Session B4: Pro Bono and Social Justice Lawyering in Practice-Asia Pro Bono Case Studies

Community organizations bring a critical skill s and a range of relationships to legal practice, including more direct access to community leaders and grassroots knowledge. However, some community and public interest organizations may lack the capacity or expertise to take on particular cases or projects. Pro bono lawyers can help by increasing capacity and bringing different expertise to the table.  But pro bono lawyers seeking justice for marginalized and disadvantaged groups cannot succeed by working alone. Social justice is enhanced greatly when strong and dynamic pro bono relationships are formed. This session highlights how integrating community organizations and pro bono lawyers can translate into effective social justice lawyering. Through a range of case studies from the Asia context, this session will demonstrate the benefits, and challenges, of combining the two.