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This is a list of free legal advice organizations in the Philippines.
I sincerely hope this helps everyone better access the courts.
I provide a starting point but you would have to call or go to the actual organizations to clarify actual requirements, telephone numbers or the detailed processes of how to avail of these services.
Take note,&nbsp;I may not be able to answer questions&nbsp;on how to apply since I have not been through the process as an applicant. .
It is best to get in touch with the actual organization itself.
They would know the details best.
&nbsp;
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<picture class="alignright wp-image-3948"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Government-building-400-x-400.png" alt="" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
&nbsp;
Government offices are available nationwide. They are the go-to source for legal advice for child support, criminal issues or labor concerns. Find their contact information and other available data below.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3973 aligncenter"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PAO-Logo-200-x-200.png" alt="Public Attorney's Office" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
&nbsp;
<h2>1. Public Attorney&rsquo;s Office</h2>
Area Served:&nbsp;Nationwide
Contact Information: Address: Located in your local hall of justice which is usually in the municipal or town hall. Website: http://www.pao.gov.ph/
Focus:&nbsp;The PAO only serves those whose&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pao.gov.ph/UserFiles/Public_Attorney's_Office/file/Revised%20PAO%20Operations%20Manual%2020170406%20v1_2.pdf">income is less than the amount</a>&nbsp;identified below.
<ul>
<li>Php 14,000 for Metro Manila</li>
<li>Php 13,000 for other cities</li>
<li>Php 12,000 elsewhere</li>
</ul>
They cannot not serve in cases where:
<ul>
<li>When there is a conflict of interest</li>
<li>Have higher income than that which is indicated above</li>
<li>Defend in a bouncing checks case</li>
<li>Prosecute criminal cases</li>
<li>Adoption cases except where the adopter is the biological parent or step-parent of the adoptee</li>
</ul>
Requirements:
<ul>
<li>An Affidavit of Indigency</li>
<li>Latest Income Tax Return or pay slip or other proofs of income</li>
<li>Certificate of Indigency from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, its local District Office, or the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office having jurisdiction over the residence of the applicant</li>
</ul>
Notes:
The PAO is your go-to source for free legal aid and should be considered especially if your need is urgent and income is tight.
The difference between a PAO lawyer and a private lawyer is in their workload and in the continuity of their service.
A PAO lawyer handled&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pao.gov.ph/UserFiles/Public_Attorney's_Office/file/Accomp_%20Report%20-%20Executive%20Summary%202017.pdf">458 cases on average in 2017</a>&nbsp;while a private lawyer might only handle 40. This means less time per client.
In addition, there is frequent turnover for cases meaning that your PAO lawyer will likely change over the course of the case. An average case can take&nbsp;<a href="http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pio/annualreports/SC_Annual_2016-2017_narrative%20report.pdf">years</a>&nbsp;so you might work with many lawyers over time.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3989 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/DOLE-logo-200-.jpg.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/DOLE-logo-200-.jpg" alt="DOLE logo" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>2. Department of Labor and Employment</h2>
Area Served:&nbsp;Nationwide
Contact Information:
Address: Main Office: Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Building, Muralla Wing cor. General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Philippines. Local DOLE offices can be found all over the country but you&rsquo;d have to locate what the nearest one is. Telephone: 1349 from landlines Email:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dole.gov.ph/queries/submit">https://www.dole.gov.ph/queries/submit</a>
Focus:&nbsp;Only labor related complaints
Requirements:&nbsp;Please check with your local DOLE
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3978 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Department-of-Social-Welfare-and-Development-200-.png.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Department-of-Social-Welfare-and-Development-200-.png" alt="Department of Social Welfare and Development Logo" width="148" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>3. Department of Social Welfare and Development</h2>
Area Served:&nbsp;Nationwide
Contact Information:
Address: Main Office: 389 San Rafael Street corner Legarda Street, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines Local DSWD offices can be found all over the country but you&rsquo;d have to locate what the nearest one is. Telephone: +63-2-733-0010 to 18 Email: foncr@dswd.gov.ph
Focus:&nbsp;Only social work complaints such as women and children issues
Requirements:&nbsp;Please check with your local DSWD

<picture class="alignright wp-image-3959"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Office-Building-300-x-300.png" alt="Office Tower of a Special Interest Group" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
&nbsp;
Special interest legal aid groups give assistance to a particular cause. They may serve human rights goals or cater to marginalized sectors of society. Although they may take cases that are nationwide, they are only found in a few areas.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3979 aligncenter"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Saligan-logo-200.png" alt="Saligan Logo" width="205" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
&nbsp;
<h2>4. Saligan</h2>
Area Served:&nbsp;Naga and Davao
Contact Information:
Address: G/F Hoffner Building, Social Development Complex,&nbsp;Ateneo de Manila University,&nbsp;Loyola Heights, Quezon City,&nbsp;Philippines Telephone: (632) 426-6001 loc. 4858-4860 Email: aligan@saligan.org
Focus:&nbsp;Handles women, workers, the urban poor, indigenous, moro and peace
Requirements:&nbsp;Call or go in person to see what is possible.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3990 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/FLAG-Logo-200.jpg.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/FLAG-Logo-200.jpg" alt="FLAG Logo" width="524" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>5. Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)</h2>
FLAG Logo Area Served:&nbsp;Nationwide
Contact Information:
Address: Room 116 Alumni Center Annex, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone: +63 2 920 5132 Website: http://flagfaqs.blogspot.com/ Email: flag@flag.com.ph
Focus:&nbsp;Human rights
Requirements:&nbsp;Call or go in person to see what is possible.

<picture class="alignright wp-image-3966"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/University-Blackboard-400-x-400.png" alt="University Teacher with a Blackboard" width="200" height="211" loading="lazy"></picture>
&nbsp;
Universities with legal programs have free aid clinics. Run by senior law students under the supervision of a practicing lawyer, they often accept cases for indigents. I&rsquo;ve listed several but check universities near you as well
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3984 aligncenter"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ateneo-De-Manila-Law-200-x-200.png" alt="Ateneo De Manila Law" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
&nbsp;
<h2>6. Ateneo Legal Services Center (ALSC)</h2>
Area Served:&nbsp;Makati and Mandaluyong
Contact Information:
Address: 20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center 1200 Makati City, Philippines Telephone: +63 (02) 899-7691 ext. 2113 Website: http://www.ateneo.edu/aps/law/ateneo-law-center/ateneo-legal-services-center Email: alsc.law@ ateneo.edu
Focus:&nbsp;ALSC only serves indigent clients with:
<ul>
<li>Php 14,000 for Metro Manila</li>
<li>Php 13,000 for other cities</li>
<li>Php 12,000 elsewhere</li>
</ul>
They cannot not serve in cases where for:
<ul>
<li>Sum of money</li>
<li>Annulment</li>
<li>Bouncing checks case</li>
<li>Forfeiture or</li>
<li>Other cases that are not consistent with the indigency claim.</li>
</ul>
Requirements:
<ul>
<li>An affidavit of indigency</li>
<li>Latest Income Tax Return or pay slip or other proofs of income</li>
<li>Certificate of Indigency from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, its local District Office, or the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office having jurisdiction over the residence of the applicant</li>
<li>Latest Income Tax Return or pay slip or other proofs of income</li>
</ul>
Notes:
Expect to work with several different student lawyers over the course of your case. It is important to know the details of your case well so as to be able to introduce each lawyer to the facts over time. Although there is documentation, it is important to fill in data gaps that may exist.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3981 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/UP-Diliman-200-x-200.png.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/UP-Diliman-200-x-200.png" alt="UP Diliman Law Logo" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>7. University of the Philippines Office of Legal Aid</h2>
Area:&nbsp;Metro Manila
Contact Information:
Address: Office of Legal Aid, UP College of Law, Malcolm Hall, Diliman Quezon City Telephone: +63-2-920-5514 loc. 106 Website: http://law.upd.edu.ph/office-of-legal-aid/
Focus:&nbsp;UP only serves indigent clients but you would have to find out how they determine what an indigent is.
