About us

Abstract 
The Unisa Legal Aid Clinic has been providing advice and specialised legal assistance to those who cannot afford it since the early 1980s. All requests for assistance are attended to and nobody is sent away without receiving initial advice or being referred. Many are referred to the small claims court. 

The Clinic also provides opportunities for the training of law students. Seminars are held for students in Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. A moot court, in which students take part in mock proceedings, presided over by High Court judges, is held annually in the Pretoria High Court. 

The Clinic is run along the lines of an attorneys' office. The Director, Mr Mauritz Lombard, controls the administration of the Clinic. The 1998/99 Annual Report is available upon request for more information about the management of the Clinic. 

Apart from specified legal services which, in accordance with the rules of The Law Society of Transvaal, may not be performed by the Legal Aid Clinic, the nature of legal aid provided is diverse and ranges from criminal and civil to divorce proceedings and High Court Applications.  The Clinic also acts as correspondent to the legal clinics of other universities and is a founder member of the Association for University Legal Aid Institutions. 

The Legal Aid Clinic is involved in consultations and provision of legal advice, liaison, negotiation and correspondence with various institutions such as government departments, the small claims court, Consumer Council, attorneys, local government, businesses, financial institutions and appearances in court on behalf of clients.