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IBP rolls out pro bono legal aid via web portal

  • June 11, 2023

By Rey E. Requejo

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has launched its Pro Bono Portal (PBP) where indigent litigants nationwide can now avail themselves of free legal services online through the IBP’s “web-based legal aid platform.”

In its advisory, the IBP said its lawyers and legal aids nationwide have started their training.

“To avail legal aid services, a potential client can apply for legal assistance through the PBP which can be easily searched by typing ‘IBP pro bono portal‘ or ‘IBP free legal aid,’” the IBP stressed.

“The system then sends the application to the IBP Chapter concerned which can filter out the application and assign it to the member,” he said.

It also said the other important features of the PBP include “the integration of the means and merits test and its language translations to Pilipino and Cebuano.”

The IBP assured that “the PBP is free, secure, inclusive, and designed to be responsive to the needs of indigenous Filipinos while highlighting the competence and integrity of the Bar’s pro bono legal aid programs.”

It said the training of lawyers and their legal aids is being done by the American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI). The training started last April 20.

“The PBP was developed by Justice Connect, a non-profit company based in Australia which supports organizations in various jurisdictions including inter alia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Germany,” the IBP said.

“The development of the PBP was made possible through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported ‘Access to Justice and Support for the Rule of Law’ program of ABA ROLI,” it added.

It also said that the technology of Justice Connect “effectively and efficiently connects clients and pro bono lawyers and law firms in a system that

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Brooklyn woman, Legal Aid Society calls for better tenant protections

  • June 8, 2023

Apr 21, 2023, 12:34amUpdated on Apr 21, 2023

An East New York woman is in jeopardy of losing her home, and she and members of the Legal Aid Society are calling on Albany to put protections in place for tenants to not be victimized without good cause.

The apartment has been home to Camey King for over a decade, and she received an eviction notice in March to vacate her apartment. She says her rent payments are on time, and that she only recently learned her home had a new landlord.

The Legal Aid Society told News 12 that the home King lives in went into foreclosure back in 2016. According to a report filed in the foreclosure case, the new owner, SKZF 737 Mazel LLC, had purchased the property at 737 Alabama Ave. for $525,000, but the deed was effective dating back to Oct. 2021.

Three months after receiving the eviction notice, King was in housing court, hoping his cries would not fall on deaf ears after being told he needed to leave for no reason.

The Legal Aid Society is representing King in her case while calling on Albany to enact ‘good cause’ legislation to ensure that tenants in unregulated units have basic protections against unwarranted evictions and increasing unreasonable rent.

King’s current vacate deadline is May 15, and her lawyers say the goal is to ask for time for King to find a new place to live.

News 12 has reached out to the owners of the property and is awaiting a response.

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Ince Group saved as law firm Axiom DWFM steps in with rescue deal

  • June 2, 2023
ince-group-saved-as-law-firm-axiom-dwfm-steps-in-with-rescue-deal/2-1-1443131″

Ince Group has been acquired out of administration by UK law group Axiom DWFM, which has agreed to buy the insolvent firm’s legal business and associated assets.

But this time around, Ince’s partners will drive the direction of the business.

Ince & Co, as the successor entity will be known, will continue to operate separately from Axiom DWFM and will be managed independently as a separately branded legal services business, Ince said on Friday.

It said the transaction will allow its partner group “to refocus the firm’s growth strategy on its core legal services, whilst also improving operations and support structures”.

Donald Brown, chief executive of Ince & Co, said the acquisition will give “a simple and clear corporate and capital structure under professional, knowledgeable and robust ownership”.

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“We are underpinned by a group of immensely talented lawyers with deep expertise in our key sectors,” he said.

“After taking over the management of the [publicly listed] group, it quickly became apparent that we needed to address a series of poorly structured and executed transactions and expansions.”

Managing partner Jennette Newman said Ince & Co is “committed to reinforcing the firm’s reputation of providing complex legal services to corporate, commercial and high-net-worth clients in our core sectors”.

Axiom DWFM is a full-service legal practice with a network of UK offices. Its managing partner, Pragnesh Modhwadia, who is a practising solicitor, said it has confidence in the Ince & Co business and its lawyers.

“When the opportunity came to acquire a business of the calibre of Ince & Co, we were eager to engage and are delighted that the Ince & Co team shared our enthusiasm,” he said.

“We believe we have a great relationship already and a great opportunity together.”

Ince said it

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Author John Grisham on ‘Talk Justice’ podcast about the importance of legal aid

  • June 2, 2023

justice-podcast-about-importance-of-legal-aid/john-grisham-4/” data-orig-file=”https://augustafreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/john-grisham.png” data-orig-size=”555,312″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"” data-image-title=”john grisham” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”” data-medium-file=”https://augustafreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/john-grisham-400×225.png” data-large-file=”https://augustafreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/john-grisham-150×84.png” decoding=”async” class=”alignright size-full wp-image-323427″ alt=”author john grisham” width=”555″ height=”312″ srcset=”https://augustafreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/john-grisham.png 555w, https://augustafreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/john-grisham-400×225.png 400w, https://augustafreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/john-grisham-150×84.png 150w” data-lazy-sizes=”(max-width: 555px) 100vw, 555px” src=”https://augustafreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/john-grisham.png”/Bestselling author John Grisham’s speech on the importance of legal aid and his experiences as a lawyer have been included in this the latest episode of the “Talk Justice” podcast.

