, and formulate an ideal model for empowering Village Heads/Lurah as community paralegals. The research employs a normative legal method using statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches. Legal materials consist of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources analyzed qualitatively through legal interpretation and regulatory synchronization. The findings reveal that the legal foundation for empowering Village Heads/Lurah is derived from the 1945 Constitution, Law No. 6 of 2014 on Villages as amended by Law No. 3 of 2024, Law No. 16 of 2011 on Legal Aid, and regulations concerning restorative justice. However, these legal provisions remain fragmented and do not clearly regulate the legal status, authority, and competencies of Village Heads/Lurah as paralegals. Restorative justice has been implemented through deliberation and mediation mechanisms emphasizing reconciliation and social restoration, although stronger regulations, standardized procedures, capacity building, and coordination with law enforcement agencies are still required. This study proposes an ideal empowerment model through regulatory strengthening, competency development and certification, establishment of Village Paralegal Posts, cross-sectoral collaboration, and accountable supervision to enhance access to justice, strengthen non-litigation dispute resolution, and support a more responsive, effective, and equitable legal aid system in Indonesia.
References
Agusta, E. N. (2024). Embracing Restorative Justice: A Path Towards Equitable Mediation in Criminal Cases. Jurnal Hukum Progresif, 12(1), 56–65. https://doi.org/10.14710/jhp.12.1.56-65
Andiko, T., Nurdin, Z., & Efrinaldi. (2024). Implementation of Restorative Justice in a Customary Court in Rejang Lebong District, Bengkulu, Indonesia: A Maqāṣid Al-Sharī'ah Review. JURIS (Jurnal Ilmiah Syariah), 23(1), 93–106. https://doi.org/10.31958/juris.v23i1.12008
Arisanthi, K. A. W., & Yuliartini, N. P. R. (2026). Analisis Hukum terhadap Fungsi Paralegal pada Pos Bantuan Hukum Desa dalam Kerangka Bantuan Hukum Non-Litigasi. Case Law: Journal of Law, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.25157/caselaw.v8i1.5699
Arobiah, H., Yanto, O., & Kristyanto, G. H. (2020). Kedudukan Paralegal dalam Pelaksanaan Pemberian Bantuan Hukum Secara Cuma-Cuma. Lex Specialis, 1(2).
Badan Pembinaan Hukum Nasional. (2024). Seleksi Nasional Paralegal Justice Award 2024 Mendorong Kompetensi Kepala Desa dan Lurah. https://bphn.go.id/berita-utama/seleksi-nasional-paralegal-justice-awards-2024-mendorong-kompetensi-kepala-desa-dan-lurah
Braithwaite, J. (2002). Restorative Justice and Responsive Regulation. Oxford University Press.
Cappelletti, M., & Garth, B. (1978). Access to Justice: Volume I. A World Survey. Sijthoff & Noordhoff.
Dugard, J., & Drage, K. (2013). To Whom Do the People Take Their Issues? The Contribution of Community-Based Paralegals to Access to Justice in South Africa. Open Society Foundation for South Africa.
Fakhlur, F. (2025). Arah Kebijakan Bantuan Hukum dalam Mendukung Pemerintahan Desa yang Transparan, Profesional dan Akuntabel. IBLAM Law Review, 5(2), 121–124. https://doi.org/10.52249/ilr.v5i2.621
Ginting, M. L. B. (2024). Menggali Peran Paralegal: Solusi Kebijakan dalam Pemberian Bantuan Hukum. Jurnal Analis Kebijakan, 8(2).
Golub, S. (2003). Beyond Rule of Law Orthodoxy: The Legal Empowerment Alternative. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Griffiths, J. (1986). What is legal pluralism? The Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, 24(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/07329113.1986.10756387
Hasibuan, S. A., Tarigan, C. A. P., Meliala, N. M. S., & Hutabarat, R. A. C. (2024). Restorative Justice sebagai Bentuk Hukum Progresif dalam Peraturan Perundang-Undangan Indonesia Tidak untuk Menggantikan Keadilan Retributif. Indonesian Journal of Law, 1(1), 14–25.
Hendrik, H., Kadaryanto, B., & Harahap, I. (2024). Mediasi sebagai Model Penyelesaian Masalah Masyarakat oleh Kepala Desa Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa. Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi dan Sosial Politik, 1(3).
Jafar, F. H., Haerani, Y., Aditya, F., Adha, N., & Mahrani. (2025). Tinjauan Hukum Peran Kepala Desa sebagai Paralegal Hakim Perdamaian Guna Mewujudkan Desa Damai dan Berkeadilan. COMSERVA: Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat, 4(10). https://doi.org/10.59141/comserva.v4i10.2914
Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Perdata (Burgerlijk Wetboek), Pasal 1320.
Madaripur Legal Aid Association. (n.d.). MLAA Profile. https://mlaabd.org/mlaa-profile/
Mahkamah Agung Republik Indonesia. (2024). Peraturan Mahkamah Agung Nomor 1 Tahun 2024 tentang Pedoman Mengadili Perkara Pidana Berdasarkan Keadilan Restoratif.
Maleteng, F. (2024). Penyelesaian Konflik Hukum oleh Kepala Desa di Desa Bakan Kecamatan Lolayan Kabupaten Bolaang Mongondow. Lex Administratum, 12(5).
