‘1 dollar’ lawyers defending the defenceless in Singapore
In his visit to the Southeast Asian city-state, Pope Francis spoke of the urgency of not leaving anyone in the shadow of its great skyscrapers. This commitment is best exemplified by Pro Bono SG, a group of legal professionals who provide free legal counsel and representation to those who cannot afford them. In doing so, they are overcoming some strong biases in a society that extols rigour.
Singapore (AsiaNews) – In his address to Singaporean authorities a few days ago, while praising the great goals achieved by the city-state, Pope Francis warned against the risk of promoting progress that excludes the marginalised.
This commitment comes with several concrete challenges for those who live in the great crossroads of Southeast Asia. One involves the possibility for the less privileged not to be denied access to legal counsel for economic reasons.
Pro Bono SG is a pioneer in this area, and has been so for a decade, since it was founded by lawyers committed to providing legal support almost free of charge to those who otherwise cannot afford it.
Such an initiative is meant to overcome the mistrust of those who often live on the margins of society and face resistance from a society that is not very tolerant of people who deviate from its rules.
The young lawyers who ten years ago decided to give their careers a philanthropic turn have been joined over time by others, fresh out of college. For some it is a temporary commitment; for others, it offers an opportunity to combine profession and ethics.
Clients are first and foremost individuals who cannot afford legal counsel or cannot access it for a variety of reasons.
Pro Bono SG’s work covers criminal, civil, and family law. Its members are often in demand as court-appointed lawyers and this has led to being dubbed " dollar lawyers" because this is how much the registration fee used to cost at the Legal Aid Bureau.
Its growing notoriety still faces preconceived notions according to which its members lack professionalism. This fails to consider the fact that all lawyers are accountable to the courts and their profession when they are involved in a case but this can be an initial obstacle concerning potential "clients".
The other obstacle is the discomfort if not the open hostility of some who do not accept their commitment to defend people involved in particularly contentious cases that touch situations viewed negatively by public opinion with the accused deemed a priori unworthy of legal protection.
Cases include sexual crimes against minors, the murder of blood relatives, or the rights of illegal immigrants and foreign workers.
This has led to attacks against the group or individual members, mostly on social media, to which they responded by reiterating that their role is to defend those who need it most, without prejudice.
This kind of social outreach largely goes against the tide or at least is quite new in Singaporean society. As proof of their unconventional nature, the group chose two storage containers located in front of Tian De Temple in Hougang as one of their law offices.
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09/07/2007
