Specialized training is essential for ensuring that vulnerable populations receive effective legal representation and that their rights are upheld. In many Southeast Asia countries, a shortage of sufficiently trained lawyers contributes to significant access to justice gaps, leaving vulnerable populations—particularly children—at risk.

Since 2012, White & Case has partnered with BABSEACLE to help address these gaps. Over this time, our teams have contributed more than 4,800 pro bono hours—the equivalent of a full-time staff member for two months each year—on initiatives designed to strengthen clinical legal education, promote child rights and build practical skills among future lawyers.

"Our more than a decade-long partnership with BABSEACLE continues to allow us to support law students and young lawyer communities in Southeast Asia," says Singapore partner Jonathan Olier. "The relationship provides our lawyers with meaningful opportunities to apply their legal knowledge and share their skills across the region in a meaningful way."

We have collaborated on training related to business and human rights, programs addressing gender-based violence and an ongoing initiative focused on the representation of juvenile clients.

Strengthening child rights advocacy through hands-on training

In 2025, White & Case lawyers delivered two multi-day workshops in Vietnam and Thailand on representing juvenile clients, marking the fourth and fifth installments of our multi-year capacity-building program that saw earlier sessions held in Laos and Thailand. A session in Hanoi brought together more than 40 students from three universities, while a second workshop followed in Chiang Mai for nearly 50 students from five universities.

In both workshops, we led interactive sessions covering juvenile justice frameworks, ethical representation, safeguarding confidentiality and effective client engagement—grounding legal principles in practical, real-world scenarios.

This type of training is particularly challenging because juvenile clients often lack legal knowledge, decision-making authority and confidence, and may be dealing with trauma or navigating power imbalances. Thus, effective representation requires greater sensitivity, careful communication and sound judgment, as well as skills that differ from those used when advising adult clients.

Preparing for the real world

The training emphasized skills often missing from traditional legal education, helping students prepare for the challenges of representing children in legal proceedings. The sessions use case studies, role-play exercises and guided discussions to mirror the realities of representing children. Guest speakers provided region-specific insights and highlighted best practices for representing children.

"We aim to equip students with the practical tools and perspectives needed to effectively represent and support juvenile clients through the legal process," says Singapore partner Kaya Proudian. "The level of engagement and quality of conversation from students was a clear indication of the impact of this approach."

Bridging the gap between education and practice

Participants consistently noted that this kind of hands-on skills-based instruction is rarely available through traditional classroom-based legal education in Southeast Asia. They also recognized that opportunities like these are made possible through the partnership between BABSEACLE and White & Case.

BABSEACLE co-founder Bruce Lasky emphasized that while the organization "has deep regional expertise and longstanding relationships across Asia-Pacific, White & Case contributes legal analysis, practice-based experience and cross-border collaboration that complement our educational approach."

To date, our collaboration with BABSEACLE has equipped more than 1,000+ law students with the confidence and tools needed to effectively and ethically advocate for juvenile clients.

"The workshops are a fantastic opportunity to engage with the next generation of legal professionals," says Singapore associate Stephanie Zhao. "Collaborating with BABSEACLE and working with so many young students across the region demonstrates how partnerships like this strengthen access to justice."

Partners Jonathan Olier and Kaya Proudian, associate Stephanie Zhao and Wendy Morrish, co-founder and director BABSEACLE, discuss our partnership and the impact of legal education initiatives in Asia-Pacific

© BABSEACLE
A student participates in an interactive BABSEACLE legal training workshop.