The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday launched the first phase of the ULAS Portal, the centralized digital platform that streamlines how lawyers report and monitor their pro bono legal aid to indigent Filipinos.
According to the SC, phase 1 introduces the foundational digital infrastructure that supports lawyer compliance.
The SC said that key features include the registration module, account management, profile setup, submission of a manifestation for intent, and accreditation of legal outreach programs and legal aid missions.
Meanwhile, the SC also signed a memorandum of understanding among the Unified Legal Aid Service Office, the Commission on Human Rights, the National Anti-Poverty Commission, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.
“The MOU establishes a framework for institutional coordination to facilitate the identification and referral of stakeholders of the agencies who may qualify as beneficiaries under ULAS Rules,” it said.
The SC said that the launch forms part of the implementation of the Rules on Unified Legal Aid Service, which requires covered lawyers to provide at least 60 hours of free legal aid services every three years to individuals who cannot afford representation.
According to the High Court, the ULAS Rules took effect in February 2025 while the ULAS Rules Manual took effect in April 2025.
The SC said that legal aid under the ULAS Rules is available to individuals who are indigent or lack sufficient means to afford adequate legal services, as reasonably determined by the covered lawyer or registered organization.
It said legal aid is also available to individuals who are appointed a counsel de officio by a court, a tribunal, or other authorized government body.
To apply, a qualified beneficiary must submit a declaration to any covered lawyer explaining their financial situation and the type of legal assistance requested.
It must include information such as the applicant’s full name, contact number, source of income, and a short description of their legal concern.
Meanwhile, the SC said that lawyers who fail to meet the minimum required hours face consequences such as fines, being listed as a delinquent member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and ineligibility to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the Office of the Bar Confidant. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
