What We Have Done
Since its inception in 2012 in Lao PDR, the Asia Pro Bono Conference & Access to Justice Exchange has been an annual celebration, highlighting the significance of pro bono legal work and legal ethics. The event serves as a platform for discussions on ways to expand the reach of the pro bono ethos in Asia and globally.
The Conference & Exchange features a diverse program, including presentations, panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and interactive workshops led by experienced international lawyers and law professors. These sessions address the challenges and successes of pro bono work in the participants’ respective countries.
Each Conference & Exchange provides simultaneous translation throughout the event to accommodate the various languages spoken in the conference rooms and workshop sessions.
To date, the Conference & Exchange has been hosted in Vientiane, Laos (2012); HCMC, Vietnam (2013); Singapore (2014); Mandalay, Myanmar (2015); Bali, Indonesia (2016); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2017); Hong Kong, China (2018); Kathmandu, Nepal (2019); held virtually (2020 – 2022), and in Cebu, the Philippines (2023).
12th ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE & ACCESS TO JUSTICE EXCHANGE, THE PHILIPPINES 2023
The Evolution of Empowering Pro Bono and Access to Justice
The 12th Asia Pro Bono Conference (“12APBC”), held from 1-3 December 2023 in Cebu City, the Philippines, featured the theme “The Evolution of Empowering Pro Bono and Access to Justice.” The conference showcased a diverse range of sessions and presentations led by experienced local, regional, and international participants. This theme underscored the transformative journey of pro bono initiatives and access to justice, reflecting the continuous evolution of strategies to empower communities.
The Access to Justice Exchange (“A2JX”), occurring from 27-30 November and 4-7 December 2023 through workshops, forums, and roundtables, provided conference participants with opportunities to engage in Access to Justice and Rule of Law-related sessions, workshops, meetings, and other events.
The theme, “The Evolution of Empowering Pro Bono and Access to Justice,” serves as a lasting reminder of the conference’s focus on progress, adaptability, and the collective pursuit of empowerment in the legal and justice sectors.
Venue: Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Cebu, the Philippines
11th ASIA PRO BONO VIRTUAL CONFERENCE & ACCESS TO JUSTICE EXCHANGE, 2022
Institutionalizing Pro Bono and Access to Justice Systems
The 11th Asia Pro Bono Virtual Conference (11APBVC) was held virtually between 16-18 September 20220. The theme of the Conference was “Institutionalizing Pro Bono and Access to Justice Systems”. It was an inspiring exhibition of a strong commitment to institutionalize pro bono and access to justice systems in the region and internationally. The Conference was co-organized by BABSEACLE, assisting in a secretariat role, along with an international consortium comprised of law firms, law societies, legal education institutions, access to justice-related organizations and others. The Conference represented a global collaboration of pro bono champions; we had over 139 presenters who contributed to the exciting and dynamic conference program and over 60 organizations that supported and helped make this genuinely incredible event possible. The participants participated in the Conference to continue and propel the momentum of the Asia Pro Bono Movement and to recognize the successes and connections established by the previous ten conferences
10th ASIA PRO BONO VIRTUAL CONFERENCE & ACCESS TO JUSTICE EXCHANGE, 2021
Celebrating a Decade of Collaboratively Strengthening Justice & Rule of Law
The participants came together from throughout Asia and the globe, to help ensure greater access to justice and strengthen and expand pro bono initiatives. When we factor in ALL of the APBVC&A2JX we had close to 700 participants and volunteers, from more than 40 countries, and 33 sessions. While the core language of the Conference/Exchange was English, most of the sessions had a simultaneous interpretation of up to 7 different languages, allowing an at-scale greater participation of participants without language being a barrier.
With the live streaming of sessions globally, the event, to date has reached more than 405,000 persons. This is simply incredible. The theme of the Conference was Celebrating a Decade of Collaboratively Strengthening Justice & Rule of Law and these numbers are some of the clearest examples of what positive things can happen in a Decade of Collaboration.
