BABSEACLE

2026 Q1 Asia Fair Trial Practices Roundtable

23 April 2026 | Online

The First-quarter 2026 Asia Fair Trial Practices Roundtable was jointly organized by BABSEACLE and the Centre for Law and Transformative Change (CLTC) on Thursday, April 23, 2026, to bring together practitioners, civil society actors, and persons from affected communities to exchange litigation-focused experiences and strategies for advancing effective participation of persons with disabilities in criminal proceedings. The online roundtable was attended by more than 60 participants from diverse jurisdictions.

2026 International Women's Day

8 March 2026 | Chiang Mai, Thailand

International Women’s Day was held at Augkaew, Chiang Mai University, on 8 March 2026 and was co-organized by Civil Society Organizations for Gender Equality (CSOsGE) under the theme “Give to Gain.” The event aimed to raise awareness of gender discrimination and inequality, celebrate women’s achievements, and mobilize global action to advance women’s rights, empowerment, and equal opportunities.

BABSEACLE set up a booth featuring interactive activities, including “Voice Their Opinion” and “Light Up the Power,” encouraging participants to reflect on how they can support women’s rights and share a word or message to empower women.

Empowering Students Through Civic Education

5–6 March 2026 | Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

On 5–6 March, students from four secondary schools in Luang Prabang Province gained practical knowledge about gender equality in access to legal aid through Clinical Legal Education (CLE) community teaching activities 841 people attended/452 Female out of these 800 are students who attended 440 Female.

The sessions were held at Secondary Schools. Through interactive teaching methods such as animation videos, take a stand, picture, games and question and answers, students learned about the importance of equal access to legal aid for both female and male, helping to raise awareness of fairness, basic rights, and justice in their communities.

The implemented these activities by students from the National Institute of Justice in Luang Prabang supervise by teachers, relevant authorities from central and local from the Ministry of Justice of Laos with the technical support by BABSEACLE Laos highlighting strong efforts to promote access to justice in Laos.

CLE Community Teaching and Mobile Clinic

16–21 March 2026 | Luang Prabang & Khammouane Provinces, Lao PDR

From 16 to 21 March 2026 across 12 districts in Luang Prabang and Khammouane Provinces, law students from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), National Institute of Justice Luang Prabang Campus (NIJLPB) and National Institute of Justice Savannakhet Campus (NIJSVK)—under the direct supervision of law teachers and legal aid officers—conducted interactive community teaching sessions and mobile legal clinics centered on “Gender Equality in Access to Legal Aid.” Supported by the CEGGA II and BABSEACLE, the initiative reached over 2,000 community members (including over 1,000 female) with practical knowledge about their legal rights while equipping future lawyers with essential hands-on, community-based legal practice experience.

Legal Sector Peer-to-Peer Exchange Program

19–21 May 2026 | Vientiane, Lao PDR

From 19 to 21 May 2026 in Vientiane, BABSEACLE hosted the Legal Sector Peer-to-Peer Exchange Program, supported by the CEGGA II, bringing together 113 legal sector practitioners (including 35 women) from educational institutions, justice offices, legal aid providers, and development partners. The multi-day gathering enabled leading legal professionals from across Laos to evaluate clinical legal education methodologies, discuss effective community-based legal aid models, and share cross-provincial strategies synthesized from recent student externships and mobile legal clinics in Luang Prabang, Khammouane, and Savannakhet.

Virtual Business Law Seminar Series

14 & 24 July 2026 | Online

On 14 and 24 July 2026, The Legal House assist by BABSEACLE—hosted a two-part Virtual Business Law Seminar Series that drew high interest and active engagement, bringing together over 100 participants including Laos lawyers and trainee lawyers from the Lao Bar Association (LBA). Facilitated by legal experts from Goldman Sachs and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, the online sessions focused heavily on professional legal ethics—including managing conflicts of interest and balancing duties to clients, courts, and regulators—while equipping participants with practical skills in corporate compliance, ESG risk management, and commercial loan drafting and default enforcement

Legal Aid Outreach for Grassroots Level to Village Chief, Village Mediation Committee, and Village Women's Union

2-4 March 2026 | Luangprabang, Lao PDR

BABSEACLE supported targeted trainings on Legal Aid Outreach and Mobile Clinics in Luang Prabang and Khammouane followed by direct legal aid outreach activities with Village Authorities (VA), Village Mediation Committees (VMC), and Village Women (VW) across multiple districts in Khammouane Province.

These activities strengthened the practical capacity of LAO, POJ, and DOJ staff to plan and implement community-based legal aid outreach. Particular emphasis was placed on reaching women and vulnerable groups, clarifying the role of legal aid offices, and strengthening referral pathways from village to district and provincial levels. Together, the trainings and outreach activities improved both institutional readiness and community engagement, directly contributing to improved access to legal support services.

Training for Students on CLE Community Teaching and Mobile Clinics

24–27 February 2026 | Luang Prabang and Khammouane, Northern and Central Lao PDR

This activity took place from 24–27 February 2026 in Luang Prabang and Khammouane provinces. It provided intensive training for NIJSVK CLE and NIJLPB law students on how to design and deliver CLE community teaching sessions and mobile legal clinics, in collaboration with the District and Provincial Justice Offices, as well as Legal Aid Offices.

