2014 3rd Asia Pro Bono Conference – Programme

(2-4 October 2014, Singapore)

Pre-Conference (Wednesday, 1 October 2014) – The Joyden Hall, BUGIS+
Time	Conference Program Outline
5.30pm – 9.00pm	Pre-Conference Welcome Reception – Bugis+, Joyden Hall• Building Pro Bono Collaborations – A Marketplace of OpportunitiesThe marketplace featured the work of the conference organisers and their partners, including NGOs, academic institutes and law firms. It provided a match-making opportunity through organisations and businesses showcasing what services they can offer, what services they need and what they are looking for in potential partners.• Inspiration Speech – Josephus Tan (Singapore) Click here to view the Video
End of Pre-Conference

Day 1 (Thursday, 2 October 2014) – The Joyden Hall, BUGIS+
Time	Conference Program Outline *Conference programme may be updated on a regular basis.
8:20am – 9:00am	Registration
9.00am – 9.45am	Opening Addresses
9.45am – 10.30am	Keynote Address – Creating a Vibrant Pro Bono Ecosystem to Strengthen Access to JusticeMs Indranee Thurai Rajah – Senior Minister of State for Law and Education, Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC
10.30am – 11.00am	Morning Tea Break
11.00am – 12.30pm	Plenary Session 1: The Role of Bar Associations in Supporting Pro BonoWhat role can bar associations play in supporting and nurturing a healthy pro bono culture while balancing the needs of their members to maintain sustainable fee paying practices? In this session, representatives from bar associations in the region report for their jurisdiction on the rules and policies regarding pro bono, statistics on pro bono participation, case studies of pro bono, and goals for the future. As relevant this session will address mandatory pro bono reporting, mandatory pro bono hours and whether bar associations should invest in infrastructure to facilitate pro bono engagement by members.Chairperson Malathi Das – Head (Litigation and Dispute Resolution), Joyce A Tan & Partners (Singapore)PanellistsMinerva M. B. Ambrosio – Member, Philippines Bar Association (Philippines) – Click on link to access presentation Bounthavy Khorayoke – Manager, Legal Aid Office of Northern Provinces (Laos PDR) – Click on link to access presentation Christopher Leong – President, Malaysian Bar Council (Malaysia) – Click on link to access presentation Gregory Vijayendran – Equity Partner, Rajah & Tann LLP (Singapore)U Hla Ko – Mandalay Law Firm (Myanmar) Mark Woods – Chairman, Access to Justice Committee of the Law Council of Australia (Australia) – Click on link to access presentation
12.30pm – 2.00pm	Lunch
2.00pm – 3.30pm	Plenary Session 2: Pro Bono Developments and Opportunities in Southeast Asia Regional overview of pro bono developments and opportunities. Pro bono legal ethics, development of pro bono awareness, involves collaboration of lawyersChairperson Nick Booth – Policy Adviser, Governance, Access to Justice and Human Rights, UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, Bangkok (Thailand)Panellists Annette Beashel – Head (Risk Management), Risk Management Legal Counsel, DLA Piper (Middle East) – Click on link to access presentation Douglas MacLean – American Lawyer; Founder, Justice Without Borders. (JWB) (United States of America) – Click on link to access presentation Annette Bain – Head, (Pro Bono and Community), Herbert Smith Freehills (Australia) – Click on link to access presentation Thipphasone Luangpaphay – Legal Trainer, The Rights-LINK Lao project, Village Focus International Organization (Laos)
3.30pm – 4.00pm	Afternoon Tea Break
4.00pm – 5.30pm	Breakout Session 1: Pro Bono Coordination 101 Small, medium, and large/international law firms offer perspectives on starting, developing and maintaining structured pro bono engagement programmes, and suggest ways of addressing issues such as compatible pro bono partnerships and billable hours. Chairperson Laura Lombardo – Senior Associate/ Regional Pro Bono Manager, Ashurst (Australia) – Click on link to access presentation Panellists Chan Hian Young – Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP (Singapore) Maree Myerscough – Associate, Latham & Watkins LLP (Singapore) Tan Cheow Hung – Director, Beacon Law Corporation (Singapore)	Breakout Session 2:Clearing-house Systems Case studies on designing, implementing and maintaining effective clearing-house systems for law student attachments, corporate pro bono opportunities, and legal advice and representation. Chairperson Edwin Rekosh – President & CEO, PILnet (United States of America) – Click on link to access presentation Panellists Jeffrey Lim – Partner (Intellectual Property, Technology & Media and Telecommunications Practices), Wong Partnership LLP (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Bruce Lasky – Co-Founder/ Director , BABSEA CLE (Thailand) – Click on link to access presentation Fiona McLeay – CEO, Justice Connect (Australia) – Click on link to access presentation Ng Tze-Wei – Director, PILNET (Hong Kong) – Click on link to access presentation	Breakout Session 3: Funding Pro Bono Initiatives and Measuring ImpactCase studies on funding pro bono initiatives including funding sources, funder perspectives, and the importance of selecting key performance indicators/measuring impact. Chairperson Annette Bain – Head, (Pro Bono and Community), Herbert Smith Freehills (Australia) – Click on link to access presentation Panellists Dr Christopher Walsh – Associate Professor of Education, Torrens University (Australia) – Click on link to access presentation Somphou Keomounmany – Senior Programme Officer, The Asia Foundation (Laos) – Click on link to access presentation James Searby – Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting Pte Ltd – Click on link to access presentation
End of Day 1

Day 2 (Friday, 3 October 2014) – The Joyden Hall, BUGIS+
Time	Conference Program Outline *Conference programme may be updated on a regular basis.
