|
NEWS |
Make 1.0417 Days a Year Count
25 hours or 1.0417 days or 0.0029 of a year.
That is how much time the Law Society hopes every lawyer would pledge for pro bono work per year.
The following is an overview of the Law Society's
pro bono volunteer opportunities including volunteer requirements, average
pro bono time commitment and support that will be extended to volunteers.
We hope that this guide will help all lawyers to renew and fulfill their yearly
pro bono pledge regardless of specialisation or seniority.
Community Legal Clinics
These are free legal clinics for needy Singaporeans and Permanent Residents that dispense basic legal advice on personal matters (ie, business/commercial matters are excluded).
Volunteer requirements: Called to the Singapore Bar.
Average pro bono time commitment: 2.5 to 15 hours per volunteer per annum.
Support for volunteer lawyers:
Comprehensive legal clinic manual; advance notice of clinic cases for scheduled
session by way of a detailed clinic case list/synopsis; pre-registration interview/clinic
administration/clinic attendee follow-up handled by the Pro Bono Services
Office including referrals to social service agencies for psychological/sociological
issues.
To volunteer, please contact Mr Shenton Tan of the Pro Bono Services Office at 6536 0650/ shenton@lawsoc.org.sg.
Criminal Legal Aid Scheme ('CLAS')
Free legal representation for non capital cases where accused claims trial.
Volunteer requirements: Called to the Singapore Bar with criminal practice experience.
Average pro bono time commitment: 25 to 100 hours per lawyer per annum.
Support for volunteer lawyers: Sourcing for assisting counsel/volunteer psychiatrists/volunteer interpreters; ad hoc legal research and paralegal support from volunteer law undergraduates; mentoring for junior lawyers by senior CLAS practitioners.
To register as a volunteer, please contact Ms
Shanaaz Banu of the Pro Bono Services Office at 6536 0650 / shanaaz@lawsoc.org.sg.
Project Law Help
Free non-litigation commercial legal advice offered by volunteer law practices for charities, non-profit organisations and voluntary welfare organisations with limited or no financial resources to pay for legal advice.
Volunteer requirements: Local practice with corporate expertise.
Average pro bono time commitment: 50 hours per practice per annum.
Support for volunteer practices: Comprehensive letter of engagement incorporating relevant disclaimers.
If your law practice would like to volunteer,
please contact Ms Wong Peck Lin of the Pro Bono Services Office at 6536 0650
/ pecklin@lawsoc.org.sg.
Mentor/Specialist Resource
Mentoring of new volunteers and/or specialist resource for volunteers' queries on practice.
Volunteer requirements: Practice specialist.
Average pro bono time commitment: 10 to 25 hours per annum.
Support for volunteers: Administrative support.
To volunteer, please contact Ms Wong Peck Lin
of the Pro Bono Services Office at 6536 0650 / pecklin@lawsoc.org.sg
Knowledge Database Contributor
Assist in editing, compiling and contributing to volunteer manuals, guides and other information resources for volunteers/pro bono initiatives.
Volunteer requirements: Law degree.
Average pro bono time commitment: 10 to 25 hours per annum.
Support for volunteers: Access to library resources, paralegal support.
To volunteer, please contact Ms Wong Peck Lin
of the Pro Bono Services Office at 6536 0650 / pecklin@lawsoc.org.sg