The China Information Technology & Law Centre of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is pleased to announce the completion of the Community Legal Information Centre (CLIC) (社區法網), a bilingual legal information website that will provide the public with better access to legal information and services in Hong Kong. CLIC is founded by HKU`s China Information Technology and Law Centre (jointly by HKU`s School of Law and Department of Computer Science). The project is commissioned by the HKSAR Government, under which the Centre will develop, host and maintain the website as a complement to the HKLII (Hong Kong Legal Information Institute), a popular research tool for the legal profession, which is also managed by the Centre. The success of the project owes the Ministry of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for its financial support and significant contribution to the launch of the website. The website not only provides user-friendly information on a range of legal issues closely related to citizens` daily lives, but also helps citizens gain a preliminary understanding of the relevant law before seeking advice from lawyers. The content of the website has expanded since its first launch in 2005 and now includes 21 categories, including bankruptcy and liquidation, consumer complaints, Hong Kong`s legal system, labour disputes, insurance, landlords and tenants, legal aid, matrimonial matters, personal injury, police and crime, the sale and purchase of (real estate) property, taxes and many others. The public can also visit the LINC website to find out where to get free legal assistance and how to get a lawyer. The CLIC website: – www.hkclic.orgwww.hkclic.org and www.clic.org.hk. Today (14. A ceremony will be held to complement the LINC website, which is also part of the programme to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the HKSAR. The ceremony will be presided over by Mr. Ian Wingfield, Attorney General of the Government of the HKSAR, and Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor of the HKU.
Representatives of the judiciary, ministries, legal bodies, non-governmental organizations, the Legislative Council and the District Council will attend the ceremony. For more information, please contact Ms. Rachel Li at HKU Law School (tel: 2859 2919). The above legal information is prepared by the Centre for Law and Technology of the University of Hong Kong with additional reference to other legal information providers in Hong Kong. Think of lawyers – and you may have the word “dear” almost simultaneously. Many people who need legal advice, no matter how desperate, face the harsh reality that they cannot afford the associated costs. Despite the existing rules on legal aid and legal services in Hong Kong, it is generally accepted that public access to justice needs to be improved, which requires more pro bono work on the part of the legal community. The program has two objectives: (i) to provide preliminary advice on their legal status to members of the university or the public who have legal problems; and (ii) give university law students who complete the clinical legal education course the opportunity to develop their legal skills and promote pro bono culture. We felt really supported throughout LEAP. The firm understood our way of doing business as a social enterprise and quickly prepared legal documents tailored to Mealingful. Our street law program encourages community members, law firm volunteers, and university students to work as a cohesive and collaborative team of lifelong learners and engaged citizens. As a result, HKU students and law firm volunteers have established close partnerships with marginalized communities and NGOs across Hong Kong.
Our Street Law programme aims to engage and empower communities by making the law accessible to all and helping non-governmental organisations (NGOs) integrate rights-based practices. We use interactive methods to provide hands-on legal education to non-legal professionals, marginalized community groups, and other community members. Offers students the opportunity to improve skills relevant and necessary to any area of legal practice: understanding the law, the ability to think on one`s toes to answer unexpected questions, communicating complex legal concepts to non-lawyers, public speaking and making presentations, building trust and building trust in client relationships, and skills in legal planning, preparation and research Our Law School`s attempt represents clinical elements in educational programs to familiarize students with the practical side of law. In recent decades, clinical legal education has become an integral part of legal education at universities around the world. Hong Kong, however, is lagging behind. After lengthy discussions on the development of clinical legal education, our Faculty of Law launched a clinical legal education course (continuing education course) as one of the LLB electives as a pilot in January 2009. With the experience gained from the pilot race, the faculty officially launched the LLB continuing education course as a 6-credit elective course in January 2010. In addition to continuing the pilot service at Small Claims Court, the work that participating students can do will be expanded to the free legal aid program on campus mentioned above.
assisting complainants in hearings before the Commission for Municipal Service Complaints and the Commission for Administrative Complaints; Assistance in cases handled by a law firm on a pro bono basis and assistance in cases handled by the Bar Free Legal Service Scheme. “Street law” encompasses a variety of community legal education programs and programs around the world, all with a common goal: Give a sense of belonging to the community and public service – engage students in meaningful collaborations and knowledge sharing activities with the wider community As part of this pilot project, Preliminary legal advice will be led by qualified lawyers with the support of our law students. Reached segments of the community that are not necessarily affected by traditional legal services in their daily lives to foster community empowerment Develop a legal studies curriculum and facilitate interactive workshops to support self-advocacy The Office of Home Affairs Policy has launched a pilot project to provide litigants with free legal advice in civil proceedings that participate in judicial proceedings before district or higher courts and have not benefited from legal aid. For more details, please click here. Work pro bono more profitably. Instead of working pro bono lawyers from scratch, law students can conduct preliminary drafts and legal research. Lawyers are solely responsible for awarding research work and controlling the quality of students` theses. The program will not only open the door to justice for those less fortunate in our society, but will also help foster a pro bono culture among our future lawyers. The potential impact of this pilot project to address the legal services gap in Hong Kong was covered in The Pearl Report of 29 August 2010: “For the Public Good”.