Requirements:&nbsp;UP needs to be contacted directly to determine what the requirements are.
Notes:&nbsp;As with many student programs listed here, expect that your case will be managed by several students over the course of the case.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3980 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/San-Beda-Legal-Aid-Bureau-200-x-200.png.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/San-Beda-Legal-Aid-Bureau-200-x-200.png" alt="San Beda Legal Aid Bureau Logo" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>8. San Beda Legal Aid Bureau, Manila</h2>
Area:&nbsp;Around Manila
Contact Information:
Main San Beda College Mendiola, Manila Phone: (02) 735-6011 local 6120 Schedule: M-W-F 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Quiapo Branch 3rd Floor Legal Council Office Pop Benedict VI Building Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene 910 Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila Schedule: T-TH 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Pandacan Branch Sinag sa Sais Center Pandacan, Manila Schedule: F 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Focus:&nbsp;Serves those of limited means
Requirements: There is an application process but you would need to call or go in person to find out these details.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3980 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/San-Beda-Legal-Aid-Bureau-200-x-200.png.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/San-Beda-Legal-Aid-Bureau-200-x-200.png" alt="San Beda Legal Aid Bureau Logo" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>9. San Beda Legal Aid Bureau, Alabang</h2>
Area:&nbsp;Around Alabang
Contact Information:
Address: 8 Don Manolo Blvd., Alabang Hills Village, Alabang, 1770 Muntinlupa City, P.O. Box 402 Ayala Alabang Phone Number: +63-2-236-7222 trunkline Website: http://www.sanbeda-alabang.edu.ph/bede/index.php/other-links/archives-ay-2012-2013/361-sol-legal-aid-bureau
Focus:&nbsp;Serves those of limited means
Requirements: There is an application process but you would need to call or go in person to find out these details.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3982 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/UST-Law-200-x-200.png.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/UST-Law-200-x-200.png" alt="UST Law Logo" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>10. University of St. Thomas, RJ Roberto Concepcion Legal Aid</h2>
Area:&nbsp;Around Manila
Contact Information:
Address: Espana Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines 1008 Phone Number: +63(02) 731-4027 / +63(02) 406-1611 (Local 8225) Website: http://www.ustcivillaw.com/cj-roberto-concepcion-legal-aid
Focus:&nbsp;Extends free legal assistance assistance to indigents and those belonging to the marginalized sector
Requirements: There is an application process but you would need to call or go in person to find out these details.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3985 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/San-Sebastian-College-of-Law-Logo-200-x-200.png.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/San-Sebastian-College-of-Law-Logo-200-x-200.png" alt="San Sebastian College of Law Logo" width="173" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>11. Sebastinian Office of Legal Aid</h2>
Area:&nbsp;Around Manila
Contact Information:
Address: Recto Ave, Quiapo, Manila, 1001 Metro Manila Telephone: +63-2-734-8931 Local: 313 &amp; 173 Website: http://law.sscrmnl.edu.ph/contact-information/
Focus:&nbsp;You would have to call or go in person to know.
Requirements:&nbsp;You would have to call or go in person to know.
<picture class="size-full wp-image-3986 aligncenter"><source srcset="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Xavier-University-Logo-200-x-200-.png.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="https://lawyerphilippines.org//wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Xavier-University-Logo-200-x-200-.png" alt="Xavier University Logo" width="200" height="200" loading="lazy"></picture>
<h2>12. Xavier University Center for Legal Assistance</h2>
Area Served:&nbsp;Cagayan De Oro
Contact Information:
Address: Xavier Unviersity &ndash; Ateneo de Cagayan, Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de Oro City, 9000, Philippines Telephone: (088) 853-9800 Local 9176 / 9177 / 9180 / 9181 Email: xucla@xu.edu.ph Website: http://www.xu.edu.ph/xavier-university-center-for-legal-assistance
Focus:&nbsp;Specifically for the poor and marginalized.
Requirements:&nbsp;Call to determine what documents you need to prepare in advance

12 Philippine Free Legal Advice Groups