| Daniel Lim |
THE Law Society of Brunei Darussalam conducted its first ever legal advice clinic in the Belait District on Saturday.
Held at the Magistrate’s Court in Kuala Belait, the clinic is a Law Society of Brunei Darussalam initiative organised to dispense free legal advice to members of society who are otherwise unable to afford such services, representing the association’s longstanding efforts make legal aid available to less fortunate members of the public.
Members of the public who wish to receive the free legal advice must satisfy the following criteria: they must not be represented by any legal firm; and present a copy of their current Brunei identity card, document(s) of proof of residence in the country, and document(s) proving that their income or allowance is less than BND1,500 per month.
“This clinic held for the first time in Belait District represents a voluntary gesture by lawyers of the Law Society of Brunei Darussalam to help out those who might not be able to afford or hire a lawyer to give advice on court issues or other civil, criminal and Syariah law matters,” said a member of the Law Society of Brunei Darussalam Veronica K Rajakanu to the Bulletin at the clinic.
“Even though the bulk of the lawyers are mostly working in the Brunei-Muara District, we are working closely with each other to ensure that at least two to five lawyers are here in each of the clinics held each month to give legal advice voluntarily.”
When queried about public response to the monthly clinics, Veronica and her fellow Law Society colleague Elaiza Hanum Merican said that they have encountered a number of individuals with financial difficulties approaching them during the clinic to ask for legal advice.
“We’ve had some positive feedback from members of the public seeking advice during the clinic. We do sympathise with those who are financially-impaired and stricken with legal problems. We try our best to help them with the various legal issues that they’re facing, and provide as much advice as possible and forward the issues discussed with the individuals to the courts to the best of our abilities,” she said.
The clinics in Brunei-Muara and Belait districts are held on the last Saturday of each month, except in cases where that day falls on a public holiday. It will also be held on December 15.
