Students to give free legal aid

 PEOPLE in rural areas and those who cannot afford legal advice will now benefit from the free legal education assistance programme (LEAP). 

LEAP is a legal aid programme to help the public on legal matters.

The programme, which began on Monday, will run for three months and will be carried out by senior law students from the University of Papua New Guinea. 

Programme coordinator and staff from the Law School of UPNG Darryl Kamen said people living in rural areas were unaware of their legal rights and processes and should take advice to enforce their rights, particularly when they were abused.

Kamen said two students had been sent to each province for the programme.

“I advise the public, especially those in rural areas, to get free legal advice from the students at either the provincial administration offices or Public Solicitor’s legal aid desks in each of the provinces,” Kamen said.

Services provided include legal representation in the district and committal courts.

“Our students will carry out awareness on legal issues in the country as well and I urge the general public and the provincial and local level governments in each province to assist them,” he said.

Staff of the school of law will visit the students to assist them.

“I thank the UPNG administration and the PNG Law Society for making funds available to run this programme.”