A law firm based in Accra, A-List Attorneys Ghana PRUC, has launched an initiative to provide free legal services for the vulnerable.
Under the pro-bono initiative, people with low incomes, below the poverty line and people with disabilities can apply for free legal services for various legal issues through the firm’s website.
The pro-bono service and the website were launched as part of the firm's second anniversary in Accra.
Pro-bono services
Speaking during the launch, the Managing Partner of A-List Attorneys Ghana, Jerry John Kofi Asiedu, said it was important for lawyers to help the vulnerable in society.
“This is our way of giving back to society. We already take on pro-bono clients, but we have decided to formalise it and expand our reach,” he said.
He emphasised the need to make legal services accessible to all, stressing that justice should not just be the preserve of the rich and powerful.
“Although we are a fairly new firm, we have represented many clients on a pro bono basis and we intend to do more. Pro bono is an essential part of our DNA because of our humble beginning and our understanding of the challenges people face in accessing legal representation,” he said.
Sacred duty
Mr Asiedu called on his colleague lawyers to take on more pro bono cases and also support the work of the Legal Aid Commission in ensuring that the door to justice was not shut to the vulnerable and people experiencing poverty.
“The law is a noble profession and ,therefore, lawyers have a sacred duty to ensure that the law is used to promote a just and fair society.
Such a duty is not only owed to people who have the means to procure legal services, but also to those who have genuine cases but cannot pay for the services of lawyers,” he said.
According to him, although the Legal Aid Commission had the mandate to provide legal services to the poor and vulnerable, private legal practitioners must support the Commission's efforts.
“The Legal Aid Commission cannot serve the millions of people seeking legal services but cannot pay.
As lawyers, we have to regularly take on some of these cases and ensure that people do not miss out on effective legal representation because of their inability or difficulty to pay.
Poverty should never be a barrier to justice,” he added.
Giving a history of A-List Attorneys, Mr Asiedu said the founders established the firm in 2023, with a firm conviction that the law must be used to promote justice, irrespective of the situation.
“Justice is at the heart of the law.
We, therefore, established this firm to fight for anyone seeking justice, including the downtrodden.
We believe that without fairness and justice, we are doomed as a society,” he added.
