On Monday October 26th, 2015, IANGEL had the distinct pleasure of meeting with Ms. Hadeel Aziz, Executive Director of the Justice Center for Legal Aid (JCLA) in Jordan.
The JCLA not only provides legal aid services to unrepresented clients who lack the means for other representation. Hadeel shared that, in Jordan, there has not been a culture of pro bono legal services. Furthermore, she shared that because individuals are not provided with representation by the state for most legal proceedings, which places already vulnerable populations in even greater risk of marginalization. As such, JCA provides legal representation for a broad range of civil, criminal and family (sharia) cases.
The Eisenhower Fellowship website shares some background of Hadeel’s career. They state that, “(i)n 2008, Hadeel Aziz pioneered free legal assistance in Jordan when she left a multi-million dollar USAID project on the rule of law to co-found the Justice Center for Legal Aid (JCLA). Her organization provides legal services to the poor, underprivileged and vulnerable, a service previously available only to those who could afford it. JCLA is now the largest legal aid provider in the country. In her role, Hadeel is responsible for setting and monitoring strategy, overseeing advocacy and ensuring sustainability of the center. She will use her fellowship to expand existing services with the establishment of a comprehensive country-wide pro bono attorney program. She expects to partner with the Jordanian Bar association and the Ministry of Justice to spur a significant culture change when she returns to Jordan. Hadeel will also investigate public justice in the U.S. more generally, including advocacy, and women and children’s issues.”
IANGEL President Nancy J. Newman and Executive Director Cecilia Lipp discussed the ways that pro bono attorneys can support the development of a pro bono culture in Jordan, as well as support for the important women’s rights work that JCLA is pioneering.