Nepal Bar lists about 1,900 pro bono lawyers, but records show 447 cases in five years
The association has published its 2083/84 pro bono roster and a summary of free legal services reported by its units since 2078/79. Most units have sent no records.
In this article
The Nepal Bar Association has published its roster of lawyers willing to provide free legal services to people who cannot afford them for the fiscal year 2083/84 BS (2026/27). The list attached to a notice dated 6 October (20 Asoj 2083 BS) runs to serial number 1,917, covering office-bearers of the central committee and lawyers from the Supreme Court Bar, High Court bars, the Special Court Bar and district court bars.
The service is offered under the Bar’s Directive on Voluntary Free Legal Service (Pro Bono), 2075. According to the notice, lawyers who wish to volunteer should register through their own bar unit, and people seeking help can approach the nearest bar unit. The Bar says the roster will be updated from time to time.
What the records show
A summary table released by the Bar on 3 November (17 Kartik 2083 BS) shows that records received from bar units since fiscal year 2078/79 cover pro bono services in 447 cases. The clients were 191 men and 251 women; five were not identified by name.
- 2078/79 — 1 unit, 21 cases
- 2079/80 — 7 units, 48 cases
- 2080/81 — 6 units, 79 cases
- 2081/82 — 7 units, 86 cases
- 2082/83 — 12 units, 213 cases
In the last fiscal year the Parsa District Court Bar recorded the most cases (48), followed by Nawalpur (36), the Hetauda High Court Bar (28), Panchthar (26) and Kailali (23). The cases range from partition of family property, divorce, maintenance, domestic violence, money disputes and dishonoured cheques to drug and theft cases.
A large roster, a thin record
Although nearly 1,900 names are on the roster, records from only 12 units reached the centre last year. The table does not show whether that reflects little service or simply unreported service. In a letter accompanying the summary, General Secretary Senior Advocate Kedar Prasad Koirala asked the remaining units to send their records.
Other routes to free legal help
Separately from the Bar’s pro bono work, the state provides legal aid under the Legal Aid Act through paid court-based lawyers and district legal aid committees. Our explainer on who qualifies for free legal aid and where to apply sets out the options.
Sources
Some names appear under more than one bar unit in the roster, so the serial numbers may not match the exact number of individual lawyers.
Primary sources
- Public notice on voluntary free legal service (pro bono) and 2083/84 roster — Nepal Bar Association, 6 Oct 2026
- Record of pro bono services and summary data sheet (as of 3 November 2026) — Nepal Bar Association