8:45am – 9:30am	Registration
9.30am – 10.30am	Keynote Address – Development of Public – Private – People Partnerships to Support Access to Justice through Pro BonoKeynote address to examine the potential of public private people partnerships to bridge gaps in access to justice through pro bono.Judicial Commissioner See Kee Oon – Presiding Judge of the State Courts (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation
10.30am – 11.00am	Morning Tea Break
11.00am – 12.30pm	Plenary Session 3: In-house Counsel and Pro Bono What challenges do in-house counsel face when engaging in pro bono? How can these challenges be overcome? This session addresses pro bono policies for in-house counsel, considers modes of participation by counsel who may not hold bar membership or be familiar with local laws, and details local/regional pro bono initiatives involving in-house counsel/ in-house counsel-law firm collaborations.Chairperson Nicolas Patrick– Partner, International Head of Pro Bono and Corporate Responsibility, DLA Piper (London) – Click on link to access presentationPanellists Ng Joo Kim – Vice-President (Associate Country Counsel), Citibank Singapore Limited (Singapore) Rohan Bartlett – AEC Counsel & Regional ES, Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific (Singapore) Jason Kang – Senior Patent Counsel, Intel (Singapore)
12.30pm – 2.00pm	Lunch
2.00pm – 3.30pm	Breakout Session 4: Innovation in pro bono Interest in pro bono has sparked innovative delivery mechanisms. This session will bring innovators from around the world, sharing their experience on developing new platforms to further the pro bono cause. Chairperson Wendy J. Morrish – Co-Director/Founder BABSEA CLE (Thailand) Panellists Anne-Françoise Meeùs – International Legal Network Coordinator, Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF), (Brussels) – Click on link to access presentation Swathi Sukumar – Country Director, iProbono (India) – Click on link to access presentation Patrick Burgess – President, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR.) [Indonesia] – Click on link to access presentation	Breakout Session 5: Pro bono/Legal Education partnerships Pillars of the future legal landscape- law students are integral to the growth of a vibrant pro bono culture. This session will focus on the establishment and development of pro bono/legal education partnerships to seed the next generation of lawyers with a passion for pro bono. Chairperson Professor Helena Whalen-Bridge – Associate Professor, National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law (Singapore) Panellists Associate Professor Dr. Le Thi Chau – Senior Law Lecturer, Law Clinic Director, Trade Union University Faculty of Law (Vietnam) – Click on link to access presentation Dr. Panarairat Srichaiyarat – Deputy Director of the Centre, Centre for ASEAN Studies, Khon Kaen University (Thailand) – Click on link to access presentation Professor Viengvilay Thiengchanhxay – Dean of Faculty of Law and Political Science, National University of Laos (Laos) – Click on link to access presentation	Breakout Session 6: ICT strategy workshop for NGOs Technology is the great enabler provided it is thoughtfully implemented and applied. This session examines how best to leverage on technology to streamline processes and scale up pro bono initiatives. Chairperson Benjamin Pwee – Managing Director, E-Deo Asia (Singapore) Panellists Gina Ho – Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs Leader, IBM Singapore Pte Ltd (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Esther Nai – Salesforce Foundation, APAC (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Mark Robinson – Senior Consultant, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation	Breakout Session 7: Migration and Pro Bono: Developing Long-Term Strategic Engagement The panel, consisting of legal practitioners from various countries will be sharing and discuss their views related to migration issues, existing initiatives as well as exploring new ideas on how to tackle long-term issues. The interactive session will consist of a panel discussion followed by lively workshop to further brainstorm on this topic. Facilitator Sumaiya Islam – Programme Manager of Legal Empowerment Programme (Indonesia) – Click on link to access presentation Panelists: Douglas MacLean – American Lawyer; Founder, Justice Without Borders. (JWB) (United States of America) – Click on link to access presentation Simon Cox – Migration Lawyer, Open Society Justice Initiative (London) – Click on link to access presentation Ian Lim – Director, TSMP Law Corporation (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Febi Yonesta – Director, Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) – Click on link to access presentation Vichuta Ly – Founder and Director, Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW) Organisation (Cambodia) – Click on link to access presentation
3.30pm – 4.00pm	Afternoon Tea Break
