22 Questions
What is the primary function of the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka (LAC)?
To deliver legal aid services
What is the main objective of the Legal Aid Act (No.27 of 1978)?
To provide legal aid to deserving persons
What is the income limit for litigation services provided by the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka?
Rs. 25,000/= or less per month
What type of services are provided by the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka to deserving persons?
Legal advice, litigation, and legal aid
Who governs the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka?
An independent Commission
What is the purpose of the legal aid clinics established by the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka?
To provide easy accessibility to legal aid services
What is the vision of the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka?
To achieve Equal Access to Justice for all in Sri Lanka
What is the scope of legal advice provided by the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka?
Free of charge, to any person in the country, irrespective of their income level
What is the meaning of the Latin phrase 'pro bono publico'?
for the public good
Which institution provides legal support to strengthen the civil society?
Pro bono Organizations
What is the primary goal of pro bono work?
to provide free legal services to those in need
Which of the following institutions is not mentioned as providing legal aid in Sri Lanka?
None, all the mentioned institutions provide legal aid in Sri Lanka
What is the ultimate goal of pro bono organizations in terms of social change?
to combat injustice and entrench human rights
What is the term used to describe lawyers or civil society groups who provide free legal services to those in need?
pro bono
What is the right of every person accused before any criminal court, according to Sri Lanka's Code of Criminal Procedure?
The right to be defended by a lawyer.
What duty is imposed on a High Court Judge according to Section 195 of the Code of Criminal Procedure?
To assign a lawyer to an accused person when indicted.
What is the purpose of legal aid, as stated in the text?
To provide assistance to vulnerable people who are unable to afford legal representation and access the court system.
Why is legal aid a fundamental aspect of the administration of justice?
Because it ensures equality before the law, the right to counsel, and the right to a fair trial.
What is one of the objectives of legal aid providers, according to the text?
Creating awareness of legal rights and remedies through structured and unstructured education and legal literacy programmes.
When was legal aid established in Sri Lanka?
In 1978, with the passage of the Legal Aid Act (No.27 of 1978).
What is one way that legal aid providers promote effective dispute resolution, according to the text?
Through community organisation, grassroots mediation, formal mediation, and other mechanisms outside the formal legal system.
What is another objective of legal aid providers, according to the text?
Achieving broader legal reform through legal research and advocacy.
Study Notes
Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka (LAC)
- LAC is a statutory body primarily funded by the Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms and governed by an independent Commission.
- The LAC is responsible for the delivery of legal aid services.
- LAC is empowered to establish regional or district committees or clinics.
Objectives of Legal Aid Providers
- Creating awareness of legal rights and remedies through structured and unstructured rights education and legal literacy programmes.
- Extending legal services through community paralegals.
- Promoting effective dispute resolution through community organisation, grassroots mediation, formal mediation, and other mechanisms outside the formal legal system.
- Achieving broader legal reform through legal research and advocacy.
- Promoting community development and economic empowerment.
Legal Aid Act (No.27 of 1978)
- Mandates the operation of an effective legal aid scheme.
- Provides legal advice, funds to conduct legal proceedings, and obtaining the services of Attorneys-at-Law to represent deserving persons.
- Provides any other assistance necessary to provide legal aid to deserving persons.
Services Provided by the LAC
- Legal advice to any person in the country, free of charge, irrespective of their income level.
- Litigation limited to persons whose monthly income level is Rs. 25,000/= or less.
- Legal appearances in Courts, conducts legal aid clinics for deserving persons, trains new lawyers, and conducts legal education programmes for judicial officers, the general public, and schools.
The Code of Criminal Procedure
- Every person accused before any criminal Court has the right to be defended by a Lawyer.
- Every aggrieved person has the right to be represented in Court by a Lawyer (Section 260).
- The Code imposes a duty on a High Court Judge to assign a Lawyer to an accused person when indicted, which effectively gives the accused a right to legal aid (Section 195).
Pro Bono Work
- The term "pro bono" comes from the Latin phrase "pro bono publico", which translates to "for the public good".
- Lawyers or civil society groups provide free legal services to those in need, working for the benefit of society rather than for profit.
- Pro bono organizations work towards social change by strengthening the civil society, representing marginalized people, and advocating for the rule of law and policy change.
This quiz covers various legal aid organizations in Sri Lanka, promoting legal literacy and awareness, and the concept of pro bono work. It includes institutions such as the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka and Lawyers for Human Rights and Development.
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