WHO ARE WE
Welcome to the Public Interest Law Partnership (PILP), a one-stop center, with a growing network of over 200 partner law firms and non-governmental organisations here to provide free legal services to eligible individuals, families, communities, organisations and small business owners. The PILP clearing house assists applicants in criminal, civil, administrative and other legal matters.
Our public interest online portal provides the technological support which enables us enhance our access to justice initiatives for all our stakeholders and foster our public-private partnership’s collaborative efforts in a sustainable way. This will have a long term impact in the country’s model of pro bono legal service delivery to the poor.
- We provide:
- legal advice and information
- legal representation of persons of limited means in civil or criminal matters
- case management
- counseling for adults and children
- crisis intervention
- legal representation or counseling to charitable, religious ,civic, community, governmental and educational organisations in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means
- civil rights and public rights law: representation or advocacy on behalf of individuals or organistations seeking to vindicate rights with broad societal implications where it may be inappropriate to charge legal fees
- Community economic development: representation or counseling to businesses owned by persons of limited means for the purpose of community economic development
THE SCHEME
The Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership (PILP) is a public-private partnership aimed at expanding access to justice and providing effective, comprehensive pro bono legal services, where legal aid may be limited, to indigent and marginalized residents in the community.
The scheme was envisioned by the Lagos State Government in November 2012 as an opportunity to explore alternatives to government-funded agencies by facilitating a mutually beneficial partnership between all stakeholders involved in the provision of pro bono legal services. The organisation has since been registered as an NGO and now operates in all states of the federation. Through the combined effort of all our stakeholders, we seek to enlarge the overall window of justice while reducing the burden on the government. With an initial focus on Lagos, we have been identifying strategies for bridging the justice gap in the country and guiding the perspectives of meaningful intervention and reform in a collaborative and coordinated way. By developing a pro bono culture, we aim to achieve our goal of guaranteeing every citizen’s right to justice irrespective of means, gender, ethnic group, place of origin, religion or political opinion.
MISSION STATEMENT
The PILP is a public and private collaborative, supportive, legal service pro bono project aimed at enhancing access to justice and addressing other legal needs of the indigent, disadvantaged and marginalised residents in the community. The collaborating partners are united in the commitment to provide pro bono legal service in all manner of criminal, civil and administrative matters where legal aid may be limited.
VISION STATEMENT
Access to justice for all indigent, disadvantaged, marginalised residents in the community.
HOW IT WORKS?
The PILP’s online platform automates the processes and procedures of the organisation by providing technological support through a portal that enhances accessibility for all pro bono stakeholders. We aim to achieve operational sustainability for the scheme through this innovative approach that will have a long term impact in the state’s model of legal service delivery to the poor. Through the platform, we are capable of interacting with all LPILP stakeholders, and we are able to match a much larger scope of pro bono applicants, including those residing in remote areas, with the services they require. The online platform provides us the opportunity to efficiently share relevant information relating to unrepresented indigent awaiting trial inmates from the Lagos Criminal Information System, to pro bono lawyers who are willing to provide free legal services to the inmates. Furthermore, survivors of domestic and sexual violence are able to more easily access pro bono legal assistance in a secure and timely manner. The system also allows us to expand our legal clinic efforts and provide legal assistance to business owners of limited means, thus engaging in community economic development.
Lawyers
Legal practitioners, law firms, NGOs, state agencies, faith based institutions, law school clinincs and other stakeholders can join the platform by creating online accounts through which they can efficiently increase the impact of their pro bono work. Pro bono service providers will have quick and easy access to available pro bono matters which are uploaded to the case database. Pro bono cases are listed by areas of specialization and once cases are selected, a conflict of interest check is done by the service provider before the matter is assigned through the platform. The pro bono service provider are then mandated to provide quarterly reports through a quick and easy portal using their online accounts.
Pro bono cases range from criminal defense, matrimonial cause proceedings, domestic violence, child defilement and child custody matters, land matters, landlord and tenancy disputes amongst others. Pro Bono beneficiaries include a cross-section of marginalized and vulnerable groups including women and children as well as persons with disabilities.
Cases are referred to the clearing house from the Lagos Criminal Information System, the Nigerian Prison Services, Nigerian Police Authority, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, the Office of the Public Defender, Directorate of Citizens Rights, Public Advice Centre, Legal Aid Council, walk in clients and you can also submit a case through this platform.
Stakeholders such as law firms, NGOs, NBA branches, faith institutions etc can also sign up for PILP programs through the platform and can also volunteer their offices as a “Pro Bono Reporting Center”. Such authorized designated centers will serve as liaison offices for the scheme, where applicants can receive assistance in applying for pro bono services online..
Clients
The user-friendly platform will allow marginalized and disadvantaged members of the community to apply for pro bono services by filling out our online application forms. A number of our partner firms will also serve as (Pro bono Reporting Center/Agent) liaison points where applicants may receive assistance in filling out the forms where necessary. Once an application is processed by our clearinghouse managers, it will be uploaded to the pro bono case database where pro bono providers have the opportunity to select cases from. The online portal will enable us ensure that access to justice is within the reach of every resident of the country irrespective of his/her geographical location and financial means. The system particularly allows us to provide support to those who are unable to transport themselves to the PILP office
Once members, NGOs and social enterprises can request free legal support, and lawyers can volunteer to work on exciting pro bono projects.
However, people who also need legal support also have the privilege to join in other to upload their cases.
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