You may be facing a legal issue right now and you need a lawyer to advise you. While a private legal team is ideal, sometimes the circumstances call for pro bono or free legal assistance. Here's a list of where to get free legal assistance in the Philippines. I'll be updating this directory from time to time:
Note: You have to contact them to know the requirements to avail of pro bono legal services. You have to apply. Going to them is not a guarantee that your case will be accepted.
Government Institutions
Public Attorney's Office (PAO)
From the website: The Public Attorney's Office exists to provide the indigent litigants, the oppressed, marginalized, and underprivileged members of the society free access to courts, judicial and quasi-judicial agencies, by rendering legal services, counselling and assistance in consonance with the Constitutional mandate that "free access to courts shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty" in order to ensure the rule of law, truth and social justice as components of the country's sustainable development.
Public Attorney's Office Central Office - 4th & 5th Floors DOJ Agencies Building, NIA Rd. corner East Ave., Diliman, Quezon City
Hotline: (02) 929-9436; (02) 4262075; (02) 4262801; (02) 4262450; (02) 4262987; (02) 4262683 Local 106/107 (Office Hours) Local 159 (Outside Office Hours)Email. pao_executive@yahoo.com
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
They can assist you with legal matters. You can approach the head office, but I think the best way is to approach your local chapter first. See the directory of local chapters at http://www.ibp.ph/chapters.html
Department of Labor and Employment
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Building, Muralla Wing cor. General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, 1002, Philippines.
Law School Legal Aid Clinics
University of the Philippines - Office of Legal Aid (OLA)
From the website: The Office of Legal Aid (OLA) houses the clinical education program of the College of Law. It provides free legal assistance to indigent litigants. It is also actively involved in public interest cases. It was created for the purpose of inculcating in the experience of law students the concepts of public service and social involvement of the legal profession even as they acquire practical training in law practice under the guidance and supervision of the supervising lawyers and the law faculty.
Office of Legal Aid, Room 107, Malcolm Hall, UP College of Law, Diliman Quezon City (02) 9205514 - loc. 106
Ateneo Legal Services Center (ALSC)
From the website: The Ateneo Legal Services Center (ALSC) is a public interest center that provides professional, developmental, and ethical legal service to the poor and disadvantaged through a competently supervised student practice and clinical legal education program. Under the supervision of volunteer lawyers, law students assist in the handling of cases of indigent clients, and appear before trial courts under the Student Practice Rule. Students are provided with hands-on training through active participation in client interviews, consultations, research, preparation of court pleadings and motions, examination of witnesses, and trial advocacy. ALSC also supervises and monitors the Law School’s Apprenticeship Program, including the accreditation of participating law firms and government agencies, to ensure that the thrusts of the Law School are pursued in the training of the students.
Ateneo de Manila University School of Law - No. 20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center 1200 Makati City, Philippines
Tel. No.: +63 (02) 899-7691 to 96 ; +63 (02) 729-2000 ext. 2304, 2306 to 2308 - Law School Office 12:00 NN - 9:00 PM (Monday - Friday) 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Saturday)
Sebastinian Office of Legal Aid (SOLA)
The office was created to serve as an outreach venue for legal services that will be provided to indigent and deserving parties who cannot afford the services of a lawyer. It maintains some fourth year law students who are enrolled in Practice Court subjects serving as law interns. These interns put into practice their learned knowledge by preparing pleadings in real cases and other legal papers for SOLA clients. They also appear in court following the real cases and other legal papers for SOLA clients. They also appear in court following the Student Practice Rule under the guidance and supervision of the supervising lawyers. This invaluable experience in the legal aid program prepares them to become future successful lawyers.
San Sebastian College – Recoletos Manila, Claro M. Recto Ave., Metro Manila
Monday – Friday (8:00am – 12:00nn & 1:00pm – 5:00pm)
Saturday (8:00am – 12:00nn) Telephone No.: 734-8931 local 313
