OVERVIEW OF CPBCLE
Established in 2017, the Centre for Pro Bono & Clinical Legal Education (the "Centre") is the central body that oversees and runs pro bono projects and the clinical legal education programme at NUS, Faculty of Law. The Centre brings together the NUS Pro Bono Office (the "NUS PBO") and the Clinical Legal Education programme, both of which have been providing NUS Law students with opportunities to be of service to the community, while honing the craft of lawyering. The Centre's activities have their roots in the rich tradition of pro bono work among staff and students at NUS Law.
Read the full press release on the launch of the Centre here.
NUS PRO BONO OFFICE
The NUS PBO was established in 2012 with funding support from the Singapore Institute of Legal Education and the Singapore Academy of Law. From its inception, NUS PBO (and now the Centre) set itself out to support and further develop the already active pro bono scene at NUS. The Centre develops, manages and oversees pro bono programmes and requirements at the Faculty of Law. This includes the Mandatory Pro Bono Programme for law students, which requires law students to complete 20 hours of approved pro bono work as a graduation requirement.
The Centre provides support and advice to student pro bono groups, seeks funding opportunities for students' pro bono projects, develops and manages pro bono activities and actively solicits the involvement of NUS Law alumni in supporting the pro bono efforts of NUS Law students. The Centre works with students, volunteer lawyers and partner organisations to provide assistance to charities, welfare organisations and other beneficiaries.
CLINICS @ NUS LAW
Clinical Legal Education at NUS Law started in 2009 with the inaugural group of students working at the Legal Aid Bureau ("LAB") with an NUS Law professor gazetted as an Assistant Director of Legal Aid. Through this programme, NUS staff and students began to provide legal aid, advice, and assistance to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who met the strict means and merit test requirements of the LAB. With the signing of a memorandum of understanding between NUS and LAB in 2010, the elective course was launched as “The Law Clinic” in AY 2010-2011. The Centre continuously enhances the clinical legal education programme in the Faculty of Law. It has since developed clinical programmes in conjunction with the State Courts of Singapore, the Singapore Art Museum, National Gallery and Singapore Tyler Print Institute, among others.