Our branch campus in Quito held a formal event to commemorate the first anniversary of its legal clinic, which provides free legal services to the community. The event was presided by Angel Torres, public defender of the State; Maria Sol Villagomez, vice president of our branch campus in Quito; Paul Ocaña, president of the Lawyers Association of Pichincha; Jorge Rengel, director of the law undergraduate program; and Andrea Llumipanta, coordinator of the legal clinic. 

Angel Torres congratulated the university for its commitment to helping people; “I would like to thank the lawyers and students of this legal clinic; their work ensures people’s access to justice. 

The complementary justice network for public legal defense constitutes a coordinated and articulated system for the Public Defender of Ecuador, in charge of providing advisory services, technical assistance, legal sponsorship, helping to facilitate access to justice for vulnerable sectors. Its principles are to avoid impunity and guarantee a technical and timely defense”.

 
Jorge Rengel said the legal clinic helps enhance the teaching – learning process of future lawyers. “It is an opportunity for students to feel and observe the reality of this profession”, he said. Andrea Llumipanta explained that the clinic has advised 3,131 people, that it has a project with the “Centro Psicológico P. Emilio Gambirasio”, that the online service has helped 4,481 people. “It has all been possible thanks to work of professors, university officials, and the entire team”, she said. 

The event was attended by representatives of legal clinics from Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Universidad Metropolitana, Universidad Indoamérica; Organización Internacional del Migrante, Consejo de la Judicatura, Defensoría del Pueblo, Escuela de la Función Judicial, and others.