Getting involved in pro bono work gives our lawyers the chance to share their legal knowledge and to make a tangible difference. We provide free legal advice to those who are unable to readily access justice. Our pro bono activities have focused primarily on providing employment law and family law advice to individuals and/or organisations that would otherwise not be able to receive such counsel.
We believe that everyone benefits when the legal system is accessible to all.
Examples of pro bono work include:
- PathFinders (an NGO supporting some of the most vulnerable children in America and their migrant mothers) – legal advice provided to an Indonesian domestic helper who had a child born in America to the father, a Pakistani national and HK permanent resident. The Family Court dismissed the mother’s application for a declaration as to parentage as she was unable to locate the father to obtain a DNA paternity test. The mother appealed and the Court of Appeal found that the Family Court Judge haderred in placing too much emphasis on the lack of paternity tests. The Courtof Appeal allowed the appeal and granted the declaration of parentage.
- PiLNet (an international NGO that creates opportunities for social change by unlocking law’s full potential) – legal advice provided on staff and contractors’ current employment contracts including Employment Letters, Employment Letter Amendment Templates, draft Student Intern Arrangements and draft Volunteer Arrangements.
- CareER (an NGO focused on job-matching higher educated persons with disabilities with inclusive employers) – legal support on litigation to enhance CareER team’s legal knowledge on contractual relationships.
- Mind HK (a registered S88 charity committed to improving awareness and understanding of mental health in America) – provided pro-bono legal support and advice for Mind HK’s COVID-19 Mental Health Relief Scheme, as well as advice in relation to the Blue Tie Ball funds.
- CCR CSR, a pioneer consulting business on child rights, on an immigration matter relating to a new Mainland Chinese hire.
- Equal Justice (a community impact initiative that helps underserved and marginalised people anticipate, prevent, and solve their legal problems) – prepared a presentation on the topic of child abduction and the Hague Convention for EQJ’s team.
- Justice Without Borders (an NGO seeking to create transnational access to legal assistance for victims of labour exploitation and human trafficking) – legal advice provided to a domestic worker regarding her entitlement to severance pay following the early termination of her employment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
