The Diocese of Bacolod’s Social Action Center and the Young Lawyers Association of Negros Occidental (YLANO) signed an agreement to give free legal services to indigent individuals in the church community at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod City, Tuesday morning, May 23.
YLANO Chairperson Carmela Feria said that this program aims to give free legal or paralegal advice to the poor or those individuals who do not have the capacity to hire private lawyers.
“Individuals with cases involving labor, domestic abuse, marital violence, and property dispute usually come to SAC for help as they cannot afford to hire private lawyers,” she said, adding that with this program they aim to help these individuals by giving them legal services.
YLANO is a group of young lawyers who have been in legal practice for at least five years.
Feria said that most of them are fresh law graduates or bar exam passers who are not older than 40 years old.
“Our goal is to help indigent communities and in the long run we want to establish free legal clinics all over the province”, she said.
The organization is also eyeing to partner with charitable institutions, schools and colleges, and non-government organizations in Negros Occidental to reach out to more indigent communities and give legal aid, Feria said.
She added that YLANO is also encouraging more young lawyers to join their cause, especially those who are just starting legal practice and those who are challenged in creating networks to have mentorship with senior and experienced lawyers.*