Article 22 provides that the President of Legal Aid SA may request a report on the application for legal aid and the reasons for our decision thereon. Sometimes a problem can include both a civil and a criminal case. For example, you may be charged with a crime (under criminal law) and by another person (under civil law). 3. You must inform the local office that refused you legal aid that you wish to appeal against the decision to refuse legal aid. The local office will ensure that your appeal is submitted to the provincial government. We provide professional legal advice and representation to those who cannot afford legal aid South Africa derives its mandate from Article 35 of the Constitution. For the purposes of this article, every person arrested, detained or accused shall have the right to a fair trial, including the right to have a lawyer engaged by and at the expense of the State. Legal Aid South Africa`s mission is to provide legal assistance to those who cannot afford legal representation.

This includes the poor and vulnerable groups such as women, children and the rural poor. Legal Aid SA applies a “resource test” to see if you are qualified in terms of what you earn. For example, workers must earn less than R5,500 per month after tax deduction to qualify for legal aid. Legal Aid South Africa tries to help as many people as possible who cannot afford to help them. From time to time, opportunities arise for us to undertake legal work that has the potential to positively change the lives of more people than just the person to whom we provide legal assistance. These matters fall under our strategic litigation program. To be entitled to free legal assistance, a person must be means-tested (maximum monthly income or no income) and have a legal problem with the benefit. You will be referred by the Council of Legal Practice to a lawyer who will assist you free of charge (pro bono).

Visit our self-help portal for advice, information and advice on various legal issues In civil matters, legal aid is not available to non-citizens. TUNE IN TONIGHT FROM 7:25 PM @vowfm (88.1 FM) to meet the Head of the Local Office of Legal Aid SA Tembisa, Adv. Elizabeth Nieuwoudt, discussing whether tow trucks can tow your car without your permission🚗#KnowYourRights Proudly #legalaidsa Legal Aid SA is an independent statutory body created by the SA Legal Aid Act 2014 to provide legal aid to those who cannot afford it. Advice Line 0800110110 CONNECT @AlexFMRadio891 (89.1 FM) today from 11am to hear Matimba Hlungwane, supervising lawyer at Alexandra`s local Legal Aid SA office, proudly speak about the #legalaidsa#KnowYourRights 1 legal succession. You can appeal the decision of a local office to refuse legal aid. In criminal cases, children are automatically entitled to legal aid and do not have to undergo a means test. In a civil case, the child`s family must sit and pass the means test. Although you do not pay legal aid, if you win a civil case, we will deduct the money that the court awards to pay for costs and benefits before paying the money owed to you. If you think you are eligible for legal aid or have any questions, please contact us. If you live with other people more than 4 nights a week and these other people are involved in the cost of food and other costs, we will look at your total household income. We only provide legal aid to households earning less than R8,400.00 per month.

Again, we will only look at the amount that the household receives after deducting tax. 4. When you lodge your appeal, you must draw up a statement of reasons and indicate in the justification why you consider that legal aid should be granted. If a referral is made to a pro bono attorney, the client is only responsible for the cost of expenses (actual expenses), such as sheriff`s fees, and the attorney does not charge fees for work done and legal services. If you qualify for legal aid and we have agreed to represent you, you do not have to pay anything. In fact, Legal Aid South Africa`s lawyers cannot ask for or receive money if they help you with your case. In this case, we ask you to report the lawyer to us by calling our ethics hotline on 0800 153 728 or by filing a complaint via our website or visiting us. When you ask us for legal assistance, we ask you to fill out a form so we can understand how much money you earn each month and what things you own, such as a car or a house. This is called a resource test. An official from Legal Aid South Africa is always available to assist you in completing this form. 6. If your appeal to the Provincial Executive is not allowed, you will have a second appellate body that will appeal to the National Operations Executive in criminal matters and to the Chief Legal Executive in civil matters.

7. Again, you have the opportunity to write an additional rationale for which your appeal should be allowed. The same documents provided to the local office are provided to the national office so that it can make a decision. 2. This objection shall be considered by the provincial government. This is the first instance of appeal. If you are employed, you must earn less than R7,700.00 per month after tax deduction. Visit our career portal to find out more about working at Legal Aid SA. In our Media Centre, you will find media updates, press releases, speeches and publications View and find all of our offices nationally in our Find Us section.

There are instances where we do not provide support. To find out if we can help you, first check that you qualify for the resource review and, if so, contact us. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share in Linked In Email It`s important that we make sure that the people we help need our help the most. Legal aid is available to anyone living in South Africa (not only South African citizens) if: Legal aid is granted for the application for leave to appeal to the Court of First Instance and for the application for leave to appeal to a higher court; If leave is available, the appeal has been dismissed. Legal aid is also granted if an appeal has been allowed or if the accused automatically lodges an appeal. The second or another appeal shall be allowed on the merits. Visit the lpc.org.za/members-of-the-public/ Legal Practice Council website REMINDER – visit us and the @WLCCapeTown today at 11am for a webinar on attestations and intestate succession! #WillsWeek 8. The decision of the National Office Executive is a final decision within Legal Aid SA. This means that if you are not satisfied with this decision, there will be no further appeal within Legal Aid SA. Your appeal is outside Legal Aid SA by bringing the decision we have taken to court for review, and in criminal cases you can ask the President to follow the procedure of Article 22 of the Legal Aid Act SA.