NUS Law at the 5th Asia Pro Bono Conference

Members of the NUS Pro Bono Group (PBG), a student-led group dedicated to the promotion of pro bono among students at NUS Law, attended the 5th Asia Pro Bono Conference in Bali, Indonesia, from 30 August to 2 September 2016.

The students who represented PBG were Hairul Siddeeq ’19 (President), Janice Teo ’19 (Vice President) and Carol Yuen ’19 (Vice President).

The conference saw more than 300 participants from more than 30 countries. Jointly organised by Bridges Across Borders South East Asia Community Legal Education (BABSEACLE) and its Asia Pro Bono Consortium partners, the conference provided participants with a deeper regional perspective on pro bono practice development in the region. The theme of this year’s conference was “The Impact of Pro Bono on Transformational Change: Working to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”.

The PBG team presented the way the group works at NUS Law and in particular, how they ensure that PBG partners get to work with only the most talented and committed volunteers. The audience comprised of non-governmental organisations, professors and groups of pro bono students from other universities, and law firms active in the pro bono scene in Asia.

The team forged many friendships and came back with greater insight into pro bono work in the region. They are grateful to the alumni who made it possible for them to participate, and who have helped make the NUS Pro Bono Group what it is today. They also expressed their thanks to their Faculty Advisor, Associate Professor Helena Whalen-Bridge, for her encouragement and guidance.