Legal Aid South Africa is an autonomous statutory body established by the Legal Aid South Africa Act 39 of 2014, with a primary objective of rendering or making available legal aid to poor and vulnerable persons, in an independent manner.

The Act set in place specific targets for Legal Aid South Africa in delivering legal aid services to underprivileged South Africans. Despite some challenges, the organisation has grown from strength to strength, and has maintained the long-standing tradition of quality service.

Vision
A South Africa in which the rights enshrined in the Constitution are realised and upheld and responsibilities are complied with to ensure equality, justice and quality of life for all.

Mission
To be a leader in the provision of accessible, sustainable, ethical, independent and quality legal services to the poor and vulnerable.

Values
Passion for Justice/Protection of Human Rights
Ubuntu
Integrity
Accountability
Service Excellence
People-Centred Development

Our existence
To effectively fulfill its mandate, Legal Aid South Africa’s business strategy has always placed emphasis on a national rollout of offices, through which its services could be delivered. The focus is mainly on low-income and rural communities.

Legal Aid South Africa provides legal representation in criminal and civil matters, delivering the bulk of its services through a national foot print justice centres. Over 2000 in-house legal professionals employed by the Legal Aid South Africa deliver legal services from 128 offices and ensure a 100% percent national criminal court coverage as well as links to all correctional centres with awaiting trial prisoners. Our approximately 600 accredited judicare private practitioners, coupled with strategic partnerships in the form of co-operation agreements and agency agreements and with private law firms also help us to successfully deliver on our mandate.

Through its Impact Litigation Unit, Legal Aid South Africa has for the past decade continued to litigate and fund cases that impact on the lives of the vulnerable members of our society. Particular focus has been placed on ensuring that the voices of the often silenced and vulnerable members of our society are heard and deliberated on by our courts. The unit takes on civil cases that impact on the lives of indigent and vulnerable communities in areas ranging from socio-economic rights issues, women and children’s rights and the rights of the disabled. The unit seeks to achieve maximum benefits for a group of people by focusing on constitutional precedent setting cases, test cases and class actions.

Our people
Legal Aid South Africa is the biggest law firm on the African continent. The organisation is the largest employer of legal professionals in South Africa. It boasts a unique pedigree of socially conscious legal professionals who aim to defend and protect the rights of clients, who are largely poor and vulnerable, with the highest levels of professionalism.
The organisation has made great strides over the past few years, and this would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our employees. Through their drive and energy, our employees work hard every day to give meaning to the Constitution by tirelessly restoring the human dignity of our clients.

Mr Daniel Weideman
Chairman : SAPTU : Legal Aid Branch
Graaff-Reinet Justice Centre
Cell: 083 503 5966
Tel: 041 408 2800