Free Legal Advice for Non-Profit Groups (10 Sept 2004)

The Straits Times, 10 September 2004

ST's K C Vijayan reported that the Law Society was offering free legal advice to community-based non-profit groups to help them run their organizations and avoid legal pitfalls.

It launched a pilot scheme on Wednesday, matching eight law firms to the eight non-profit groups: The Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, the Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Home, Caregivers Counseling Welfare Association, Drama4Health, Woodlands Social Centre, Teen Challenge, the All Saints Home and the Home Help Service Programme coordinated by MCYS.

The firms which would provide continuing legal advice to them were Rodyk & Davidson, Harry Elias Partnership, N. K. Rajarh, Kishan & V. Suria Partnership, Kelvin Chia Partnership, Sobhraj Tay Low Subra & Teo, Tan & Tan Partnership and Ong, Tay & Partners.

The non-profit organizations were nominated by the National Council of Social Service and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre.

Law Society President Philip Jeyaretnam said at the launch that the scheme would "extend the reach and opportunities for pro bono work, especially when a lot of our lawyers are doing civil work".