Hugill & Ip extends its support to the Outreach Legal Talks Initiative

HONG KONG SAR – Media
OutReach – 28 July 2021 – OUTLET
(Outreach Legal Talks Initiative) is an innovative project that provides free
talks delivered by law students directly to underprivileged communities in
Hong Kong. The pro-bono project was originally organised by a group of law
students from the University of Hong Kong. PILnet has also strongly backed the
project.

PILnet serves as the Secretariat
of the Hong Kong Pro Bono Roundtable, which was created in 2014 to connect, activate,
and coordinate pro bono lawyers in Hong Kong to maximize the impact of their
efforts, such as mobilizing legal services, organizing joint interventions, and
building a pro bono community.

This year Hugill & Ip Solicitors is collaborating
with OUTLET to organise a series of Estate
Planning legal talks – held as webinars and live seminars.

OUTLET aims to enhance social justice and equality through empowering
the needy and helping to prevent legal problems. Under the supervision of legal
professionals, law students design their own talks and deliver their insights
to groups in community centres. Throughout June and July 2021, five different meetings have
been held at HKSKH Western District Elderly Community Centre, The Salvation Army
Chuk Yuen Centre for Senior Citizens and HKYWCA Ellen Li Elderly Community
Centre. Each session was complemented by a Q&A session where solicitors
from Hugill & Ip answered questions and interacted with the audience.

Students and solicitors introduced key legal issues to the
elderly, specifically on matters related to areas of Estate & Probate law:
including reversed mortgage, Wills and Probate, Advanced Medical Directives,
guardianship, co-ownership, Enduring Power of Attorney, and annuity.

Alfred
Ip – Partner at Hugill & Ip – commented: “It’s been amazing to help
this project and contribute to the growth of many talented HKU students in
terms of knowledge of Estate Planning matters, as well as supporting the local
community with better awareness about the necessary steps to take in protecting
themselves and their loved ones.”

Jacqueline
Cheng – Associate at Hugill & Ip’s Private Client team – added: “I’ve
been extremely excited to be part of this pro bono initiative and have relished
the opportunity to answer questions, face-to-face and online, about real-life
situations that many individuals face in their daily lives.”

Marco Raccuia – Head of Finance & Operations – noted:
“This outstanding initiative not only fits Hugill & Ip’s commitment to
social responsibility, but also adds tremendous value by spreading legal
knowledge. Local elderly communities and their carers have been provided (and
will continue to be provided) information on tools and protections available to
achieve proper Estate Planning”.

Outreach Legal Talks main components are:

• The need
  to bring information from online platforms directly to affected communities,
  and explain legal issues in plain language;
• “Train
  the Trainer” effect: lawyers have limited time for pro bono legal
  talks, OUTLET instead invites them to train law students who are in the
  course of their legal studies and are more available to deliver talks;
• Interactive
  Social workers educate students about community needs. Discussion and
  interaction with the audience during the outreach talks have a further
  empowerment effect for OUTLET participants.

Hugill
& Ip will offer internships
in Summer 2022 to a group of OUTLET students from The University of Hong Kong
who have participated in this year Estate Planning legal talks. The firm will
also continue to collaborate with the organization on future pro bono
activities that benefit the community – in particular the elderly and their
carers.