Pro Bono SG

What Pro Bono SG does

Pro Bono SG is a Singapore-registered charity and the official charity arm of the Law Society of Singapore, founded in 2007 to provide free legal awareness, guidance, and representation to individuals and communities who cannot afford legal counsel and who fall outside government legal aid coverage. It serves migrants, low-income Singaporeans and residents, transnational families, individuals with special needs, youth, and non-profit organizations, delivering services through a three-tier model: legal awareness (LawGoWhere portal, LawWorks, Project Schools, LAW@CDC), legal guidance (physical and virtual legal clinics, including the Migrant Workers' Law Centre @ MWC, Transnational Family Care Centre @ SCC, and two Community Law Centres), and legal representation (CLAS, FJSS, Ad Hoc Pro Bono Scheme).

Its technology stack is intentionally lean and non-AI: JotForm intake forms, Microsoft Forms for migrant worker registration, Zoom-based virtual clinics, and TalentLMS delivery for training modules, supported by the LawGoWhere content portal. The core operating asset is human rather than technological — a pool of 500+ volunteer lawyers supplemented by full-time community lawyers staffing each major centre.

Revenue is entirely donation- and grant-driven rather than fee-based. Services are free to beneficiaries. Pro Bono SG holds Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status, making donations 250% tax-deductible. Income streams include individual donations (Stripe-enabled recurring from $1/day), six-tiered corporate sponsorships ($5,000 Bronze to $250,000+ Diamond), periodic government grants (notably $3 million from the Ministry of Law in March 2025), and grants from family foundations (Rao Family Foundation contributed $700,000+ over two years). Distribution is community-led through 120+ partner organizations, government referrals, and embedded legal clinics at CDCs, mosques, and temples across Singapore.

Name

Pro Bono SG

Legal name

Pro Bono SG

Website

https://probono.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pro Bono SG is the charity arm of the Law Society of Singapore, founded in 2007 to provide free legal awareness, guidance, and representation to underserved communities including migrants, low-income residents, transnational families, and individuals with special needs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC), Legal Practice Management & Case Management (BPAEAPAC)

Keywords

• Pro bono legal services
• Legal aid charity
• Community legal clinics
• Criminal legal defense
• Family justice support

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations (Individual & Corporate): Pro Bono SG relies entirely on donations from individuals and corporations. The organization is a registered charity with Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status, qualifying all donations for 250% tax deduction. Corporate sponsors at Diamond ($250,000+), Platinum ($100,000+), Gold ($50,000+), Silver ($25,000+), Crystal ($15,000+), and Bronze ($5,000+) tiers. Monthly recurring donations available from $1/day via Stripe.
2. Government Grants: Pro Bono SG receives periodic government grants, including $3 million from the Ministry of Law in March 2025 to support CLAS and free legal help services, and $700,000+ from the Rao Family Foundation over two years (2026) for the Inclusive Justice Law Centre.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Pro Bono SG provides free pro bono legal services in Singapore structured across three tiers: legal awareness (via LawGoWhere portal, publications, and outreach), legal guidance (through community law centres, virtual clinics, and specialized centres for migrant workers and transnational families), and legal representation (through the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, Family Justice Support Scheme, and Ad Hoc Pro Bono Scheme). The organization delivers these services through a network of volunteer lawyers and full-time community lawyers, complemented by PBSG Academy's training programmes for legal professionals.

Product overview

Pro Bono SG offers a portfolio of legal aid programmes structured around three service tiers: legal awareness (through LawGoWhere portal, LawWorks, Project Schools, and LAW@CDC), legal guidance (via physical and virtual legal clinics, including the Migrant Workers' Law Centre @ MWC, Transnational Family Care Centre @ SCC, and two Community Law Centres), and legal representation (through CLAS, FJSS, and the Ad Hoc Pro Bono Scheme). Its PBSG Academy training division delivers accredited professional development via the CLAS Training Programme and Community Law Training Programme, along with ethics courses for charity boards. The organisation's flagship fundraising events include Just Jalan and Pro Bono Weeks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PBSG Academy: Training arm of Pro Bono SG established to raise legal literacy, strengthen legal capability and promote ethical practice across Singapore's legal and community sectors.
• LawGoWhere
• Migrant Workers' Law Centre @ MWC
• Community Law Centre @ Tian De Temple
• Community Law Centre @ Realm of Tranquility
• Transnational Family Care Centre @ SCC
• Inclusive Justice Law Centre

