The Helping Arm of the Law (May 2007)

By Travis Lee, May/Jun 2007 Issue of Rapport, a publication of the National Council of Social Service.

Employment contracts, an organisation’s constitution and copyright matters. These are aspects of office administration with legal liabilities. An expert legal eye is needed to carefully scrutinise every detail and ensure that they are properly documented. For Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) that can hardly afford to pay for legal expertise, who can they approach? Perhaps they need the helping arm of the law. Enter Project LAW HELP.

Officially launched in January 2006, Project LAW HELP is a subcommittee of the Law Society of Singapore which runs a scheme providing pro bono non-litigation commercial legal advice to charities, non-profit organisations and VWOs. This year, Project LAW HELP was expanded even further to also include social enterprises. It also facilitates, promotes and encourages a sustainable commitment to pro bono work within the legal profession in Singapore.

The committee was initiated by a group of lawyers, in-house counsels and academics who were interested in helping VWOs by providing them with pro bono legal advice. Currently, 14 law firms are participating in the scheme, with 11 VWOs or charities onboard. Among the benefiting VWOs are the Spastic Children's Association of Singapore (SCAS), Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled and recently the Methodist Welfare Services.

What kind of help can a VWO receive from Project LAW HELP?

Ms Rajvant Kaur, the Law Society's Director of Community Relations, shared, "We can help them in many areas such as advising them on how to start a VWO, how to get charity or IPC status, the legal issues they face during fundraising, how to start an e-commerce platform, and issues relating to vetting commercial contracts, leasing, trade marks and copyright issues."

One thing to take note - the legal help extended is only to the VWOs, and not to its clients or service users.

How can a VWO qualify for Project LAW HELP?

To qualify for Project LAW HELP, the organisation must meet the following minimum criteria:
1. Be a charity/voluntary welfare organisation / non-profit organisation or social enterprise in Singapore with an objective to meet community concerns or needs;
2. Be in need of legal advice that does not involve court proceedings; and
3. Have limited or no financial resources to pay for such legal advice.

Positive Experiences

SCAS and All Saints Home are two VWOs that have benefited from the programme.

Mr Gurcharanjit Singh, Managing Partner of Lau & Gur, said that it was a very rewarding experience. "We helped them in vetting employment contracts and contracts dealing with third parties. This has enabled them to understand their legal rights and liabilities and avoid any legal pitfalls."

Ms Susan Tay, Partner of Ong Tay & Partners, shared the same sentiments. Her firm is assisting All Saints Home in settling terms and conditions for the Home residents and also in the contractual arrangements with their suppliers. She said, "On a professional level, the partnership provides me with a firsthand experience of how the law affects the lives of the less fortunate, which is quite different from the more commercialised environment and routine which I am normally accustomed to."

Project LAW HELP follows up with VWOs on a regular basis to check and ensure that the partnership is doing fine.

Help is just a click or call away

VWOs needing non-litigation commercial legal advice can obtain further information about Project LAW HELP via its website at www.lawsociety.org.sg/lawhelp/lawhelp.asp or contact its Director of Community Relations, Ms Rajvant Kaur at 65323105 or at projectlawhelp@lawsoc.org.sg.