Students Legal Aid and Assistance Committee (SLAAC)

A Project Proposal for the University Student Council By Hanna Keila Garcia Juris Doctor, College of Law University of the Philippines, Diliman

The Students Legal Aid and Assistance Committee is a Special Standing Committee of the University Student Council aimed at advocating the rights and welfare of the student body with a particular thrust in pursuing such through the legal perspective. The Committee aims to address socio-political issues and policies within the University, as well as those outside the University but still directly affecting the concerns of the student body, through the use of the legal system.

OBJECTIVES To advocate for students rights and address their concerns through the use of the legal perspective To extend needed legal knowledge and assistance to the USC, the LCC, and members of the universitys college councils To pursue activities that would engage the student body in debate and discourse regarding relevant and prevalent socio-political and legal issues in the country To enhance the coordination of the UP College of Law with the rest of the student body in the University, and if possible, to other UP units To provide a Legal Help Desk that would facilitate necessary legal/paralegal aid and services to the rest of the University To pursue connections with Governmental and Non-governmental instrumentalities in the country in order to establish partnerships in furtherance of advocacy work within the bounds of the legal framework Any such other activities directly connected to the functions and projects of the Committee, as well as activities necessarily implied therefrom STRUCTURE1
SLAAC Chairperson

SLAAC Secretary Deputy Secretary for Internal Affairs & Logistics Deputy Secretary for External Affairs & Publications

Legal Seminar Head

Volunteer

Volunteer

Volunteer

Adapted from the SLAAC structure proposal of College of Law Representative Tina Reyes (AY 12-13), and outgoing College of Law Representative JP Rotap (AY 13-14)

A. The SLAAC Chairperson shall: 1. Preside meetings and oversee the coordination and implementation of the projects of the committee. 2. Submit and present during regular meetings the Committee report including performance reports of each committee member. 3. Perform such other functions germane to the function, purpose and objective of the committee. B. The SLAAC Secretary shall: 1. Keep the minutes and records of the committee; 2. Maintain all documents and important correspondences of the committee with the third parties; 3. Assist the SLAAC Chairperson in performing tasks which the latter may validly delegate to it. 4. Perform such other functions as may be assigned or delegated by the SLAAC Chairperson. C. The SLAAC Deputy Secretary for Internal Affairs & Logistics shall: 1. Be in charge of contacting the participants for the scheduled projects (i.e. communicate with local councils to establish partnerships or local legal desks); 2. Ensure that the venue, equipment and necessary materials are available for each activity or seminar; 3. Perform such other functions as may be assigned or delegated by the SLAAC Chairperson. D. The SLAAC Legal Seminar Head shall: 1. Coordinate with SLAAC Chairperson on the planning and progress of legal seminars. 2. Consolidate the creation of materials necessary for the legal/training seminars to be conducted; 3. Perform such other functions as may be assigned or delegated by the SLAAC Chairperson. E. The SLAAC Deputy Secretary for External Affairs & Publications shall: 1. Be in charge of coordinating with agencies, private entities, NGOs, LGUs, organizations and etc. that could take part in the proposed projects of the committee, or those who would like to propose other projects; 2. Perform such other functions as may be assigned or delegated by the SLAAC Chairperson.

PROPOSED PROJECTS A. LEGAL HELP DESK o To provide relevant and necessary legal assistance in order to address the needs and concerns of the student body regarding any issue that may find direct or indirect effect in day-to-day life o To provide relevant and necessary legal assistance not just to the student body, but to the rest of the UP community as necessity may arise o To provide a means to directly or confidentially communicate with the Committee such relevant concerns o To coordinate with any other Committee in the University Student Council and provide assistance regarding any legal issue that may arise in the performance of their functions

To coordinate with the LCC and provide assistance regarding any legal issue that may arise in the performance of its functions Target Date: Year-Round Project

B. CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW o To facilitate in the review, revision, or amendment of the USC Constitution (including the House Rules), for consideration by the rest of the body o To provide legal aid and assistance in the review, revision, or amendment of the Constitutions of other College Councils within the University, based on demand o To provide legal aid and assistance in the review, revision, or amendment of the Constitutions of other universities and colleges in the country, based on demand Target Date: Year-Round Project C. ON LEGAL SEMINARS o To provide Paralegal trainings to members of the USC, SLAAC officers and volunteers, and other students who may be interested Open trainings to be held in the College of Law Facilitated by the Committee Chairperson and a chosen resource speaker Target Date: Start of each Semester o To partner with the USC, the LCC, the OSR, College Councils, and student organizations within the university in facilitating forums and symposiums regarding relevant sociopolitical issues affecting the country The Committee shall provide the necessary legal perspective on these various issues The Committee may provide resource speakers from the College of Law Target Date: Year-Round Project; Depending on Necessity o To partner with the UP LSG, and the College of Law in providing symposiums to review and assess recent Supreme Court decisions (such as Belgica v. Executive Secretary or the PDAF case), and relevant Statutes (such as Cybercrime Law, RH Law, etc.), in order to foster the spirit of open and progressive discourse Target Date: Year-Round Project; Depending on Necessity D. THE LEGAL FACT-FINDER o A comprehensive fact-finding initiative will be created as often as needed on issues and policies concerning the student body, to ensure that the students are well-informed every step of the way This shall be in coordination with the STRAW and Mass Media Committees The aim of the committee is provide the necessary legal framework in the factfinding initiatives of the USC This fact-finding initiative shall also be open to partnerships with any college council or student organization This project also aims to facilitate in the drafting and release of primers and legal memorandums regarding the results of the fact-finding initiatives Target Date: Year-Round Project

E. CLAUSE, YEAR 32: GET A TASTE OF THE MALCOLM EXPERIENCE o (College of Law Assistance for Undergraduates Empowerment) o In coordination with the Bar Operations Commission, the LSG Externals Vice-President, and the Association of College of Law Organizations, it is the aim of this project to open to undergraduate students a chance to get a taste of what it feels like to be a law student by providing opportunities to volunteer for the BOC during one of the 4 weeks of the Bar, through an incentive system that would also provide these law student hopefuls several LAE review sessions, LAE review materials, and other such similar services. Target Date for the LAE review sessions: August September; At least once a month Barops: October/November F. MAGNA CARTA FOR STUDENTS THE STUDENTS BILL OF RIGHTS o This project aims to create a legal instrument that would consolidate all the basic students rights in order to provide much needed protection from various forms of abuses within the university This shall be in partnership with the LCC and all college councils, the STRAW Committee, as well as student organizations and formations within the University This shall be forwarded and lobbied to the Board of Regents, through coordination with the Office of the Student Regent Target Dates: Comprehensive Consultations: 1st Semester, AY 2014-2015 Drafting of the Legal Instrument: January 2015 Presentation of the Legal Instrument for approval of the USC: End of January/Start of February 2015 Lobbying: 3rd quarter of AY14-15 onwards

Project carried over (with slight modifications) from the SLAAC project proposal of College of Law Representative Tina Reyes (AY 12-13), and outgoing College of Law Representative JP Rotap (AY 13-14)