4.00pm – 5.30pm	Breakout Session 8: Public-Private-People partnership cases studies Mirroring the theme for the conference, the tripartite partnership (Public-Private-People) will be visited in this session. Case studies on the Triple P collaborations/partnerships will be showcased and an insightful discussion will take place on how the Triple P contributes to the ecosystem. Chairperson Mark Woods – Chairman, Access to Justice Committee of the Law Council of Australia (Australia) Panellists Lim Tanguy – Director, Pro Bono Services, The Law Society of Singapore (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Megan Wall – Managing Attorney, St. Johns County Legal Aid (USA) – Click on link to access presentation	Breakout Session 9: DNA of successful pro bono- partnerships Successful pro bono initiatives are often the result of strong partnerships. Case studies on law firm/in-house counsel/NGO partnerships will be discussed, with a focus on what factors best nurture and make these partnerships successful. Chairperson Francis Goh – Partner, Harry Elias Partnership LLP (Singapore) Panellists John Corker– Director, National Pro Bono Resource Centre (Australia) – Click on link to access presentation Susan Brooks – Dean of Experiential Learning, Professor of Law, Drexel University School of Law (America) – Click on link to access presentation Melvin Chan – Executive Director, TSMP Law Corporation (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Thai MacDonald – Knowledge Management Lawyer, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Hong Kong) – Click on link to access presentation Cynthia Morel – Adviser (Asian Business & Rule of Law), Singapore Management University (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation	Breakout Session 10: Law Student Pro Bono Clubs Law student run pro bono clubs provide an excellent “ground-up” platform in universities to empower students to explore pro bono initiatives on their own. This session will focus on setting up, running and developing a successful pro bono club. Chairpersons Professor Helena Whalen-Bridge – Associate Professor, National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Professor Rathna N. Koman – Associate Professor of Law, Singapore Management University, School of Law (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation	Breakout Session 11: Community Education in Pro Bono: Focus on Migrant Workers “In Transit: A Re-Enactment” uses the context of migrant workers to demonstrate a creative method of sharing legal information and creating awareness of legal problems – a method that can be used in a variety of areas. The session presents an interactive play presented in five chronological Acts. In each Act, the audience views a re-enactment of a migrant worker experiencing a legal issue from the perspective of various stakeholders, including the worker, government agencies, employers and other private actors. Between Acts, experts in migrant issues lead discussion about issues and solutions, and ultimately focusing on the important role that community education plays in fostering awareness of the practice of pro bono. Chairperson Lim Wei Zhen – LL.B. Student, President of NUS Law Pro Bono Group, National University of Singapore (Singapore) Panelists Jacqueline Field – Legal Consultant, HOME, former Solicitor, King & Wood Mallesons (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Debbie Fordyce – Executive Committee, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Sheila N. Hayre – Senior Lecturer, NUS Law School, National University of Singapore (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation Luke Tan – Case Executive Officer, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation
6pm onwards	Closing Dinner (Joyden Hall, Bugis +)• Closing Address• Handing over ceremony, 2015 4th Southeast Asia Pro Bono Conference to Myanmar

Day 3 (Saturday, 4 October 2014) – NUS Law School
Time	Conference Program Outline *Conference programme may be updated on a regular basis.
9.00am – 10.00am	Pro Bono and Legal Education symposium/Southeast Asia Clinical Legal Education Association Conference @ NUS Chairperson Professor Tan Cheng Han, S.C. – Chairman, Centre for Law & Business, NUS Faculty of Law (Singapore)Panellists David Quark – Executive Director, Singapore Institute of Legal Education – Click on link to access presentation Sarut Juimanee – Dean of Faculty of Law, Thaksin University (Thailand) – Click on link to access presentation Kong Phallack -Dean, Professor of Law; Attorney at Law, Mediator and Arbitrator (Cambodia) – Click on link to access presentation Dr. Yin Yin Win – Lecturer, Yangon University (Myanmar) – Click on link to access presentation Approaches to Pro Bono: What role do law schools play in encouraging pro bono awareness and participation among students, and what support can or should law schools provide? This session reviews the policies of representative law schools in the region and offers self-reflection on different types of student support.