Products and services

• PBSG Academy Training arm of Pro Bono SG established to raise legal literacy, strengthen legal capability, and promote ethical practice across Singapore's legal and community sectors. Delivers high-quality training programmes for practitioners, volunteers, and community partners using a network of experienced legal experts, practitioners, academics, and sector specialists.
• Migrant Workers' Law Centre @ MWC (MWLC) Singapore's only five-day-a-week legal clinic for migrant workers, providing free legal guidance on employment issues, criminal cases, and other legal matters. Located at 579 Serangoon Road.
• LawGoWhere Portal

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 migrant workers served by MWLC in its first year, exceeding target of 120 by over 4x
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Inclusive Justice Law CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026A dedicated law centre launched in March 2026 by Pro Bono SG and Rao Family Foundation to help individuals with special needs and mental health conditions navigate Singapore's legal system, aligned with a government task force reviewing the criminal justice system's support for these groups.
• Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2025MWC co-established the Migrant Workers' Law Centre @ MWC with Pro Bono SG in April 2025, operating from 579 Serangoon Road. MWC also serves as a Diamond-level donor. The centre is Singapore's only five-day-a-week legal clinic for migrant workers, having served over 500 workers in its first year.
• South Central Community Family Service CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2024Co-founded the Transnational Family Care Centre @ SCC with South Central Community FCS in July 2024, providing one-stop social and legal assistance to transnational families facing divorce, maintenance, child-related matters, adoption, guardianship, mental capacity, family violence, and immigration issues.
• Law Society of SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro Bono SG is the official charity arm of the Law Society of Singapore. This mandates Pro Bono SG's role as the primary coordinator of pro bono legal services in Singapore and provides access to the full pool of Singapore-qualified lawyers as volunteers.
• Community Development Councils (CDCs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive CDCs (North West, North East, South West, South East, Central Singapore) partner with Pro Bono SG to host Law Awareness Weeks and legal clinics, providing physical venues and community reach across Singapore's heartlands for over 10 years.
• Angullia MosquemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Migrant Worker Legal Clinic @ Angullia Mosque on 2nd and 4th Sundays monthly at 265 Serangoon Road, providing walk-in legal consultations for migrant workers in a trusted community setting.
• National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTUC and Pro Bono SG co-launched LawWorks in 2013, providing legal primer talks for union members, monthly legal clinics, and pocket series booklets on labour law. NTUC also co-hosts legal clinics and outreach for workers.
• Singapore Academy of LawmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAL partners with Pro Bono SG on training accreditation (LIFTED programme for CPD points) and hosts the Pro Bono Awards. SAL publishes access to justice content featuring Pro Bono SG.
• National University of Singapore (NUS) School of LawmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUS Law School co-hosts Pro Bono Weeks inaugural launch (fireside chat at SMU Law School) and NUS Law Pro Bono Awards Ceremony 2026, promoting pro bono among law students.
• Singapore Management University (SMU) School of LawmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMU Law School hosts the inaugural Pro Bono Weeks launch event and provides internship partnerships, engaging law students in pro bono culture from early stages.
• Family Justice CourtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Justice Courts partner with Pro Bono SG on the Family Justice Support Scheme (FJSS), referring qualifying foreigners and low-income applicants for pro bono legal representation.
• Legal Aid Bureau (LAB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAB and Pro Bono SG collaborate on FJSS, where LAB refers applicants who marginally fail LAB's means test to Pro Bono SG for pro bono or modest-means legal representation.
• Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSF partners on the MSF Community Cares Award (won 2021), deputyship duties webinars with Office of The Public Guardian, and broader social services referral network.
• Ministry of Manpower (MOM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOM works with Pro Bono SG on migrant worker legal clinics and outreach, providing regulatory guidance and referrals for migrant workers facing employment and workplace rights issues.
• Institute of Mental Health (IMH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMH collaborates with Pro Bono SG on training modules for the CLAS Training Programme, including sessions on mental health in the courtroom and forensic psychiatry for criminal defence lawyers.
• Health Sciences Authority (HSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSA forensic experts contribute to CLAS Training Programme modules on drug offences, DNA evidence, and forensic toxicology, equipping defence counsel with scientific knowledge for criminal cases.
• State Courts SingaporemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Courts host Pro Bono SG's headquarters at Havelock Square and serve as the primary venue for CLAS legal representation proceedings and the Help Centre for CLAS applicants.
• Hope Initiative AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro Bono SG received a Plaque of Appreciation from Hope Initiative Alliance in 2020 for work with the migrant worker community. HIA is part of the partner ecosystem supporting migrant worker outreach.
• ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRR is a community organization supporting migrant workers in Singapore; listed as a partner in the Pro Bono SG ecosystem for migrant worker legal outreach.
• Aidha LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAidha provides financial education to migrant domestic workers; listed as a community partner for migrant worker support services.
• Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (FAST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAST is a community partner supporting foreign domestic workers; part of the referral and outreach network for Pro Bono SG's FDW-related legal services.
• Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTWC2 is a nonprofit supporting migrant workers in Singapore; part of the partner ecosystem for migrant worker legal clinics and outreach.
• Family Service Centres (FSCs)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Family Service Centres across Singapore partner with Pro Bono SG for referrals, co-location, and holistic client support for low-income families navigating legal issues.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pro Bono Net: US-based non-profit that runs online platforms connecting volunteer lawyers with low-income clients and non-profits. Highly comparable mission and volunteer-coordination model, with a digital infrastructure layer (LawHelp.org) paralleling Pro Bono SG's LawGoWhere.
• PILnet: Global non-profit that builds pro bono infrastructure for rule of law and access to justice. Comparable to Pro Bono SG in its role as an intermediary between the legal profession and vulnerable populations needing legal services.
• LawWorks (UK): UK-based charity that brokers pro bono legal services from law firms to individuals and non-profits in need. Closely comparable to Pro Bono SG in mission (free legal help for those who cannot afford it), volunteer-lawyer mobilisation model and not-for-profit funding model.
• Avocats Sans Frontières: International NGO mobilising lawyers to provide free legal aid to vulnerable populations, with a focus on access to justice and human rights. Comparable as a volunteer-lawyer-led legal aid charity, though more international in scope.
• Justice Connect (Australia): Australian non-profit connecting people and community organisations with pro bono legal help. Comparable model to Pro Bono SG in delivering free legal assistance through a coordinated volunteer lawyer network, with a similar focus on non-profit and vulnerable community legal support.

