Beyond legal advice: Hong Kong charity helps bridge the gap in access to justice

Pro Bono HK is known for helping people in need access justice in Hong Kong, but its work extends beyond legal advice to connecting clients with social workers and community groups for further support and promoting legal education.

Founded in 2014, the organisation helps people who may not qualify for legal aid or cannot afford private representation. Its work ranges from tenancy and family disputes to inheritance matters and emergency legal support.

Pro Bono HK and its volunteers are finalists for the Spirit of Teamwork Award in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, co-organised by Sino Group and the South China Morning Post.

CEO Vincent Yeung said founder Davyd Wong established the organisation to improve access to justice for people unable to obtain help through either private legal services or Hong Kong’s legal aid system.

“There are many people who require legal support but may not qualify for legal aid,” Yeung said. “That is the gap we are trying to address.”

Much of the organisation’s community work focuses on everyday problems facing lower-income households, including tenancy issues affecting subdivided-flat residents. It also works with NGOs to help frontline workers and residents understand legal rights.

Cases are screened before they reach a lawyer. Law students and interns handle initial inquiries, collect basic information and direct people to existing resources when legal advice is not needed.

“Sometimes all that the client needs is to be pointed in the right direction or given access to the right information,” Yeung said. “If more support is needed, we pair the client with a volunteer who has the right expertise and availability.”

Legal problems rarely arise in isolation, according to Victoria Wong Yin, a consultant supporting Pro Bono HK. Clients may also face housing, family or welfare difficulties, so the organisation works closely with registered social workers to identify those who need further support.

“There are two sides to it,” she said. “Clients need legal support, while social workers also need some basic legal knowledge to identify when professional legal advice is needed.”

The human side of legal advice is equally important, Yeung said. People seeking help may already be frightened or overwhelmed, particularly after a traumatic event.

“It is like a doctor’s bedside manner. How you explain the case matters,” she said.

After the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November, Pro Bono HK and its volunteers produced bilingual legal information within 48 hours. They also mobilised hundreds of legal professionals to support affected residents through clinics, seminars and community outreach.

Yeung said some legal questions emerged only after the immediate emergency had passed.

“After a month or two, some affected residents began thinking about the legal issues,” he said, citing questions around property ownership, insurance and longer-term housing arrangements.

Pro Bono HK also wants to expand legal education to help people before problems develop into disputes.

Wong said such education should begin with young people, helping them understand the basics of contracts and scams, as well as the consequences of signing documents or allowing others to use their bank accounts.

“Education is very important because many people do not know what rights they have or what options are available to them,” she said.

Since January 2026, the organisation’s volunteers have contributed more than 1,500 hours of pro bono legal work, with about 70 lawyers and 30 students taking part, according to Yeung.

The organisation is considering expanding its work with schools. It also aims to make pro bono service a more regular part of legal practice through continued collaboration with social workers and community groups.

Launched in 2013, the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards recognise society’s unsung heroes and organisations whose work might otherwise escape public attention.