The Law Clinic provides legal advice and legal representation to indigent clients those who qualifies in terms of the ‘means test’ determined by the Law Society of South Africa.

The following matters are handled by the Law Clinic:

• General legal advice;
• Divorces;
• Other Civil litigation in the Lower Courts and High Court
• Criminal cases;
• Consumer matters
• Delictual claims for example motor vehicle accidents;
• Family Law matters;
• Maintenance matters,
• Labour matters.

Matters not dealt by the Law Clinic include the following:

• Third Party Claims
• Sequestrations
• Liquidation
• Transfer of Property
• Commercial matters – for example the registration of a company or CC
• Defamation (on behalf of the plaintiff)

Furthermore the Law Clinic does not charge any fees for professional services rendered to our clients.  The clients are only liable to pay for our disbursements such as sheriff’s fees.

Who benefits from integrating clinical legal education and community service?

Law students:

• Acquire legal, transferable and personal skills,
• Develop knowledge of legal rules and procedures in a real world setting;
• Develop self confidence;
• Engage with a range of ethical and professional practical considerations; and
• Have the opportunity to apply acquired theoretical knowledge in a working context.

The School of Law and thus the University

• Develops links with legal practitioners, government, other service providers and funders;
• Improves teaching, learning and assessment strategies;
• Raises its profile in the community;
• Inherits better students in terms of ability, experience and values; and
• Improves its image through pro bono work and funding.

The Community

• Has improved access to legal services;
• Goals set at national level for public interest are defined at a clinical level and put into effect; and
• Members are trained through interacting with students and clinicians

The organised profession:

• Inherits better students in terms of ability, experience and values; and
• Improves its image through pro bono work and funding.

Government and its legal aid agencies:

• Are assisted in achieving critical educational outcomes;
• Are supported in providing legal aid;
• Share in university resources through partnership; and
• Benefit from the promotion of careers in the field of social justice.