LEGAL AID CLINIC

The NEW ERA UNIVERSITY – LEGAL AID CLINIC was created and organized as
a facility to provide its law students, particularly the graduating class, with a
clinical legal education program to prepare them to become competent,
socially involved and ethical lawyers and to provide them with a meaningful
legal training and experience.
Objectives
The principal objective of the New Era University Legal Aid Clinic is to prepare
and train qualified law students as legal interns to practice law ethically and
competently through supervised appearances in courts, tribunals and
administrative agencies. The Clinic aims to provide:

1. Law students as legal interns with clinical legal education by the proper
exposure to actual legal problem situations and practical work experience
in their environment with the program;
2. Free legal aid services to indigent and impoverished members of the
community, particularly our brethren who cannot afford to pay the
services of lawyers; and
3. The Clinic shall likewise endeavor to harness the wealth of experience and
expertise of the University’s law professors by seeking their participation
and involvement in the implementation of the program as supervisors to
the student practitioners.

History
On 3 April 2002, Ret. Justice Nicolas P. Lapeña, the first Dean of the New Era
University College of Law, filed with the Supreme Court an application for the
accreditation of the New Era University Legal Aid Clinic. On 25 May 2004, the
Supreme Court En Banc issued Bar Matter No. 1103 granting the request for
accreditation of the New Era University Legal Aid Clinic. Atty. Teofilo F. Nacion
was the first appointed Director of the Clinic.
Since its establishment, the Clinic has rendered free legal aid services to
countless indigent members of our community. It was also instrumental in
producing well-experienced and socially-involved lawyers who graduated
from the New Era University College of Law.
In November 2014, the Clinic was transferred to its present-day office at
Room 211 of the NEU Professional Schools Building of New Era University. In
January 2015, Atty. Rodel R. Morta was appointed as the Director of the Clinic.
The Legal Affairs Advocates of New Era University (LAAN) was established in
August 2015. The LAAN is the core group of the Legal Aid Clinic, primarily
devoted to pro bono services to the community.
Services Rendered
“Legal representation” involves the conduct of cases in court, tribunals or
agencies by the Legal Interns and the Supervising Lawyers for and in behalf of
the clients.
“Legal counseling and assistance” refers to the process of giving advice and
information concerning the solution of a legal problem arising from a given
state of facts and the adoption of appropriate relief or remedies under the law
for the satisfaction and enforcement of a legal obligation before a judicial or
quasi-judicial body. In short, legal counseling involves only the giving of legal
advice, while legal assistance involves the conduct of necessary remedies like
making of demand letters, reply-affidavit, etc.
Availing the Legal Services of the Clinic
Persons who wish to avail the legal services of the Clinic may personally
proceed to our office between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Saturday, and
should bring the following:

1. Certificate of Indigency issued by the Barangay or the Department of Social

Welfare and Development; and
2. All documents relevant and helpful to the case.

Upon entering our office, you will be greeted and interviewed by our Legal
Interns. Your case will undergo evaluation and assessment by the Director.
The Clinic will not accept the following:

1. Unmeritorious cases. A case is deemed unmeritorious if it seems that,

based on the law and evidence at hand, it has no chance of success, or is
intended only to harass or oppress any person. In such situation, the Clinic
has the discretion to whether or not decline the handling of the case. In
criminal cases, the accused is given the constitutional presumption of
 innocence until the contrary is proven. Hence, cases of defendants in
criminal cases are considered meritorious. (PAO Memorandum Circular
No. 02 Series of 2010)
2. Cases being handled by other lawyers;
3. Cases necessitating legal representation if it is outside the jurisdiction of
Quezon City courts/tribunals/agencies. However, there is no area
requirement if the legal service sought is only legal counseling and
assistance;
4. Cases involving political issues; and
5. Cases that have conflicting interests with other clients of the Clinic.

Legal Interns
Cases accepted by the Clinic will be handled by our Legal Interns, who are 4th
Year Law Students. The Legal Interns are strictly supervised by our
Supervising Lawyers and the Director.