Address
Samuel Ilori CourtHouse, Magistrate Court,
Ogba Ikeja.
Public Interest Law Partnership
call_us
+2348170282967
The Clearing House
The pro bono clearing house is a one-stop center where individuals, NGOs and communities underserved by public systems are matched with PILP’s registered pro bono counsel
- The scheme boasts of a growing network of over two hundred (200) partner law firms and NGOs
- The impact of the scheme is best reflected in the number of people provided with quality legal help in criminal and civil suits – over three thousand six hundred (3600) to date
- Cases have included two public interest class action suits of one-hundred (110) and forty-eight (48) people respectively.
- Pro bono services range from offering criminal defence to indigent awaiting trial inmates, assisting with matrimonial cause proceedings, domestic violence, child defilement and child custody matters, land matters etc.
- Pro Bono beneficiaries include indigent, marginalized and vulnerable groups and the scheme also partners with organisations which promote the welfare of women, children and people with disabilities.
- Cases are referred to the clearing house from various sources including the Nigerian Prison Services, Nigerian Police Authority, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Citizens Mediation Center, the Office of the Public Defender, Directorate of Citizen’s Rights, Public Advice Center, walk-In clients etc
By automating our clearing house platform, we are capable of interacting with all PILP stakeholders and matching a much larger scope of pro bono applicants with the services they require. This includes those residing in remote areas. Our portal also allows us to efficiently share relevant information relating to unrepresented indigent awaiting trial inmates at the Nigerian Corrections Services, to our registered pro bono lawyers who are willing to provide free legal services to the inmates. Furthermore, survivors of domestic and sexual violence are able to more easily access our pro bono legal assistance in a more secure and timely manner. Additionally, we are able expand our law school legal clinic efforts and provide more legal resources to eligible beneficiaries, including business owners of limited means, thus engaging in community economic development.
Our PILP project officers and pro bono liaison centers are also available to navigate you to the services you require. Kindly take advantage of any of our multiple contact options, should you require their assistance.
Special Projects
Informal Justice court
In close collaboration with a broad network of NGOs and universities from Nigeria and the Netherlands, the Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership and Aardschap Foundation start The Informal Justice Court Project. The Informal Justice Court Project is a training program for indigent awaiting trial inmates, aimed at improving and accelerating inmates’ judiciary process through mock trials.
The inmates will act out their own cases, assisted by pro-bono lawyers and law students. By taking on the different roles present in a formal court, gain legal knowledge, learn the skills to defend their case in court and can find alternative, innovative legal outcomes that will be incorporated in the legal strategies for their court case.
Also, the Informal Justice Court proceedings are made into a theatre play that will be performed for other inmates of Kirikiri prison, to educate a larger group of Kirikiri inmates about their legal position and rights. The project will also serve as a platform to sensitize the inmates on the impact of crimes to their communities through the use of the theatre play.
Pro bono week
The PILP Pro Bono Week is an annual event organized by PILP, with a power packed series of daily events focusing on a wide variety of topical issues in the access to justice space.
Stakeholders, judges, lawyers, law students and organizations attend the event, and participate in the several sessions during the course of the week.
PILP launched its pilot pro bono week in 2014, with a variety of engaging sessions, legal clinics for law school students, prison visits, and an awards/commendation dinner.
In 2021 PILP launched its online access to justice portal during the Probono week; the pro bono week usually comes to an end with an awards and commendation dinner, where PILP celebrates its most dedicated pro bono partners.
PILP organized a capacity building training session for pro bono clearinghouses during the pro bono week, this session was aimed at guiding members of the public who wish to set up a pro bono clearinghouse.