The training aimed to prepare students to work directly with communities across six districts in Khammouane and Luang Prabang. It focused on developing their ability to communicate legal information in accessible and practical ways. The training was delivered by the BABSEACLE team.

2026 International Children's Day

10 January 2026 | Chiang Mai, Thailand

BABSEACLE, in collaboration with the SEATECT Rotary Club and the Peace Culture Foundation (PCF), organized an International Children’s Day event at Buak Haad Park on 10 January 2026. The event aimed to raise awareness of child grooming and to strengthen both individual and community-based prevention efforts. It featured three interactive learning stations designed to deliver child grooming prevention education in an engaging and interactive format: a hand puppet theatre, “What is Grooming?”, and “My Body is Mine.”

CLE Externship Program

Jan – May 2026 | Luang Prabang, Khammouane, & Savannakhet, Lao PDR

Between January and May 2026 across Luang Prabang, Khammouane, and Savannakhet, BABSEACLE partnered with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Legal Aid offices to implement a comprehensive Clinical Legal Education (CLE) Externship Program, supported by the CEGGA II. To bridge classroom learning with real-world legal service delivery, the initiative placed 27 student externs from NIJ Savannakhet, NIJ Vientiane and NIJ Luang Prabang directly into active legal aid offices to gain hands-on experience in client consultation and professional ethics. Alongside these placements, the program trained 87 participants in mobile clinic operations, reached over 800 secondary students through student-led gender equality sessions, engaged 113 practitioners in peer exchanges.

Business Law & Human Rights Seminar

28–29 May 2026 | Vientiane, Lao PDR

From 28 to 29 May 2026 in Vientiane, The Legal House co-hosted the Business Law and Human Rights Seminar with White & Case law firm, supported by the CEGGA II and BABSEACLE. Facilitated primarily by White & Case legal experts, the two-day workshop brought together 74 participants (including 28 women)—comprising NIJ law teachers and students from Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Savannakhet, alongside government and justice-sector officials—to explore international human rights standards, corporate accountability, and risk-prevention strategies in legal practice and policymaking. Key topics included:

Introduction to Business Law and the Rule of Law;
Acting in the Best Interests of Your Client;
Acting with Honesty and Integrity; and
Acting in a Manner that Promotes International Human Rights Standards.

Through interactive presentations and practical discussions, participants strengthened their understanding of the relationship between business, legal ethics, and human rights, while enhancing their ability to apply these principles in professional practice and public service.

Upcoming Events

Asia Pro Bono Roundtable

The idea of the Asia Pro Bono Consortium Roundtable was birthed in 2020 in the midst of COVID-19. It has since grown into a regional event. The Roundtable is organized on a quarterly basis through the collaboration of the Consortium members.

2026 Q2 Asia Pro Bono Roundtable on Capacity Building in Pro Bono Sustainability

Date: 30 June 2026

Time: 2:30 PM Bangkok Time

Platform: Virtually via Zoom

Asia Fair Trial Practices Roundtable

The Asia Fair Trial Practices Roundtable is an ongoing initiative that fosters dialogue, collaboration, and innovation to enhance the region’s fair and just legal systems.

Topic: The duty to protect: Building an encrypted and digitally secure fair trial law practice in Asia

Date: 9 July 2026

Time: 3:00 PM Bangkok Time

Platform: Virtually via Zoom

14th Asia Pro Bono Conference & Access to Justice Exchange

The conference organized by a network consortium from throughout Asia and globally, is the largest annual gathering of persons supporting and engaged in access to justice, pro bono and public interest law in Asia.

The APBC will be an opportunity to share experiences, advocacies, and ideas not only among Asians but to learn as well from experts, practitioners, and policymakers from other regions of the world.

Dates: APBC 4-6 December 2026

A2JX: 2-3 and 7 December 2026

Location: Fukuoka, Japan

Who Are We?

We are BABSEACLE, a 501-C-3 U.S. not-for-profit, access to justice/legal education organization which collaborates globally in the development of justice education and access to justice initiatives while simultaneously fostering generations of pro bono minded champions. BABSEACLE has been working collaboratively with universities, law students, law faculties, lawyers, members of the legal community, justice-related organizational partners, government and the private sector since 2003 to develop justice education and pro bono related programs throughout Asia and globally. These programs assist in providing access to justice services while simultaneously helping to build the next generation of social justice, pro bono minded champions. These programs and clinics assist communities, provide legal aid services and simultaneously help to build the next generation of social justice, pro-bono minded champions.

Over 1,100 Legal Trainings

Since 2003, BABSEACLE has a proven record of inspiring training workshops with law teachers, lawyers, legal service providers, students and community members through Asia and globally.

100% Collaborative

BABSEACLE seeks to develop and strengthen positive partnerships and networks locally, regionally and internationally. We endeavor to link access to justice programs to civil society organizations, law firms, corporations, governmental policy makers, municipalities, and justice sector institutions. We welcome partnerships to support these access to justice champions.

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Global Pro Bono Move

A Virtual Walk Run Jog Bike Swim Wheel Hike Ski

Are you ready to move around the globe together VIRTUALLY this year?

Together we have 365 days to walk, jog, bike, swim, wheelchair, hike, ski, & other ways to move around the globe. BABSEACLE’s Global Pro Bono Move is an annual awareness and fundraising event which supports greater access to justice and helps to build Rule of Law to protect the poor, vulnerable & marginalized.

Join Us