Empowering Village Heads/Lurah as Paralegals: A Legal Study of Restorative Justice-Based Legal Dispute Resolution

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.