ESSU College of Law's (CoL) Legal Aid Clinic Grand Launching took place today, February 14, 2024, at the University's Student's Pavilion.
The Legal Aid Clinic is a pivotal moment for the University, symbolizing CoL's dedication to service and education. By fostering a symbiotic relationship between service and learning, this initiative will not only empower the underserved but also cultivate a new generation of legal professionals driven by compassion, ethics, and a profound sense of duty to society.
The event highlighted free legal aid services provided by participating lawyers, which included Atty. Lourdes Isabel Arevalo, Atty. Jon Anthony Mutia, and Atty. Orlando Jericho Cordero, Atty. Gilbert Owen Apilado, Atty. Albert G. Azura, Atty. Ricky A. Grafil, ESSU CoL faculty, lawyer-members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Eastern Samar chapter, and legal assistants.
Additionally, the University President, Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan, Jr., represented by the Vice President for Research and Extension, Dr. Lito D. Lacaba, Borongan City Mayor, Hon. Jose Ivan Dayan C. Agda, through his representative, Atty. Orland Jericho Cordero, the Chairperson of Brgy. Maypangdan, Hon. Ian Gonzales, the District Public Attorney and Head of the Public Attorneys Office (PAO), Atty. Emmanuel Apelado, and the representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Eastern Samar chapter, Atty. Ricky A. Grafil, delivered messages of support for the initiative.
As part of its pilot implementation, the free legal aid services will be available every Friday, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at the 2nd Floor, CoL Building.
This initiative has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Legal Aid Director, Atty. Dulce Lyn B. Payod, University legal assistants, CoL staff, law student-volunteers, and BS Political Science interns.