10.00am – 10.30am	Morning Tea Break
10.30am – 11.30am	Variations: Pro Bono in the Life of the Law School What are the ways in which students participate in pro bono? Students take centre stage in this session which showcases student activities prior to bar membership and curriculum offerings.Chairperson Lindsay Ernst – Centre for Comparative and Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)Panellists Arisyah Binti Anuar – Law Student, University Malaya (Malaysia) – Click on link to access presentation Fiona Li – Student, University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong) – Click on link to access presentationVikas Mahendra – Associate, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (Singapore)
11.30am – 12.30pm	Transitions: From Pro Bono Student to Pro Bono Lawyer What obstacles do students face when they strive to maintain pro bono contributions as a young lawyer? This panel brings together students, emerging lawyers, and young lawyers to discuss strategies for bringing about a workable professional and pro bono balance.Chairperson Freda Grealy – Solicitor, Head of Diploma Centre, Education Department, Law Society of Ireland (Ireland) – Click on link on access presentationPanellists Samantha Chong – Legal Associate, Messrs Thong Seng Kong & Associates (Malaysia) – Click on link to access presentation Minh Nguyen – Associate, Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I (Vietnam) – Click on link to access presentation Thip Nouansyvong – Laos National CLE Coordinator, BABSEA CLE/FLP CLE (Laos) – Click on link to access presentation Mervyn Cheong – Senior Associate, Eugene Thuraisingam (Singapore) – Click on link to access presentation
12.30pm – 2.00pm	Lunch
Bonus Sessions – NUS Law School (No CPD Points allocated for the afternoon sessions. All conference participants are welcome to attend!)
2:00pm – 3:00pm	Session 1 – What Are You Doing Now? Mapping Student Pro Bono Activities This session will allow students to share some of the issues and challenges they face when doing pro bono work through students exchanging information in their reports with each other. The aim of the session is to articulate and familiarise students with the state of student pro bono in different countries around Asia.
3:00pm – 3.30pm	Session 2 – What Could You Do? Case StudiesIn this session, students will be presented with case studies of successful pro bono initiatives from around the region. For example, one case study could possibly cover the concept of “Street Law”, a type of legal education programme that empowers students to use their knowledge to teach people about law, democracy and human rights in their everyday lives. Another case study could involve how student groups and law school clinics specifically can use clearinghouses to source pro bono projects.
3.30pm – 4.00pm	Afternoon Tea Break
4:00pm – 4:45pm	Session 3 – What Ethical Rules Apply? Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Training for StudentsThis session will alert students to the key ethical issues, for example, confidentiality, duties to the client, conflicts etc. that may arise when students engage in pro bono activities, so that they may seek further information and training in their jurisdiction. The interface between legal education and access to justice lies in training in legal ethics. This session will also examine the merits of using legal ethics training as a mechanism to influence students to become more responsible and more engaged in pro bono activities, and the extent to which students from around the region receive training in legal ethics and whether a pro bono component exists in such training. The session will also highlight the Legal Ethics, Pro Bono and Professional Responsibility Curriculum which has been developed by BABSEA CLE, BABSEA CLE Singapore, DLA Piper/New Perimeter, Herbert Smith Freehills and the Australian Government Solicitor.
4.45pm – 6:00pm	Session 4 – Beyond Singapore: Actions to Grow Student Pro BonoThis session will enable students to discuss ways in which they can continue to communicate ideas and support each other in developing pro bono initiatives, for example, creating pilot initiatives in their law schools/departments/faculties, and hosting an online to share ideas and experiences. Students will put together an action plan for implementation in their respective countries and across borders, and share the key points of their plan with the larger group.
Facilitators (preliminary/subject to additional personnel)	Lindsay Ernst – Centre for Comparative and Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)Bruce Lasky – Co-Founder/Director of BABSEA CLE (Thailand)Wendy Morrish – Co-Director/Founder BABSEA CLE (Thailand)Thip Nouansyvong – Laos National CLE Coordinator, BABSEA CLE/FLP CLE (Laos)Associate Professor Helena Whalen-Bridge – Associate Professor, National University of Singapore (NUS), Faculty of Law (Singapore)Freda Grealy – Solicitor, Head of Diploma Centre, Education Department, Law Society of Ireland (Ireland)Ng Tze-Wei – Director, PILNET (Hong Kong)Dean Susan Brooks – Dean of Experiential Learning, Professor of Law, Drexel University School of Law (America) Professor Catherine Klein – Director, Columbus Community Legal Services and Professor of Law, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America (USA) Professor Leah Wortham – Professor of Law, Columbus School of Law, the Catholic University of America (USA) Hien Thu Bui – Volunteer Consultant, BABSEA CLE (Vietnam) Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh – Project Coordinator, BABSEA CLE (Vietnam) Nwe Mar – National Programme Coordinator, BABSEA CLE (Myanmar)
End of Day 3