INAUGURAL ASIA PRO BONO VIRTUAL CONFERENCE & ACCESS TO JUSTICE EXCHANGE, 2020
Pro Bono in a Transitioning Environment.
The 9th Asia Pro Bono Virtual Conference & Access to Justice Exchange was held online. There were 990 registrants from 41 countries across the world attended the sessions through 24-28 September 2020. It was also live streamed on Facebook page and reached 212,859 audiences. There were 45 sessions and presented by 173 presenters from numerous countries.
8th ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE & ACCESS TO JUSTICE EXCHANGE, NEPAL 2019
Justice for All: Empower – Engage – Sustain
The 8th Asia Pro Bono Conference & Access to Justice Exchange was held for the first time in South Asia, in Kathmandu Nepal between 13 – 15 September 2019. It was also the formalization of the Access to Justice Exchange where several pre & post-conference access to justice events were held (10-12 & 16-19 Sep 2019). This was the largest gathering of legal service providers working to support pro bono and access to justice initiatives with more than 610 people from 26 countries.
Venue: Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu, Nepal
7th ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE, HONG KONG 2018
Inspire. Impact
The 7th Asia Pro Bono Conference & Access to Justice Exchange was held for the first time in East Asia in Hong Kong China, between 25 – 27 October 2018. Over 400 people attended from over 30 countries and territories, participating in almost 30 sessions and events over three full days. The feedback received so far tells it was a great success and an achievement for Hong Kong as it was the first time the city has hosted such an event.
Venue: Harbour Grand Hotel, Hong Kong
6th ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE, MALAYSIA 2017
Strengthening the Pro Bono Culture: Unity and Diversity
The 6th Asia Pro Bono Conference & Access to Justice Exchange was a
Venue: Westlane Place and Hotel Armada, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5th ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE, INDONESIA 2016
The Impact of Pro Bono on Transformational Change: Working to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
The 5th Asia Pro Bono Conference & Access to Justice Exchange was held in Sanur, Bali from the 29th of August to the 2nd of September, 2016. The conference hosted over 320 delegates from 30 countries across the legal community including lawyers, legal educators, students, judges, government officials
Venue: Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel, Bali, Indonesia
4th ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE AND LEGAL ETHICS FORUM, MYANMAR 2015
Pro Bono and Ethics Build A Noble Legal Profession
The 4th Asia Pro Bono Conference and Legal Ethics Forum
(click to read the conference report)
Venue: Joyden Hall in Singapore and the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore, Singapore
3rd ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE, SINGAPORE 2014
Public Private People Partnerships
The 3rd Asia Pro Bono Conference was held in Singapore on the 2-4 of October 2014; bringing together over 350 delegates from 25 countries. This was a Conference where pro bono was truly celebrated, not just as the provision of free legal services by lawyers for the public good but as a concept that is driving the positive evolution of legal systems to further justice for the indigent, socially disadvantaged and
(click to read the conference report)
Venue: Wilson Hotel, Mandalay, Myanmar
2nd ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE, VIETNAM 2013
Pro Bono Initiatives to Strength Access to Justice
The 2nd Asia Pro Bono Conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on the 11-12 of October 2013; bringing together over 200 delegates from 19 countries. Delegates gathered to share their experiences on Pro Bono Initiatives to Strength Access to Justice and extolled the virtues of pro bono work and looked to the future of pro bono lawyering. The conference and workshop, and delegates were supported by the enthusiastic participation of law students from Cambodia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
(click to read the conference report)
Venue: Majestic Hotel and the University of Economic and Law (UEL), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
INAUGURAL ASIA PRO BONO CONFERENCE, LAOS 2012
Developing Pro Bono Initiatives to Strengthen Access to Justice in the Asia Region and Internationally
The 1st Asia Pro Bono Conference was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on the 28-29 September 2012; bringing together over 150 delegates from 20 countries. The inaugural Conference/Workshop comprising lawyers, civil society
(click to read the conference report)
Venue: Lane Xang Hotel and the CLE Office, Faculty of Law & Political Science at the National University of Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR
