The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday announced that it has approved the manual on the Rules on Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS).
The approved manual will serve as a guide in the implementation of the ULAS Rules that took effect on February 3 this year.
In a statement, the SC Office of the Spokesperson said the legal service under the rules is free for qualified beneficiaries or those individuals who meet the eligibility criteria under the Rules and Manual.
“These Rules require covered lawyers to provide at least 60 hours of free legal aid service every three years to individuals who cannot afford adequate legal representation,” it said.
The Manual specifies the qualification of a beneficiary, which includes being appointed a counsel de officio by a court, tribunal, or authorized agency, to be evidenced by a court order or applying as an indigent qualified beneficiary.
Likewise, an applicant for an indigent qualified beneficiary must accomplish a Qualified Beneficiary Declaration, attach supporting documents, and undergo an interview and assessment by a lawyer, who will determine if the applicant meets the approved criteria.
The SC en banc has since appointed the ULAS Interim Board, headed by SC Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, to ensure the smooth enforcement of the Rules.
Meanwhile, the High Court also established partnerships with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Action Center, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) to make free legal aid services more accessible.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “SC approves manual on unified legal aid service rules”
