San Beda College Alabang School of Law Launches Legal Aid Bureau Program
San Beda College Alabang- School of Law Dean Ulpiano Sarmiento III has recently introduced an exciting new initiative to the institution – the Legal Aid Bureau. This program, which will be an extension of San Beda Manila’s Legal Aid Bureau, aims to provide law students with the opportunity to represent indigent clients under the supervision of a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Under the Law Student Practice Rule of the Rules of Court, students participating in the legal aid program will have the chance to represent clients in various legal proceedings, including cases before trial courts, tribunals, boards, or officers. Additionally, qualified students will also be involved in activities aimed at promoting legal rights within the community. Participation in this program will replace the current law school curriculum’s Practice Court 1 and 2 courses.
The Legal Aid Bureau at San Beda College- Manila College of Law (SBCM COL) has been successfully operating for seven years, and now, the same program will be offered to students at SBCA- SOL, with Atty. Lauren Tanyag serving as its adviser. Through the collaborative efforts of SBCA-SOL’s Student Law Government (SLG) and administrators from both SBCA-SOL and SBC-M COL, this vision has become a reality.
The formal extension of the Legal Aid Bureau from SBC-M to SBCA-SOL was solidified on March 5, 2013, with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement at the Board Room of SBC-Manila. The event was attended by key figures from both institutions, including Reverend Fr. Aloysius Maranan OSB, Dean Virgilio Jara, Dean Ulpiano Sarmiento III, and Atty. Lauren Tanyag, among others.
Atty. Tanyag highlighted the significance of bringing this program to the Alabang campus, noting the lack of legal aid offices in the southern part of Metro Manila. She expressed the hope that SBCA-SOL’s Legal Aid Bureau would address this need and provide assistance to those in areas like Rizal, Cavite, Muntinlupa, and Las Pinas. Additionally, there is a growing demand for legal assistance in Muntinlupa, particularly for individuals in the New Bilibid Prison.
The mission of SBCA-SOL in establishing the Legal Aid Bureau is to ensure free access to justice for the underprivileged and to contribute to the development of a more robust justice system. By offering law students hands-on experience in providing legal assistance to those in need, the program aims to make justice accessible to all. Through this initiative, San Beda College Alabang is taking a significant step towards creating a more just and equitable society.