New clinic to help young people with legal advice

Young people will be able to better understand their legal rights and get help with legal advice under a new pilot scheme announced yesterday.

The Youth Community and Legal Clinic will bring together volunteer young lawyers and law students to provide free legal online consultation services to youth in need.

The clinic, to be rolled out in the coming months, will be administered by the Law Society Pro Bono Services, with support from the five Community Development Councils (CDCs), the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

The youth receiving the legal services will also be able to tap the CDCs' network and resources for social assistance if needed.

The initiative was announced virtually by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong yesterday.

RECEPTIVE

Law Society Pro Bono Services chairman Gregory Vijayendran said that young people are more likely to be receptive to getting advice from a peer who is closer in age and from the same generation.

He said: "We hope the pilot clinic will help youth navigate challenges potentially impacting their mental, psycho-social and financial health, relationships and families in a holistic and integrated way."

Mr Tong also announced the renewal of two memorandums of understanding (MOU).

One is between the CDCs and the Law Society Pro Bono Services, for its Community Legal Pro Bono Services Network to help those who need free legal advice.

The other is an MOU among the CDCs, Law Society Pro Bono Services, NUS, SMU, SUSS and the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association, to pledge their commitment to providing pro bono services to the community and organising the annual Law Awareness Weeks @ CDC event.