Symbiosis Law School to give free legal service
Pro bono, the practice of US lawyers offering their services free or at subsidised rates, is set for a pilot run in India through a tie up between the City University of New York (CUNY) and the Pune-based Symbiosis Law College.
By ET Bureau |
PUNE: Pro bono, the practice of US lawyers offering their services free or at subsidised rates, is set for a pilot run in India through a tie up between the City University of New York (CUNY) and the Pune-based Symbiosis Law College.
The Indian project will replicate CUNY Law���s community legal resource network (CLRN) programme in and around Pune, promoting law as a social service and providing legal services to marginalised communities.
The two institutions will create a network of socially responsible law students, faculty members and local lawyers who will address the unmet legal needs of underprivileged and legally under-served individuals and communities.
CLRN director Fred Rooney said, ���Almost 80% New Yorkers do not have access to civil justice as the costs of seeking legal help are prohibitive. So, they have to forego seeking justice. Conditions are identical in India and in Pune. We have a successful model of providing pro-bono and low-bono (work done in social service, or for greatly reduced rates) legal services through our network of 300 lawyers in New York.���
CUNY will bring in the expertise of implementing the programme while Symbiosis will provide the local framework.
Symbiosis Law College will develop a mobile justice van that will travel in and around Pune, offering legal services to poor people who cannot afford private counsel.
The Indian project will replicate CUNY Law���s community legal resource network (CLRN) programme in and around Pune, promoting law as a social service and providing legal services to marginalised communities.
The two institutions will create a network of socially responsible law students, faculty members and local lawyers who will address the unmet legal needs of underprivileged and legally under-served individuals and communities.
CLRN director Fred Rooney said, ���Almost 80% New Yorkers do not have access to civil justice as the costs of seeking legal help are prohibitive. So, they have to forego seeking justice. Conditions are identical in India and in Pune. We have a successful model of providing pro-bono and low-bono (work done in social service, or for greatly reduced rates) legal services through our network of 300 lawyers in New York.���
CUNY will bring in the expertise of implementing the programme while Symbiosis will provide the local framework.
Symbiosis Law College will develop a mobile justice van that will travel in and around Pune, offering legal services to poor people who cannot afford private counsel.
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���We have set up an initial fund of Rs 5 lakh for the programme. We will partner with NGOs and social activists to offer legal services in venues where access to justice is severely limited,��� former law minister and noted criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani, said adding that he would also contribute funds to the programme. Mr Jethmalani is professor emeritus of the Symbiosis Law College.Start a SIP with as low as ₹500 with ET Money App!
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