I embarked on my Leadership in Action project with the Legal Aid Department (LAD) in Hong Kong from 22 July to 30 August.

The LAD’s mission—promoting citizens’ equal access to justice—resonates deeply with me. During my previous internship at a litigation law firm, I had the opportunity to work closely on a personal injury case. The case had changed hands twice and finally received legal aid when it reached the firm. Witnessing the intricate, extensive and time-consuming processes involved in handling the case, as well as the vicissitudes of the life of the client, I came to understand the important role of legal aid and how it helps alleviate the struggles of litigants who have reasonable grounds for taking or defending a legal action but could not access justice due to the lack of means.

This project, which focused on aiding resource-limited applicants in accessing justice, enabled me to contribute to a meaningful cause aligning with SDG 16: peace, justice, and strong institutions. Besides, I gained valuable insights into Hong Kong’s legal aid system and the department’s civil litigation practices, especially personal injuries(PI), employees’ compensation (EC) and running down (i.e., traffic accident) cases.

The first week set the stage for understanding the LAD's integral role in supporting the community. I learnt that the Application and Processing Division(A&P) is responsible for processing legal aid applications and monitoring assigned cases. Civil Litigation I, where I would be based, handles mainly personal injuries, employees’ compensation and running down cases. Civil Litigation II handles matrimonial cases. There is also a Criminal Division, which, by its name, handles criminal cases.

I undertook legal research on pain, suffering and loss of amenities (PSLA) for several PI cases and proofread an instruction to counsel. In addition to desktop research, I attended a hearing, a counsel advice session, and a client meeting with an aided person(AP). It was a great start to my LiA.