Regional players

• AWARE Singapore: Singapore-based non-profit running a legal clinic that provides free legal information and referrals on family, employment and discrimination matters. A regional peer in the same Singapore access-to-justice ecosystem, with partial overlap on legal clinic services for vulnerable women and migrants.
• Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2): Singapore-based non-profit providing assistance and advocacy for migrant workers, including legal support pathways. A direct ecosystem peer in migrant-worker support, overlapping with Pro Bono SG's Migrant Workers' Law Centre @ MWC and Angullia Mosque clinic.
• Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA): Singapore-based coalition supporting migrant workers through outreach, welfare, and access-to-services programmes. Listed as a Pro Bono SG partner and an ecosystem peer in serving the same migrant-worker beneficiary base via community-based outreach.

Broad incumbents

• TrustLaw (Thomson Reuters Foundation): Thomson Reuters Foundation's pro bono legal network connecting NGOs and social enterprises with law firms worldwide. Comparable in operating as a pro bono clearinghouse, though broader geographically and serving NGOs rather than individual beneficiaries.
• Legal Aid Bureau (Singapore): Singapore's government legal aid body. Operates as the primary statutory legal aid provider under the Ministry of Law, setting the means-test thresholds that Pro Bono SG's CLAS and FJSS reference and complement for marginally-failing applicants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@probonsosg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProBonoSG
• Instagraminstagram.com/probonosg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/probonosg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pro Bono SG