The launch of LAC was reported in The Star newspaper and also blogged in MyConstitution today :).

The following extract is taken from The Star Online.

 

Sunday March 27, 2011

Malaysian Bar and college seal pact

LEGAL aid usually comes at a high price from private firms and most underprivileged people cannot afford such services, but Taylor’s College intends to change that by launching its first Pro Bono legal aid centre in Malaysia.

It is the first of its kind to be launched by a private university in Malaysia and is now operational at Taylor’s University’s Lakeside Campus in Subang Jaya.

The Taylor’s Legal Aid Centre was officially launched by Malaysian Bar President, Ragunath Kesavan and Taylor’s University Vice Chancellor and President, Prof Datuk Dr Hassan Said.

During the launch , a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre and Taylor’s University where the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur) will support Taylor’s Legal Aid Centre by providing lawyers and chambering students to supervise and vet the legal advice delivered at the centre.

It will be fully operational by the end of March 2011 and will be under the supervision of Taylor’s Law School dean Dr Rajeswari Kanniah.

Its primary target will be the residents of Subang Jaya and Sunway, as they are the people who live within the vicinity of the campus. However, people from other areas are also welcome to seek legal advice.Prof Hassan commended the law students for their effort and time in establishing the centre. He said Dr Kanniah had also provided an avenue for the law students to apply their textbook learning to real life legal problems, while at the same time performing a much needed community service.

,“We want to instil a sense of responsibility among our students towards the community while emphasising that the legal profession is a noble one which upholds justice for the people, especially those from the lower income group who are not able to seek legal redress.

“They will be better prepared with the theory and practical aspects of law while ensuring they become industry-ready graduates and stand out in the industry well ahead of other fresh graduates,” added Prof Hassan.

“The launch of the centre in collaboration with the Bar Council, is an important step towards our objective to ensure that justice remains within reach for all. This is an important corporate social responsibility (CSR) project that would have a huge impact and benefit the students, staff and surrounding communities,” he said.

The scope of subjects handled by the centre is limited to matters covered under the Consumer Protection Act, landlord and tenancy matters, financial matters such as banking and insurance, family law matters and employment matters. The law students who attend to clients will research the legal problems and prepare the legal advice with help from the Bar Council’s legal aid centre before it is delivered to the client.

Legal assistance provided by the centre is limited to advice and does not cover legal representation in courts or tribunals.

The centre will be open from 2pm to 5pm every Wednesday and Friday from late March. Those interested may walk in to request for consultation, For details, call: 03-5629 5519, Fax: 03-5629 5296 or e-mail: 
legalaidcentre@taylors.edu.my

 

Amazing isn't it :)?

Can't wait to be on duty.