Pro bono legal services in Cambodia are primarily provided by The Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia (“BAKC”), NGOs and law firms. In 2021, a special legal aid team under the supervision of the prime minister, consisting of a group of lawyers called the “Samdech Techno Sen’s Voluntary Lawyers Group”, was also created to protect the rights and interests of vulnerable groups. These include impoverished women, prisoners, garment workers, and those who do not have meaningful access to legal representation.
The various providers offer different types of pro bono legal services. BAKC has primarily focused its legal aid assistance for people accused of felonies or minors involved with misdemeanors or felonies. However, following a new policy introduced in 2021, BAKC has now expanded its scope of services to include legal representation of victims and suspects, and legal defence for defendants who have been charged with a crime and cannot afford legal representation. Nonetheless, Cambodian citizens, especially those living in rural areas, still lack access to legal aid due to the lack of funding for such services and the shortage of lawyers who can help low-income clients. This is exacerbated by the lack of local bar associations in each province, and few to no law firms being present at a regional level. . Locals, therefore, tend to rely more on NGOs and pro bono lawyers to provide them with legal assistance.
NGOs tend to be more flexible as they can choose to represent citizens in either civil lawsuits or criminal cases, but they more often help those whose cases align with their goals or missions. In addition, most major Cambodian law firms do offer pro bono services and assist clients free of charge. Individual attorneys are also not limited by a mission statement or board of directors and are free to choose the cases and clients they wish to assist, subject to clearance of conflicts.
Pro bono legal services in Cambodia have developed significantly in recent years in terms of issues and geographical areas covered, and there has certainly been an increase in the number of volunteer lawyers and funding for legal aid. However, Cambodia still has a long way to go in providing equal and meaningful access to legal representation for all. Since the firm’s humble beginnings back in 1998, SokSiphana&associates have assisted and represented numerous clients from individuals to government organisations and NGOs, both locally and abroad, through our pro bono legal service program to promote access to legal services in Cambodia.
More Impact Stories
View All Impact StoriesThe value of pro bono for media: Women’s Voices Now
Women’s Voices Now (WVN) is a US-based non-profit…
The value of pro bono for media: InSight Crime
InSight Crime is an award-winning non-profit newsroom that seeks to…
Conservation, Health, and Community: The Legal Lifeline Boosting Uganda’s Wetlands and Wellbeing
This impact story is part of a series to celebrate the extraordinary pro bono projects…
Advancing Inclusion: The Pro Bono Journey Toward Empowering Asia’s Rainbow Families
This impact story is part of a series to celebrate the extraordinary pro bono…
Legal Lifelines: How Pro Bono Legal Support is Paving the Way for Decriminalising Suicide Worldwide
703,000 people die by suicide every year – one person every 40 seconds. And for every…
Navigating Drone Laws: How the Power of Pro Bono is Supporting Global Reforestation
This…
Understanding Secrecy Laws: A Pro Bono Collaboration Looking at Press Freedom Legislative Reform in Australia
This impact story is part of a series to celebrate the extraordinary pro bono projects…
Green Justice: How Pro Bono Legal Work is Shaping the Future of Recycling in Latin America
This impact story is part of a series to celebrate the extraordinary pro bono…
Digital Shadows: Spearheading Legal Reforms Against Online Sexual Abuse in Kenya
This…
Boardroom Breakthrough: The Push for Disability Representation at the Top
This impact story is…