Maradona, M., Aprilianto, S., Cahyani, P., Agustin, E., & Brouwer, D. E. (2024). Pelatihan Implementasi Pendekatan Restorative Justice dalam Penanganan Tindak Pidana Ringan di Desa Sepanjang, Kecamatan Tawangmangu, Kabupaten Karanganyar. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Inovasi Indonesia, 3(4).
Maru, V. M. (2006). Between law and society: Paralegals and the provision of justice services in Sierra Leone and worldwide. Yale Journal of International Law, 31(2), 427–476.
Marzuki, P. M. (2021). Penelitian Hukum (Edisi Revisi). Jakarta: Kencana.
Merry, S. E. (1988). Legal pluralism. Law & Society Review, 22(5), 869–896. https://doi.org/10.2307/3053638
Misnanto, & Sholehuddin. (2024). Mediasi Perkara Kekerasan Dalam Rumah Tangga Melalui Kepala Desa Perspektif Restorative Justice. Al-Qadlaya: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Islam, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.55120/qadlaya.v4i01.2387
Muhlizi, A. F. (2019). Penguatan Peran Tokoh Adat sebagai Paralegal dalam Memberikan Bantuan Hukum. Jurnal RechtsVinding: Media Pembinaan Hukum Nasional, 8(3).
Nonet, P., & Selznick, P. (1978). Law and Society in Transition: Toward Responsive Law. Harper & Row.
Nusantara, G. A. W. (2016). Eksistensi Paralegal dalam Mengoptimalkan Pemberian Bantuan Hukum Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 16 Tahun 2011 tentang Bantuan Hukum. Jurnal Magister Hukum Udayana, 5(2).
Open Society Justice Initiative. (2010). Community-Based Paralegals: A Practitioner's Guide. Open Society Foundations.
Pangesti, S. D., & Iraawati, A. C. (2025). Tinjauan Yuridis tentang Kedudukan dan Peran Paralegal dalam Sistem Penegakan Hukum di Indonesia. ULIL ALBAB: Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin. https://doi.org/10.56799/jim.v4i4.8403
Penal Reform International. (2003). Alternative Dispute Resolution: Community-Based Mediation as an Auxiliary to Formal Justice in Bangladesh – The Madaripur Model of Mediation. https://grassrootsjusticenetwork.org/resources/alternative-dispute-resolution-community-based-mediation-as-an-auxiliary-to-formal-justice-in-bangladesh-the-madaripur-model-of-mediation/
Peraturan Kejaksaan Republik Indonesia Nomor 15 Tahun 2020 tentang Penghentian Penuntutan Berdasarkan Keadilan Restoratif.
Peraturan Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia Nomor 8 Tahun 2021 tentang Penanganan Tindak Pidana Berdasarkan Keadilan Restoratif.
Rahmadani, M. M., & Hafidah, N. (2024). Penyelesaian Sengketa Non Litigasi pada Rumah Restoratif Justice. Universitas Lambung Mangkurat; juga dipublikasikan dalam Jurnal Penelitian Ilmiah Multidisiplin.
Rauf, M. A. (2024). Peran Kepala Desa sebagai Paralegal dalam Menyelesaikan Sengketa pada Masyarakat Desa Empat Balai Kecamatan Kuok Kabupaten Kampar. Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin Keilmuan Mandira Cendikia, 2(15). https://doi.org/10.70570/jimkmc.v2i15.1415
Rahayu. (2016). Penguatan Fungsi Kepala Desa sebagai Mediator Perselisihan Masyarakat di Desa. Yustisia, 5(2), 340–360.
Republic of the Philippines. (1991). Republic Act No. 7160: Local Government Code of 1991. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7160_1991.html
Salsabila, S. M. (2025). Analisis Yuridis terhadap Penerapan Restorative Justice dalam Penyelesaian Sengketa di Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, Humaniora dan Politik, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.38035/jihhp.v6i1.6216
Selznick, P. (1992). The Moral Commonwealth: Social Theory and the Promise of Community. University of California Press.
Sopacua, M. G. (2024). Implementasi Keadilan Restoratif sebagai Landasan dalam Penyelesaian Masalah Kekerasan Dalam Rumah Tangga di Indonesia. Jurnal Pembangunan Hukum Indonesia, 6(1), 96–111. https://doi.org/10.14710/jphi.v6i1.96-111
Toni, T., Hutapea, S. A., & Kurnia, A. C. (2024). Kewenangan Kepala Desa sebagai Media Penyelesaian Sengketa di Desa Jurung Kabupaten Bangka. Unes Journal of Swara Justisia, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.31933/ujsj.v7i4.386
Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945.
Undang-Undang Nomor 16 Tahun 2011 tentang Bantuan Hukum.
Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa.
Undang-Undang Nomor 3 Tahun 2024 tentang Perubahan Kedua atas Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa.
World Bank. (2011). Philippines Justice Sector Review: Delivering Justice for All. World Bank.
Zehr, H. (2002). The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Good Books.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Markus Marselinus Soge, Heri Setiawan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright :
Authors who publish their manuscripts in this journal agree to the following conditions:
- Copyright in each article belongs to the author.
- The author acknowledges that the Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences (GIJLSS) has the right to be the first to publish under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (Attribution 4.0 International CC BY 4.0).
- Authors can submit articles separately, arrange the non-exclusive distribution of manuscripts that have been published in this journal to other versions (for example, sent to the author's institutional repository, publication in a book, etc.), by acknowledging that the manuscript has been published for the first time at GIJLSS.
