The Supreme Court (SC) has streamlined the accreditation process for legal aid activities by requiring organizers to submit only one application per activity through an online portal to prevent duplicate filings.

Under Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) Advisory No. 8, Series of 2026, dated October 19, the requirement covers legal outreach programs, legal missions, and other legal aid activities, with applications filed through the ULAS Portal.

The advisory applies to covered lawyers, registered organizations, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the Department of Justice Action Center (DOJAC), law school legal aid clinics, and other organizers seeking accreditation.

It sets out the following requirements and safeguards:

  • Designated Organizer-Applicant: The organizer responsible for initiating and conducting the activity must file the application. Where multiple organizers are involved, they must designate one Organizer-Applicant to file on their behalf.
  • Multiple or recurring activities: A single application may cover several legal aid activities, including continuing or recurring programs, as permitted under existing ULAS rules.
  • Written undertaking: The Organizer-Applicant must confirm their authority to represent the organizers and assume responsibility for documentation, record retention, and compliance with ULAS requirements.
  • False or incomplete declarations: Such declarations in the undertaking will result in automatic revocation of the Certificate of Activity Accreditation (CAA) insofar as the Organizer-Applicant is concerned, without affecting participating lawyers who acted in good faith and did not sign the undertaking.
  • Documentation of service hours: Organizers must document lawyers’ actual participation and retain supporting records until the corresponding Certificates of Compliance become final. Participating lawyers may claim only hours actually rendered, without exceeding the total hours accredited under the CAA.

“Any application for accreditation of legal aid activity in violation of this Advisory shall be denied,” the advisory stated.

Previously issued CAAs will remain valid for the activities they cover, including continuing accreditations granted to the IBP, DOJAC, and law school legal aid clinics for recurring or day-to-day activities.

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