Other Projects

Legal Aid Project

1. Structure, function and objectives of the Nepal Bar Association
   The Nepal Bar Association was established in 1962 as a professional organization representating all Nepali lawyers. Later on the NEBA was run according to a constitution approved by the His Majesty's Government of Nepal. Local Bar Unit can be opened in every court and a law practitioner can be the member of the Bar Unit of the Court where he/she is practising. Such membership of any Bar Unit is automatically entitled as a membership of the Nepal Bar Association.

   Election of the Bar Units is held every year. But the central executive committee is elected for three years. Election for both the local Bar Units and the central executive committee are held on the basis of one-man-one-vote and the secret ballot. National convention is the supreme body of the NEBA which is held in every three years. Local Bar Units have to organize convention every year.

   At present, NEBA has 52 units and about 2,500 general members. Its central office is in the Supreme Court building.

   1. Function and objectives
      NEBA fully believes in the democratic patterns and practices of functioning. It is dedicated to the professional development and integrity of all lawyers on the one hand and firmly championing for the rule of law and the human rights. In this regard, NEBA highly values the promotion of international relations and solidarity. So far, NEBA is a member of the International Bar Association and the Law Asia and it has a close relationship with the Norwegian Bar Association. Main objectives of the NEBA are as follows:
      
      
      1. To make the legal profession more capable, competent, ideal and beneficial to people to contribute in the judicial administration substantially.
      2. To protect and promote the professional interests of the lawyers.
      3. To enhance the unity, mutual understanding and goodwill among the lawyers.


2. The Legal Project
   Pursuant to its objectives, the NEBA has been carrying out various activities for the protection of people's rights and promotion of the legal profession. The Legal Aid Project is one the major undertakings among them,

   2.1 Initiation and Materialization
   NEBA has been trying to institutionalize the work of providing free legal assistance to the indigent, poor and disadvantaged people since a long time. Finally, it became possible as the NEBA and the Norwegian Bar Association (NBA) agreed to enter into a cooperation agreement in November, 1987. Consequently, the project work was commenced from January 1988 with the grant assistance of the NBA. The agreement was signed for five years and it may be extended by mutual agreement.

   2.2 Organization of the Project
   There is a central project office in Kathmandu with eight staffs including a full-time director, who is himself a lawyer. A Panel of Lawyers consisting of 60 lawyers has been entrusted to handle the cases accepted by the project central office. There will be also an especial women-wing in the near future.

   The project has already five branch offices out-side Kathmandu valley and additional three branches are going to be opened in near future. All these branches are handled by a full-time legal officer with the cooperation of other two staffs.

   Though the Legal Aid Project is ultimately guided and controlled by the NEBA, two committees, i.e. the Legal Aid Committee and the Action Committee are entrusted for smooth running of the Project.

   The Legal Aid Committee is responsible to look after the actions of the Project.

   Periodical reports, including the audited report of expenditure, are sent to the NBA and it moniters is independent to implement the project schemes making necessary decisions.

   2.3 Objectives

   1. To provide court-oriented legal aid to the indigent poor and disadvantaged people, and
   2. To launch a strategic legal aid campaign through legal literacy programme to arouse people's consciousness about their rights.
   
   2.4 Schemes
   Various schemes, as stated below, are formulated to achieve the aforesaid objectives.
   1. Preparation of necessary petitions and application and representation in courts, tribunals and other quasi-judicial bodies on behalf of the indigent and poor persons.
      
   2. Collection of information about the women prisoners to provide them free legal assistance and representation of all indigent women by Warish (Designated person to appear in courts at a given them) in courts.
      
   3. Providing direct fiancial help to indigent women to meet expenses like court fees, transpiration and similar essential expenses.
      
   4. Settlement of dispute through conciliation and/or compromise.
      
   5. Training to the persons responsible for alternate dispute resolution or devloping para-legal manpower.
      
   6. Rehabilitation of indigent litigant.
      
   7. Legal Literacy, including special legal literacy for women, through campaign, publication, lectures and direct approach.
      
   8. National seminars/workers for the lawyers involved in the legal aid and legal literacy schemes.
      
   9. Publication of the Bar Journal.

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