Legal Services Corporation President Ron Flagg introduced Grisham’s speech, which was recorded at a recent LSC forum on access to justice.

Grisham serves on LSC’s Leaders Council, which works to raise public awareness of the current crisis in civil justice. He is also a prominent advocate for criminal justice reform, frequently speaking publicly about wrongful conviction and serving on the board of directors for both the Innocence Project and Centurion Ministries.

“I have a long affinity with legal aid,” Grisham said. “It goes back to when I finished law school at Ole Miss some 42 years ago. I inadvertently became a legal aid lawyer.”

Grisham was struggling to build up clientele in his own law firm after law school when a woman in tears found his office and asked for his help in court that day. She was going to be evicted from her mobile home, and she told Grisham about the years of effort she put in to keep it up, only to have it all taken away. He went with her to court and ended up representing several of her neighbors in the trailer park. He got all of their evictions dismissed and became the community’s go-to pro bono attorney.

“That case proved to me the power of a license to practice law when it’s used to help people,” said Grisham. “It’s astonishing what happens when you’re a lawyer and you take

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IBP’s free legal aid now online thru ‘Pro Bono Portal’

  • June 1, 2023

Indigent litigants nationwide can now avail themselves of free legal services online through the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ (IBP) “web-based legal aid platform.”

The IBP launched its Pro Bono Portal (PBP) and lawyers and their legal aids nationwide have started their training.

“To avail legal aid services, a potential client can file an application for legal assistance through the PBP which can be easily searched by typing ‘IBP pro bono portal‘ or ‘IBP free legal aid,’” the IBP said in its advisory.

“The system then sends the application to the IBP Chapter concerned which can filter out the application and assign it to the member,” he said.

It also said the other important features of the PBP include “the integration of the means and merits test and its language translations to Pilipino and Cebuano.”

It assured that “the PBP is free, secure, inclusive, and designed to be responsive to the needs of indigenous Filipinos while highlighting the competence and integrity of the Bar’s pro bono legal aid programs.”

It said the training of lawyers and their legal aids is being done by the American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI). The training started last April 20.

The IBP said “the PBP was developed by Justice Connect, a non-profit company based in Australia which supports organizations in various jurisdictions including inter alia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Germany.”

“The development of the PBP was made possible through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported ‘Access to Justice and Support for the Rule of Law’ program of ABA ROLI,” he said.

It also said that the technology of Justice Connect “effectively and efficiently connects clients and pro bono lawyers and law firms in a system that draws from an understanding of the outcomes

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National Legal Aid Day observed in Manikganj

  • May 22, 2023

National Legal Aid Day observed in Manikganj

MANIKGANJ, April 28, 2023 (BSS) – National Legal Aid Services Day was
observed here today with a view to ensuring the rule of law, fundamental human
rights and justice for everyone.

This year’s theme of the day is “Fulfillment of Bangabandhu’s dream, opening
the door to free legal services”.

Marking the day, a discussion was held at the conference room of the
District Judge Court with District and Sessions Judge Joyosree Samaddar in
thechair.

The function was addressed, among others, by the Additional District and
Sessions Judge Sabina Yeasmin, Chief Judicial Magistrate Utpal Bhattacharya,
Additional Deputy Magistrate (ADM) Sanjida Jesmin, Legal Aid Officer Subarna
Sejuti, Civil Surgeon Dr. Moazem Ali Khan Chowdhury, Manikganj Municipality
Major Md. Ramjan Ali, Public Prosecutor (PP) Abdus Salam, GP Meher uddin,
President of District Lawyers’ Association Mesbaul Haque Mesba and its
AFM General Secretary Nurtaj Alam Bahar.

Joyosree Samaddar said the National Legal Aid Agency has established itself
as a place of trust for the poor and helpless litigants.

In the morning, a colorful rally was brought out from the premises of the
District Judge Court here and ended at the same venue after parading the main
roads of the town.

A large number of people including all judges of the district Judgeship,
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lawyers, officials and NGO representatives bearing
color festivals, banners and balloons participated in the programmes.

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Top Free State lawyer leaves Legal Aid SA

  • May 20, 2023

He joined the organization in March 2003. He became the Principal Attorney in Kimberley and Bloemfontein in 2006 and served as the Justice Center Executive in Bloemfontein and the Provincial Legal Manager for the Free State and North West before being appointed as the Head of Office in the Bloemfontein area in 2013.

Motloung admitted in a post on LinkedIn that his career milestone of 20 years of continuous service at Legal Aid SA “was not all rosy, not every day presented sunshine”.

“There were rocky paths, the thorns were brutal and uncompromising, but through it all, one thing remained and is still there: my willpower and passion for justice.

“In an age when job hopping is fashionable, the inner power to resist the temptation that comes with the incessant search for better opportunities and new experiences goes beyond loyalty.

He said the remarks of the Chinese philosopher Confucius resonate with him: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

“I have been able to push through and overcome the hurdles. My contribution to the protection and advancement of human rights is nothing less than a mark of strong passion for justice. Thank you, Legal Aid SA, for the platform. I believe the full circle is now complete.”

His LinkedIn post receives several comments, including this one from attorney Ryan Ishmail: “Those who know Ntate Motloung personally will know that even at social events, after hours, and wherever he is, he is likely to start a conversation on how to improve justice and competent legal services for all people in RSA. He truly believes in the vision of Lasa (Legal Aid South Africa), this is not just a job for him. So many candidate or junior practitioners have served under

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Brownwood library adds virtual court kiosk for legal aid

  • May 16, 2023

BROWNWOOD, Texas — “Better Call Saul.” Well, that would be great if he wasn’t a fictional lawyer who worked pro bono. But at Brownwood public library, there is free legal service that is available to the public.

“The main thing I think to say is, it’s free! It’s free legal help to people who need it,” said Suzanne Dowdy, Director of Children’s Services at the Brownwood library. “And that can use it for that purpose. Because legal fees we all know, cost a fortune. And they can do a lot of leg work here. A lot of free conversations with whoever their attorney is. Research their case. There’s a lot of stuff they can do here and save money.”

Getting legal help isn’t cheap. And lower-income communities often don’t have either the access for the help of an attorney or the technology to research their litigation. The Texas Access to Justice Foundation— a nonprofit—are donating virtual kiosks throughout the state. According to this nonprofit, the goal for now is to implement 250 of these legal aid kiosks in different regions of the state. Dowdy said the Brownwood library was recently awarded this kiosk and is thankful for it.

“I’ll tell you this, in this town, we’re close to 20,000 people, including Early,” she said. “And we do have people who come in with a lot of needs for legal services. And we didn’t have the resources. I mean we were like you know, you can check out a book. My best advice has always been Google it.”

On the legal aid kiosk, people can attend a court hearing virtually, get an understanding of their legal issues, file and submit court forms and get help finding a lawyer.

“But this just brings it to a one stop shop where people

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Legal Aid Service Of Northeastern Minnesota Hosts 5k Fundraiser In Duluth

  • May 11, 2023

DULUTH, Minn. — It was a cold one Sunday morning as people participated in the Law Day 5k fundraiser.

The Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota hosted its second 5k fundraiser Sunday morning. Participants raised money through donations and raffle items to help provide funds for the Legal Aid Service.

This fundraiser will help them provide legal support to low-income families and senior citizens. By raising more money, the Legal Aid service is working to provide help to more people in Northeastern Minnesota. Representative Nate Grizzle is excited to see everyone come together in support.

“It’s exciting to see it all come together. you prepare, you plan, but until it’s actually going to day of, you don’t know what it’s going to be like. And it’s so fun to see people hanging out, milling about, entering in drawings, and enjoying the run. Even on a day like today where things are windy, it’s cold, but people are still having a good time and that’s heart warming to see,” said Nate Grizzle, Communication and Outreach Coordinator.

the Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota doesn’t want you to feel like you are left on your own if you can’t afford legal services.

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Bill would require landlords to inform tenants of legal aid when issuing evictions

  • May 7, 2023

Published: 5/1/2023 11:08:36 AM

Modified: 5/1/2023 11:08:10 AM

New Hampshire senators are considering a bill that would require landlords to provide information on legal aid to tenants who are being evicted.

House Bill 379which passed the House on a voice vote earlier this month, would mandate that eviction notices given to tenants also include the contact information for New Hampshire Legal Assistance, which helps represent low-income residents in eviction cases.

At a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, Rep. Ellen Read, a Newmarket Democrat and the bill’s prime sponsor, said informing tenants of their rights could help reduce unnecessary evictions. The bill was intended to address situations where legal representation could have actually made a difference – where a judge might have ruled in the tenant’s favor if they had counsel and had submitted the proper motions, Read said.

Landlords often do have attorneys they rely on as part of their business. Read said, arguing that HB 379 would help tenants balance the scales.

“If you’re against it, you’re saying that you want to keep a tenant in the dark so that they don’t have the ability to get their legal counsel that they should have by right,” she said. “In other words, you as a landlord want an unfair advantage in court.”

The bill is supported by New Hampshire Legal Assistance, which provides assistance in conjunction with 603 Legal Aid.

But Nick Norman, the director of legislative affairs for the Apartment Association of New Hampshire, said the association had concerns the bill could cause evictions to be voided in court because landlords did not provide adequate information.

Norman submitted an amendment to direct the court system instead of issuing the notice to tenants.

“There’s a concern, structurally, if you put – the way this is worded –

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