The Need
When people are confronted with legal issues, they may face significant challenges in accessing the justice system due to lack of knowledge on where to begin, who to approach, and struggle to afford or obtain legal advice and/or representation.

How we Help
Our community legal services provide disadvantaged people and NGOs essential legal information and help them access legal support, advice and /or representation. Often, our clients’ needs are complex, involving more than one area of law, and so we work collaboratively across the community to ensure both legal and non-legal needs are met as possible:

• Our case workers help to identify whether the problem(s) has potential legal solutions; and we summarise the key legal issues before assessing how best to navigate the justice ecosystem

• We empower clients with legal information and/or assist them to file legal claims before lay tribunals or represent themselves in legal proceedings

• Where appropriate, we refer cases to and co-work with pro-bono lawyers through CLIX - our Pro Bono Matching Platform, or help clients apply for public legal assistance from the Legal Aid Department

• Under the Hong Kong Bar Association exemption we are able to instruct barristers for pro-bono legal advice directly. We are also a referring agency of the Duty Lawyer Service Free Legal Advice Scheme.

• For people with non-legal needs, we refer them to partner NGOs, for example for shelter and social welfare support

Who we Help
We handle one-off enquires and cases for direct clients and those referred to us by our NGO partners and Government Departments. We also help NGO caseworkers who have clients with legal problems.

We act as an intermediary and champion during their legal journey by providing ongoing support and guidance. We do not offer legal advice. Instead, we offer initial assistance and, when needed, refer cases to, and partner with, our network of ~100 law firms and barristers’ chambers.

What we Help With
We solve everyday legal problems such as: 

• Employment and discrimination 

• Family problems and divorce 

• Immigration and legal identity  

• Medical and benefits access 

• Education access 

• Housing access 

• If you are injured at work 

• Probate and online scams.