The Supreme Court on Friday said it approved the rules on Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS Rules) which mandates covered lawyers to render at least 60 hours of pro bono legal aid every three years in favor of indigent Filipinos.
“Under the ULAS Rules, any person who has no sufficient means to afford adequate legal services, as assessed by a covered lawyer in accordance with guidelines to be issued by the ULAS Board, may be a qualified beneficiary entitled to pro bono legal services. The legal service itself will be free for such qualified beneficiaries and the necessary expenses for the rendering of the service will be borne by the Court thru the ULAS Fund, which will be set up for this purpose,” the SC said in a statement.
It added the qualified beneficiary shall be exempt from payment of docket and other fees.
Pro bono legal aid services can come in many forms, such as representation in court, legal counselling, drafting legal documents, developmental legal assistance, and participation in accredited legal outreach programs.
The High Tribunal explained the ULAS Rules allows lawyers to extend financial contributions going directly and exclusively to the ULAS Fund which will cover reasonable expenses of lawyers in performing pro bono legal aid services.
However, the financial contribution may only cover a maximum of 50 percent of the minimum hours required.
Likewise, the Rules allows registered organizations to aggregate the required minimum hours of its lawyers for purposes of compliance.
The SC said “failure to meet the minimum hours carries certain consequences, such as fines, being listed as a delinquent member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and ineligibility to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the Office of the Bar Confidant.”
