Free legal advice for vulnerable sectors is resumed in Quito

The Honespro Legal Consortium, a coalition of expert lawyers in criminal, corporate, civil, family and real estate law, rIn the coming weeks, it will resume its program of free legal consultations for the vulnerable and low-income population. The Consortium that has worked, celebrating strategic alliances with members of various ecclesiastical parish communities, has been carrying out this work since 2018 through its project called “social agape: Alleviating legal poverty.”

He has done it in the ecclesiastical parish of the Good Shepherd of Turubamba with Father Moacir Goluard. Also in the ecclesiastical parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Llano Chico, with Father Cristian Luje; also in the San Pedro Apóstol de Luluncoto Catholic Church with Father Daniel Mejía and in the San José Obrero Parish with Father Orlando Corrales.

Gabriela Estacio, a resident of the People’s Committee, says that Honespro advised her on her divorce. He comments that although the issue of divorce has already concluded, his fight is not over yet, since the alimony trial is pending. In this matter, he is analyzing through counseling to reach a mediation agreement with his ex-spouse.

Meanwhile, Orlando Corrales, parish priest of San José Obrero of the People’s Committee, highlights the work of this qualified team of lawyers in providing free advice. He explains that there is a very significant segment of the population that cannot pay the high costs of legal advice, since they are not within their means. It gives joy and satisfaction that there are people who benefit from this work, says the father.

Sandra Benítez, part of the Honespro consortium, recalls that in the People’s Committee, lAfter having the approval of the Parish Priest Orlando Corrales, the project was proposed to the Parish Council and to the apostolic groups that are part of this community. “Our service strategy consisted of disseminating that after each Eucharist there would be a group of lawyers willing to attend their first legal consultations at no cost. In the period from 2018 to 2019 we were able to serve approximately 150 people who needed to be heard and that they could be offered a solution to their conflict”, he comments. He also assures that in addition to solving various queries, some cases led to legal proceedings, in which a modest amount is already charged.

Benítez explains that with the arrival of the pandemic it was no longer possible to continue in person nor with the same frequency in the attention to people, but they continued to answer calls and carry out consultancies via zoom. “Now we are about to restart a new cycle of free face-to-face advice at the end of March this year and we will also begin to offer a conflict resolution tool that is Mediation. which is an alternative for many more people to solve their problems by shaking hands with the other”, he explains.

He explained that Mediation is already an optimal strategy existing in the Constitution since 1998 and that it continues in force in the current one of 2008, in both the alternative means of conflict resolution are incorporated. The 2006 Arbitration and Mediation Law creates the general legal framework for its operation.

The lawyer explains that It is a voluntary, non-obligatory, honest, simple, less time-consuming and costly alternative to resolve conflicts where the parties, with the collaboration of an impartial, professional mediator specialized in the matter and using a respectful dialogue, can reach a final agreement. “It is important to note that only those matters and issues that can be compromised can be mediated,” recalls Benítez.

For Benítez, mediation is an excellent initiative since the parties involved in a conflict decide how to define the solution: “listening directly, agreeing to give in to “win win” and all this directed by an impartial third party trained in the matter. to compromise opens up a parallel world of problem solving in a friendlier, healthier and faster way”, he assures.