Legal Aid and Law Advice Online

The public’s general perception of the law and legal industry is not positive but have the public ever considered legal aid and law advice online?

Many people’s contact with lawyers to date has been brief but totally confusing at times. Some just do not speak lawyer or have the faintest idea what they are speaking of at the best of times. While most do prefer the human contact and being able to speak to someone direct, the sacrifice is that they are dealing with someone who struggles to make it plain and simple.

This does not have to be the case for everyone though.

As the world looks for easier ways to get hold of people and information, the online law fraternity is answering the call of people who want simple explanations and help at a fraction of the cost.

www.lawyersouthafrica.co.za is a recommended resource for individuals looking for advice, guidance and a cost-effective consult.

Covering the following legal areas:

• Accident Law
• Criminal Defense
• Debt Settlement
• Divorce
• Education
• Family Law
• Financial
• Injury Law
• Tax
• Maintenance
• Legal Advice
• General Attorney Information

This may not cover the entire law spectrum, but it is a great place to start and will provide you with a platform to engage on “information on the world of law and attorneys available”.

In many people’s experiences, relying on one source is never a good idea. We should use the same approach as that of the insurance firms as in “I need more than one opinion”.

Would you believe that South Africa’s very own website is a terrific source of information when it comes to legal aid and law advice online.

What is also very interesting is that most South African universities have legal clinics and offer low cost legal services to the public.

Here is a listing of the tertiary institutions and their legal clinic contact details:

• University of Cape Town: (021) 650 3551
• University of Fort Hare: (04060) 22236
• University of the Free State: (051) 401 2451
• University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban): (031) 260 2867
• University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg): (033) 260 5778
• University of the North: (015) 268 2903
• University of the North West: (018) 389 2510
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University: (041) 504 2190
• University of Pretoria: (012) 420 4158
• University of Johannesburg: (011) 489 2141
• Rhodes University: (046) 603 8427
• University of South Africa: (012) 429 8439
• University of Stellenbosch: (021) 808 3195/2
• University of Venda: (015) 962 8217
• University of the Western Cape: (021) 959 2756
• University of the Witwatersrand: (011) 717 8562
• University of Zululand: (035) 902-6192 or 793 3911

If you come short, you will be pleased to know that there is a body legislated by government, namely Legal Aid South Africa, or www.legal-aid.co.za. When you visit this website, read through their Legal Aid Guide as this spells out clearly how to go about sourcing the representation you require. While it is a lengthy document there is not doubt about where you stand, what your rights are as an individual and the application process to receive support from Legal Aid South Africa.

Law can often be a tricky “word minefield” to negotiate because of the language interpretation but helps is definitely available. To find legal aid and law advice online may require a little bit of time, but it is well worth it as there are a number of support and resourceful websites and organizations waiting to offer assistance.