Pro Bono & The Rule of Law
Congratulations on getting called to the Bar!
Your path ahead will take many forms. Some will spend much of your careers in court; others will build practices advising businesses. There may be many twists and turns along the way, and likely a lot of time grappling with the impact of AI on practice. Wherever you land, I invite you to consider making pro bono service a part of your professional lives.
You enter the profession in the Bicentennial year of the Second Charter of Justice, as we commemorate 200 years of the rule of law. For many lawyers, the rule of law is often discussed in constitutional or institutional terms.
However, in my last 6 years working in Pro Bono SG (The Law Society’s charity arm and wholly-owned subsidiary), I have witnessed how Pro Bono SG’s mission is critical to upholding the rule of law. Simply put:
- The rule of law rests on the idea that legal rights and obligations are not merely theoretical, but capable of being understood, invoked and relied upon in practice.
- Access to justice gives life to that idea by ensuring that individuals and organisations are able to obtain legal advice, guidance and representation when needed.
- Pro bono work is one way in which the legal profession helps bridge the gap between principle and practice for those who are under-resourced or who have other vulnerabilities.
To the vulnerable communities and social impact organisations that we work with, the rule of law is not a lofty ideal. In such community settings, the rule of law lives in the practical day-to-day choices that lawyers help others to make.
Pro Bono: The Rule of Law Beyond the Courtroom
When we consider how pro bono service contributes to the rule of law, many of us may think of courtrooms. After all, litigation is where legal principles are tested most visibly — where rights are asserted, disputes resolved and precedents established.
Indeed, Pro Bono SG relies heavily on volunteers to take up representation cases, including those involving criminal defence, family justice, and salary and personal injury claims for migrant workers.
However, I have also witnessed how our diverse pool of volunteers goes beyond court work to focus on:
- Legal education through focused outreach programmes for members of the public and the social service sector;
- Consultations through our network of legal clinics;
- Integrated legal care by working with other social service professionals to provide holistic solutions at our Community Law Centres and other specialist centres; and
- Legal and governance support to social impact organisations.
Beyond legal outcomes, Pro Bono SG’s mission prioritises outcomes such as empowerment and well-being of our service users and sustained social impact. Much of this work prevents disputes from even reaching the courts.
Every year, Pro Bono SG runs Law Awareness Weeks @ CDC, the nation’s largest legal literacy campaign organized in collaboration with the five Community Development Councils, National University of Singapore Faculty of Law, Singapore University of Social Sciences School of Law, Singapore Management University School of Law, and the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association Pro Bono Chapter, supported by the People’s Association.
In 2025, the talks ranged from family law, end of life planning, online harassment, community disputes to employment and more. Out of 15 webinars attended by 1,864 attendees, 90% of the survey respondents reported an improvement in terms of their understanding and awareness of the relevant laws, and their ability to seek help and make informed decisions.
One of the participants of the webinar “Invisible Disabilities & The Law – Know Your Protections” shared in relation to her clients who are caregivers of persons with invisible disabilities, “I work with some older clients and struggle to tell them what they should prepare to safeguard the interests of their children. With this, I have a better understanding of how to talk to them.”
Another participant of the webinar “Neighbours in Dispute – What Are My Legal Options?” shared, “I am more knowledgeable now to be able to advise fellow neighbours, in the estate, should they encounter situations and require help.”
Beyond the quantitative data from our users, their qualitative feedback tells us that our services have a rippling and multiplier effect within social service and community settings.
Pro Bono: The Rule of Law in Non-Profit Boardrooms
Pro Bono SG now has touchpoints at The Foundry and Temasek Shophouse for our Non-Profit Legal Services programme targeting ground up initiatives, charities and social enterprises. With proximity comes relationship building which in turn destigmatizes help-seeking for legal and governance needs. With volunteer support, we run legal risk assessments (called “Legal Health Checks”), clinic consultations and training programmes.
A common query is this. “My organisation has grown quickly. What began as a small volunteer initiative had developed into a registered charity serving vulnerable beneficiaries. The board is expanding, partnerships are forming, and fundraising activities are increasing. I want to know. Are we doing this properly?”
In such cases, the non-profits are not facing a dispute. No regulator had raised concerns. The non-profits were simply trying to ensure that governance structures, policies and legal foundations were sound as the non-profits continued to grow.
To a charity working on the ground, the rule of law means that the rules governing their work are clear, predictable and applied fairly. A charity can structure its activities knowing what the law requires; donors can trust that funds are used responsibly; beneficiaries can rely on systems that hold institutions accountable.
In essence, the rule of law provides a foundation of trust that allows social impact organisations to pursue their purposeful missions with confidence.
Pro Bono Tips for Newly Qualified Lawyers, Bicentennial Edition
6 years ago, I wrote “Pro Bono Tips for Newly Qualified Lawyers” to share how junior lawyers could consider getting involved in pro bono work. Here is an updated and summarized version as you consider getting started.
- Remember you are not too junior — new lawyers can contribute meaningfully too.
- Start small with bite-sized assignments or clinic work.
- Seek mentorship or supervision from more experienced lawyers when taking on pro bono matters.
- Keep trying even if you feel nervous or inexperienced — skills improve with practice.
- Use pro bono to build advocacy and client management skills.
- Find opportunities aligned with practice area to build confidence.
- Pick a cause or organisation you care about to stay motivated.
- If pro bono is important to you, find an environment that is the right fit.
- Do not pre-judge your clients or their cases. Treat every client seriously regardless of how their case initially appears.
- Set boundaries with clients and manage expectations to not burnout.
- Stay open to learning about social issues affecting clients and the ever-evolving social service landscape.
- Let pro bono broaden your perspective and develop you as a lawyer.
- Contact Pro Bono SG’s friendly volunteer engagement team at [email protected] to find your fit, whether it is in litigation, charities governance, outreach or other opportunities.
Once again, my heartiest congratulations to all of you. Welcome to the Bar and I hope you will join our community of volunteers!
