Being active in Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Pengayoman/ Legal Assistance Office (LBH) Parahyangan Catholic Parahyangan (Unpar) since her university student days until becoming a lecturer has granted Maria Ulfah new perspectives on the world of law she loyally serves in. To this movie buff, serving in the legal assistance office is an implementation of Tri Dharma/Three main duties of higher education in Parahyangan Catholic University in the form of public service.
While undergoing her Bachelor of Law time in 2005, Ulfah, the nickname of this intelligent woman, did not even think about teaching but after finishing her Master’s of Law at Unpar. she received an offer to teach at her alma mater.
During her tenure as a lecturer, Ulfah really enjoyed the dynamics of teaching and felt challenged to stay in law and the legal profession. Like a miracle she was offered the position of the head of the Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) “Pengayoman” of Parahyangan Catholic University in July 2015.
“Initially I was shocked and confused about what to do because being a lawyer was not my main occupation, being unfamiliar with real cases. They were truly different compared to my student and lecturing days. Nonetheless I gained new perspectives” She stated.
Ulfah admitted that leading LBH is a challenge for her to keep learning new things from people who came for legal assistance. “the challenge is to learn new things from people who came to LBH. I am constantly challenged to comprehend numerous legal problems and I have to constantly upgrade myself,” she then added.
LBH “pengayoman” Unpar had been established to provide assistance in the form of law problem consultation. This campus LBH was initially established in 1968 under the name (Biro Konsultasi dan Bantuan Hukum) Legal Consultation and Assistance Bureau (BKBH), under the auspices of the Faculty of Law of Unpar and falls under the student council.
In 1984, the name BKBH was changed to Lembaga Bantuan Hukum “Pengayoman”/Legal Assistance Office. Since the name change all the funding came from the Faculty of Law Unpar. This enables the office to provide legal assistance without any charge.
Ulfah thinks that law enforcement in Indonesia is difficult in process, especially when most people are not familiar with the law. Therefore, LBH “pengayoman” Unpar has three main activities, namely: legal assistance, main and routine activities as well as supporting activities that includes law education and socialization to the public in general.
The scope of legal assistance includes providing legal consultation and defense. While routine activities include familiarization in a radio station with a program Podjok Hukum (the Law-Corner), in addition routine visits to the female penitentiary at Sukamiskin for conveying material, socialization and consultation. The supporting activities are in the form of the annual legal training around campus by involving multiple organizations. “we educate vocational high school students through legal counseling and training concerning part-time work contracts. There is also an internal legal training course for students, staffs and lecturers” she then added.
CASE HANDLING
After more than a year working at the campus LBH, Ulfah felt that the institution she currently leads has been well-known by the public. This can be proven with the volume of cases that involve not only the general public but also Unpar’s academic community itself.
“the most dominant cases are land, contract and job termination and criminal cases. The cases are numerous, some are merely consultations while others only extend as far as legal assistance in court” said Ulfah, who once studied the legal aspect of the Ir. H. Juanda Conservation Park in Bandung.
LBH Pengayoman Unpar currently has three staffs who are 2012 and 2013 students along with four volunteers from the 2013-2014 students. In the near future, LBH Pengayoman Unpar will also regenerate and adds more staffs, increasing from seven to eleven.
“there are of course criteria to be met. Compassionate personality, has sufficient legal basics. In order to become a staff one has to become a volunteer first. The benefit lies in the opportunity to learn.” She went further.
Ulfah emphasized the importance of continuous study while dealing with the law, as well as the willingness to take any risks. The challenge to work in law is we cannot simply look ahead and see law in one direction.
“Law is naturally inflexible, it would be worst when the person is also stiff. So, we need to learn to care more.
