Pro bono Pinnacle: Legal Clinics Project End
Certa Foundation is thrilled to announce the completion of its pro bono projects in partnership with four Rwandan law schools. This partnership was inspired by SDG 16, "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions," aligning perfectly with our organization's mission to spearhead the journey towards justice and equity. Through these collaborative efforts, we aim to foster a new generation of legal professionals dedicated to upholding the principles of justice and contributing positively to their communities.
The initiative began with a survey in August 2023 conducted among Rwandan universities, aimed at assessing the interest and capacity for pro bono work among students. Following this survey, the Center for Law and Innovation team developed a comprehensive two-day training session with topics including professional ethics,case management training, project management and supporting early stage companies. These topics were designed to equip the participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide pro bono legal services and strengthen their respective pro bono units. Upon completion of the training, students were mandated to initiate their own pro bono projects through their respective legal clinics. These projects, supported by Certa Foundation, were designed to address specific legal issues within their respective local communities. The Center for Law and Innovation team worked closely with the teams to ensure that their proposals were feasible financially prudent and impactful.
The funded projects cover a diverse range of initiatives. These include the establishment of a mobile legal clinic to provide accessible legal assistance mainly on matrimonial regime and law of succession, raising awareness about gender-based violence (GBV), promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
Each project was carefully crafted to respond to the unique needs of the community it serves. The Center for Law and Innovation expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the administrations of the participating schools for their invaluable support. This collaboration has been instrumental in the successful implementation of these projects and is looking forward to further collaboration.