Objective:
The UP Law Office of Legal Aid (OLA) was established to provide free legal services to poor and disadvantaged clients. Legal assistance provided includes representation in judicial, quasi-judicial (administrative) bodies, in criminal, civil and administrative cases, contract drafting, assistance in negotiation involving security of their homes and persons, mediation, and arbitration to put an end to litigation. OLA also provides legal opinion on various legal issues.
Initially, OLA began as an experiment in Trial Techniques and later on became a student clerkship program. This clerkship program was not required but merely an invitation to senior law students to experience “law practice.” Later on, the experiment became formal and was integrated as a mandatory and structure course in the curriculum. The OLA has also been institutionalized by the Supreme Court through Rule 138-A of the Rules of Court.
Duration / Date:
1974 to present
Target / Beneficiaries:
Indigent litigants and disadvantaged groups
Cost of Participation:
Indigent clients of UP OLA are not obliged to pay for the legal services rendered by the office. The UP OLA is designed to be a laboratory for students to deal with cases of indigent clients. For this function, OLA runs on resources such as equipment (e.g. computers, printers, administrative supplies), human resource (e.g. supervising lawyers, staff, messengers) and other costs (e.g. transportation). The expenses incurred are covered through a funding supported by the UP Law Complex.
Office in Charge:
UP Law Office of Legal Aid through President Danilo L. Concepcion, Former Dean, UP College of Law,
Prof. Concepcion Lim-Jardeleza, Associate Dean, UP College of Law, and
Prof. Rowena E.V. Daroy- Morales, Director, UP OLA
Contact Details:
Prof. Rowena E.V. Daroy-Morales
Director
Tel.: 920 55 14 loc 106
Mobile: 0917 622 6872
E-mail: [email protected]