RA 9999 - Free Legal Assistance Act

Image downloaded from the internet

FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE ACT

What is it about?

The law gives fiscal incentives to lawyers/law firms who provide free legal services to indigent or pauper litigants

Important Things to remember:

1. Legal Services refers to any activity which requires the application of law, legal procedure, knowledge, training and experiences which includes legal advice and counsel, and the preparation of instruments and contracts, including appearance before the administrative and quasi-judicial offices, bodies and tribunals, handling cases in court, and other similar services. (Sec. 3)

2. Indigent or Pauper Litigants are those:

a. Whose gross income do not exceed an amount double the monthly minimum wage (ex. monthly minimum wage is P8,500.00 x 2 = P17,000.00), AND

b. Who do not own real property with a fair market value of more than P300,000.00,

as stated in the case Algura vs. Naga City.

3. Lawyers/Law Firms are entitled to an allowable deduction from the gross income, the amount that could have been collected for the actual free legal services rendered or up to 10% of the gross income derived from the actual performance of the legal profession, whichever is lower.

Complete text of the law can be found at:
Free Legal Assistance Act on LawPhil