The John Wesley School of Law and Governance (JWSLG) of Wesleyan University-Philippines (WUP) has secured accreditation from the Supreme Court of the Philippines as a Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) organization, strengthening its capacity to provide free legal assistance to qualified individuals and underserved communities.
The accreditation will allow the JWSLG to organize legal-aid activities with private practitioners and provide legal consultations and other services to eligible beneficiaries through its Office of Legal Aid (OLA).
According to Associate Dean Atty. Darren J. Gonzales, the accreditation creates an opportunity for lawyers across Nueva Ecija to collaborate with the JWSLG in providing legal services to people who cannot afford private legal representation.
“This is good news for our law school and our university because we will be the center and the institution where people in need [of legal assistance] can reach out to us,” Gonzales said.
He added that JWSLG plans to organize and schedule lawyers who can provide legal consultations and other available services at the University.
The development was built on the Law School’s existing legal-aid initiatives, which began with the establishment of its OLA following the introduction of the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) around 2020 to 2021.
Through the office, JWSLG started accepting pro bono cases for individuals who cannot afford private legal services. Gonzales said the Law School has handled cases involving persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and has won two cases through its legal-aid efforts.
He also highlighted the involvement of law professors and students in handling these cases, noting that the experience allows students to apply their legal research skills and gain practical exposure to legal work.
Gonzales underscored law schools play an important role in addressing gaps in access to justice, particularly for individuals who lack legal representation.
Although government agencies and legal organizations provide assistance, he said the continued demand for legal services makes law schools’ participation important in helping clients navigate the legal system.
Under ULAS, lawyers are generally required to render at least 60 hours of free legal-aid service, subject to applicable exemptions. Gonzales noted that the accreditation will enable JWSLG to work with private lawyers who wish to fulfill their legal-aid obligations through organized activities.
He identified indigent individuals and marginalized groups, including Indigenous Peoples, farmers, fishermen, and urban poor communities, as priority beneficiaries of the program. Applicants would be assessed according to the applicable eligibility requirements for free legal assistance.
Founded in 2015, JWSLG was established to help address the need for more lawyers in Nueva Ecija. Gonzales mentioned that the Law School has produced at least 129 lawyers since its establishment.
With the ULAS accreditation, JWSLG aimed to expand its legal-aid activities, strengthen its Clinical Legal Education Program, and provide students with opportunities to gain practical experience while serving communities in need.
The Law School also acknowledged WUP President Dr. Irineo G. Alvaro, Jr., the JWSLG faculty, staff, students, partners, and other members of the University community for their contributions and support in securing the accreditation.
Article by Emily G. Agumbay (PIO)
Photo by PIO
