The Supreme Court (SC) has approved the Unified Legal Aid Service Rules (ULAS Rules).
The ULAS Rules govern the mandatory rendition of pro bono legal aid services by covered lawyers to indigents and members of the marginalized sectors.
“The ULAS Rules mandate lawyers in general to render at least 60 hours of pro bono legal aid services every compliance period of three years in favor of indigent Filipinos,” SC spokesperson Camille Ting announced.
Non-governmental and non-profit organizations may also avail of the legal aid program.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo previously said the ULAS Rules will ensure that indigent, underrepresented, and marginalized members of the society have full and effective access to justice.
“Prescinding from previous legal aid service rules, our proposed ULAS Rules seeks to make mandatory legal aid service in the country pursuant to the duty of every lawyer to participate in the development of a legal system, improve the administration of justice, and strengthen the judicial and legal system,” Gesmundo had said.
ULAS is one of the SC’s judicial reform projects under its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027.IMT
