Objectives
The University of Makati School of Law (“UMak SOL”) aims to establish a Center for Legal Aid Services (“CLAS”) that would focus on and prioritize public service by providing adequate, accessible, and quality legal services to the eligible members of the underprivileged and marginalized sectors of the community. Through the CLAS, the UMak SOL endeavors to make a significant contribution to the realization of social justice as a part of its public service and full commitment to become a socially responsible institution.
At the same time, in its rendering of pro bono services to its clients, the CLAS aspires to be an instrument for the improvement of legal education, especially of the law students of the UMak SOL, and to create a meaningful opportunity for these future members of the bar to hone and fortify their legal skills and knowledge. The CLAS shall also provide an ideal and opportune venue for the holistic learning of the law students through inculcating in them the value of public service, and the practical application of the different legal principles, laws, and jurisprudence learned within the four walls of the classroom.
Vision
The UMak SOL, through the CLAS, envisions to produce members of the legal profession, not only adept in legal doctrines, laws and jurisprudence, but also stern advocates of social justice and public service.
Through the CLAS, the indigents, as well as the members of the marginalized and underprivileged sectors of the society, shall have more in law as they shall be afforded with sufficient channels to avail legal services pro bono to remedy and address their legal difficulties and problems.
The CLAS, furthermore, intends to extend its efforts to help declog court dockets by advocating early dispute resolution through the available modes of alternative dispute resolution which include mediation, conciliation, and arbitration, among others.
Mission
The CLAS aims to deliver quality legal services centered on social justice, as guided by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines National Center for Legal Aid Handbook Guidelines on Legal Aid, and the Revised Law Student Practice Rule, as promulgated by the Supreme Court.
The CLAS operations shall exemplify and maintain its focus on excellence, commitment, professionalism, and integrity as it provides its stakeholders with quality and maximum legal assistance and services.
Lastly, the CLAS program strives to produce competent future members of the legal profession through an enhanced legal education program. The program furthermore strives to mold these future lawyers to be actively involved in and socially aware of the vocation of the legal profession, that is, the spirit of volunteerism, public service, and social responsibility.
Center Directors

Atty. Maria Bernadine H. Madamba
Center Director

Atty. Precious Ellen L. Pingol
Center Co-Director
Legal Aid Procedure
Written Application
The prospective walk in Legal Aid Client shall fill up Client Intake Form, and shall be assisted by the Law Student Practitioner. The Law Student Practitioner shall then make the initial interview of the prospective Legal Aid Client, based on the information supplied in the Client Intake Form, and shall be guided by the combined tests in the succeeding sections, in evaluating the eligibility of the Legal Aid Client to receive Legal Aid Services.
Online Legal Consultation
The prospective Legal Aid Client shall duly fill up the Client Intake Form and send it to the CLAS email. The Legal Aid Practitioner to whom the case is assigned shall acknowledge the receipt of the online application form, evaluate the same, and interview the client through email, if necessary. After such evaluation, the legal aid practitioner shall determine whether the prospective legal aid client is eligible to avail of the online legal aid services, based on the combined tests.
Combined Tests
The combined tests are the tests simultaneously applied in order to determine the qualification and eligibility of the prospective Legal Aid Client to avail of the services of the CLAS. The tests include the means and merit test as embodied in Sections 24 and 25, Article VII and other considerations relevant to the eligibility of the client under Section 26, Article VII.
Means Test
The prospective Legal Aid Client should have a family income that should not exceed double the monthly minimum wage of an employee, and does not own real property with fair market value of more than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 300,000.00)
The prospective Legal Aid Client may be asked to present a Certificate of Indigency, duly issued by the barangay where the said client currently resides.
Merit Test
The prospective Legal Aid Client should have a valid claim, cause of action, or defense, warranted by the laws, legal rules and prevailing jurisprudence that may be practicably established before the courts of law, quasi-judicial and administrative bodies, government agencies, or mediation and conciliation agencies or organizations.
Other Considerations
A prospective Legal Aid Client should be a resident of any of the thirty-three (33) barangays in District 1 or District 2 of Makati City, or a student or employee of University of Makati.
The acceptance or denial of the application of the prospective Legal Aid Client shall also be in due regard of the ethical considerations as embodied in the Canons of Professional Responsibility such as rules pertaining conflict of interest, previous engagements, and adequate legal assistance from other sources.
Legal Consultation and Advice
Upon preliminary assessment of the Law Student Practitioner and upon finding that everything is in order, the Law Student Practitioner may proceed to interview the prospective Legal Aid Client about his/her legal concern and give the necessary and appropriate legal advice in accordance with the law and prevailing jurisprudence. In case of difficult questions of law, the Law Student Practitioner may seek the assistance of the present Supervising Lawyer.
In case of online consultation, the Legal Aid Practitioner may proceed and study the legal concern of the client and render legal advice which shall be in the form of a written legal opinion, upon the approval of the CLAS Director.
If a case shall be filed or is pending before the courts of law, quasi-judicial and administrative bodies, government agencies, or mediation and conciliation agencies or organizations, the Law Student Practitioner shall make the appropriate recommendation to the CLAS Director.
Downloadables
FILE | LINK |
Clinical Intake Form | Client Form Intake Here (GForm) |
Latest Updates from School of Law CCLELAS

UMak Center for Legal Aid Services
Facebook: @UMakCCLELAS
Contact Information
UMak Center for Legal Aid Services
5th Floor, Health and Physical Sciences Building J.P. Rizal Extension West Rembo, Makati, Philippines
Facebook: @UMakCCLELAS
Email: [email protected]
The University of Makati (UMak) is a locally funded university of the local government of Makati and is recognized by Commission on Higher Education. Learn More
