As Sierra Leone’s Legal Aid Board (LAB) approaches its tenth anniversary in May 2025, it stands as a beacon of justice and fairness, having evolved into the nation’s largest legal aid provider. From humble beginnings in a small office at the Guma Building on Lamina Sankoh Street, Freetown, the Board has made remarkable strides in ensuring access to justice for indigent persons across the country.
Before the establishment of the Legal Aid Board, Sierra Leone lacked an organized legal aid system. Human rights and Civil Society Organizations filled the gap by providing limited legal assistance, court monitoring and human rights education. Notable organizations such as the Lawyers’ Center for Legal Assistance (LAWCLA), TIMAP for Justice, AdvocAid and Legal Access through Women Yearning for Equality, Rights and Social Justice (LAWYERS) played crucial roles in advocating for justice and legal aid support.
A significant milestone in the journey toward institutionalized legal aid was the pilot National Legal Aid Programme, initiated in 2009 under the Justice Sector Development Programme (JSDP) with funding from the Department for International Development (DFID). This effort laid the foundation for the passage of the Legal Aid Act on May 10, 2012, which formally established the Legal Aid Board as the first Government-backed legal aid institution in the country.
The Legal Aid Board officially launched its operations on December 19, 2015, under the leadership of its first Executive Director, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles. Having previously served as the Principal Defender at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, she brought a wealth of experience to the Board. Another key figure in the early years was the late Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay, a seasoned defense lawyer who served as Legal Aid Manager and played a pivotal role in shaping the Board’s direction.
Despite limited resources at inception, the Board focused its efforts on decongesting the overcrowded Pademba Road Correctional Center, which housed between 1,500 and 1,800 inmates; far exceeding its 324-inmate capacity. Hundreds of remand prisoners, some of whom had spent years without trial, were prioritized for legal aid, ensuring their rights were upheld.
From its early days, the Board faced significant challenges, including high expectations from the public and political pressure to expand services nationwide. Parliamentarians, during a workshop on July 8, 2015, urged the Board to extend its offices beyond Freetown, yet there was little discussion on securing Government funding for such expansion.
The legal community also expressed concerns. Some private lawyers feared that the Board’s work might threaten their livelihoods. However, the Board’s leadership reassured them that the ‘Means Test’, a criterion determining eligibility for legal aid, would be strictly enforced to ensure only the most vulnerable received free legal assistance.
Recognizing the need for collaboration, the Legal Aid Board swiftly forged partnerships with key justice sector institutions, including the Sierra Leone Police, the Sierra Leone Correctional Service and the Sierra Leone Bar Association. A roster system was established with private lawyers to provide representation for indigent clients at a nominal fee.
To enhance capacity, the Board organized a landmark training session for twenty-four Sierra Leonean lawyers on September 24, 2015. One of the standout trainees, Ms. Cecilia Tucker, efficiently handled her assigned cases and later rose to the position of Legal Aid Manager.
Additionally, the Board established agreements with organizations such as the Council of Tribal Heads, the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and the General Workers and Motor Drivers Union. These partnerships addressed critical issues, including excessive fines, illegal detentions, labor rights and traffic-related offenses. Notably, the Drivers Union collaborated with the Board to provide free transportation for released legal aid clients returning to their hometowns or neighboring Guinea, reducing the risk of them being stranded.
Over the past decade, the Legal Aid Board has transformed legal aid services in Sierra Leone, ensuring that justice is not a privilege of the few but a right for all. Through strategic interventions, dedicated legal professionals and unwavering commitment, the Board has provided thousands of indigent persons with free legal representation, easing the burden on the nation’s justice system.
As the Board enters its second decade, the focus remains on expanding access to justice, strengthening partnerships and securing sustainable funding to continue serving those who need it most. The journey has been challenging, but the impact of the Legal Aid Board in fostering fairness and upholding the rule of law in Sierra Leone is undeniable.
