While covering a court session recently, I heard two women discussing the benefits of free legal advice or help provided by lawyers to the public. One of the women was explaining how she benefited from a pro bono programme that helped her secure her son’s release from jail after winning a court case. This conversation got me wondering; how many people in Rwanda are aware of such services? ALSO READ: Rwf1bn to help poor people access free legal services Pro bono work refers to legal advice or representation provided free of charge by legal professionals in the public interest. It is offered to individuals, charities, or community groups, who cannot afford to pay for legal help and cannot access legal aid or other means of funding. ALSO READ: Does Rwanda require a legal aid law? To understand more about how pro bono services work in Rwanda, I spoke to Moise Nkundabarashi, the president of Rwanda Bar Association. He explained how the programme operates, who qualifies for it, and what support is available. How you can access pro bono services According to Nkundabarashi, people seeking pro bono legal services can visit Rwanda Bar Association (RBA) headquarters near BRALIRWA offices in Kicukiro District, in Kigali, every Friday. The president of the legal aid committee within the bar association reviews applications and cases are assessed to determine whether they qualify for pro bono assistance. ALSO READ: Rwanda Bar Association pushes for legal aid law Rwanda Bar Association collaborates with the Ministry of Justice to provide free legal representation to juvenile offenders across the country. “Each year, 5,000 to 10,000 children are defended through this programme,” he said. For cases in the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, the pro bono programme is also applied and there are 12 lawyers designated to the two courts. “In Rwanda, the law requires that no one can be tried in the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court without legal representation,” Nkundabarashi explained. This initiative has been in place for more than 15 years. During this time, pro bono lawyers have represented people in high-profile cases, including some related to terrorism. “Many of these individuals were unable to afford legal fees, and proper representation led to some being released after getting fair trials,” he said. How about upcountry folks? Since Nkundabarashi said that people seeking pro bono legal services have to make inquiries at Rwanda Bar Association offices in Kicukiro, every Friday, we also pondered about the fate of rural folks around the country. As regards how people in remote areas can access these services, Nkundabarashi explained that they, currently, “have to travel to our office or call us on our toll-free legal aid line (2425) to receive assistance.” He acknowledged the need to decentralize services to make them more accessible but noted that financial constraints remain the main challenge. Nonetheless, he explained, the government put in effort to see to it that people in need duly get help. As a result of a 2014 legal aid policy, he explained, the Ministry of Justice established Access to Justice Bureaus (MAJ) at every District level – with three lawyers per District – as decentralized service to assist citizens to access legal aid at free cost. ALSO READ: Top 16 pro-people initiatives that transformed Rwanda Their major responsibilities are to: advise people on law related issues, disseminate laws and regulations, advise mediation committees, or Abunzi, in legal matter and procedures, monitor and follow-up their activities; coordinate the execution of court judgments and execute judgments for poor and vulnerable people, and provide legal assistance and legal representation in Courts for poor and vulnerable people. These lawyers also handle all issues related to GBV, as well as assist people in conflict resolution through mediation (between themselves) or between them and other relevant organs. Who is eligible? Pro bono legal aid is available to anyone unable to afford a lawyer, whether Rwandan or a foreigner, Nkundabarashi said. He emphasized that justice is non-discriminatory, provided applicants can “prove their financial situation.” For example, local leaders may be required to confirm that an individual cannot afford legal representation. Types of cases handled Nkundabarashi said that pro bono services cover criminal and civil cases. He pointed out that most cases involve criminal matters, but civil cases are also eligible as long as applicants demonstrate financial need. Challenges While the programme has been effective, he explained, challenges remain. One significant issue is the growing number of cases, which has increased the demand for pro bono services beyond current capacity. Nkundabarashi pointed out that there is a lack of financial resources to support the lawyers who provide these services. The support they get includes covering transportation, lunch where necessary, and other basic costs. Among other issues, in some instances, beneficiaries have refused representation. For example, in terrorism-related cases, some defendants declined pro bono lawyers, suspecting they were affiliated with the government. Who can provide pro bono services? All lawyers are eligible to offer pro bono services, with a few exceptions. “Lawyers with less than one year of experience or those still in internship are not allowed to represent clients in the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal, as they are not yet considered senior enough,” Nkundabarashi explained. Despite the challenges, Rwanda Bar Association continues to expand its reach. Nkundabarashi said that the bar association is working with partners to increase the number of beneficiaries and enhance the programme’s sustainability. To support lawyers providing free services, Rwanda Bar Association seeks partnerships to cover essential expenses such as transport and meals. However, more funding is needed to ensure that lawyers are not burdened financially, he said.