If you need a lawyer but have no money there are ways to get free legal advice. In South Africa you can find yourself in a position where you need a lawyer but can’t afford one. So what do you do?
Lawyers people look for when they can’t afford one:
- Divorce lawyers
- Child Custody Lawyers
- Debt Review Lawyers
- Road Accident Lawyers
- Human Rights Lawyers
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
- Government Lawyers
- Corporate Lawyers
If you find yourself in a position where you need legal representation and you cannot afford it, there are a few routes you can take.
This may also interest you: Free Legal Advice in South Africa
Legal Aid and Free Law Advice Online
The public’s perception of the law and legal industry is not positive but have the public ever considered legal aid and free 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.
Legal advice covers:
- 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”.
If you need a lawyer with no money contact your nearest University
This can be a solution for you if you need a lawyer but have no money to afford one.
Because sometimes free legal advice can be found at universities.
Most South African universities have legal clinics and offer low cost legal services to the public.
Universities that may offer free legal advice:
- University of Cape Town: (021) 650 3551
- University of Fort Hare: (04060) 22236
- Free State: (051) 401 2451
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban): (031) 260 2867
- 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
- Stellenbosch: (021) 808 3195/2
- University of Venda: (015) 962 8217
- University of the Western Cape: (021) 959 2756
- Witwatersrand: (011) 717 8562
- University of Zululand: (035) 902-6192 or 793 3911
These contact numbers were correct at the time of writing.
If you come short, you will be pleased to know that there is a body legislated by government, namely Legal Aid South Africa, or legal-aid.co.za.
When you visit this website, read through their Legal Aid Guide. Because 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.
Legal Aid offers assistance at discount prices and sometimes for free. It can take time to find representation and some people do not qualify.
To find legal aid and law advice online may require a little bit of time. But it is well worth it. Because there are support and resourceful websites and organizations waiting to offer assistance.
Get a loan to pay lawyers fees if you have no money
If you want good private representation it might be a good idea to take out a personal loan to cover your legal costs.
This may not seem like the best solution if you need a lawyer but have no money but it can be in the right situation.
For example, if you are expecting to get some money soon you can apply for bridging finance.
This will provide you with funds to pay a lawyers fees until such a time as you can afford it.
When you find a lawyer
When you need a lawyer but you don’t have money and you find one, there are factors that influence whether a lawyer is a good one.
It is important that your legal representation is the best that you can get even if you can’t afford to pay them at the moment.
Because you need to make sure that your best interests are being looked after as well as possible.
The following tips will help you to ensure that you get the very best lawyer possible, regardless of what you have to pay.
Make sure that you go for a lawyer that has the right qualifications
Look into what the right qualifications are and make sure that the lawyer that you end up going with has these qualifications.
Make sure that you go for a lawyer who went to a good tertiary institution
Different institutions have different reputations for their law courses. The environment that your lawyer studied from is important to his or her abilities.
Get a lawyer with experience
An experienced lawyer will be likely to help you to win your case. Make sure that the lawyer that you go with has several years and several cases of experience under his or her belt.
Go for a lawyer who specialises in the field you need help in
There are many different areas within the law that lawyers and attorneys can specialise in.
Some lawyers work across a broad range of fields. It is a good idea to go for a lawyer who has some experience in the particular field that you need guidance in.
Go for a lawyer who you feel comfortable with
Especially if you are being charged with a criminal offence. Your legal proceedings will be incredibly stressful and hard to deal with.
You want to have a lawyer who will answer all of your questions. In addition make time to address your concerns and put you at ease.
In Summary
To summarize not everyone can afford a lawyer when they need one.
It can be a desperate situation if you need legal advice but you are in financial difficulty.
The advice above that can help you if you are in South Africa and you need a lawyer but have no money.
So don’t give up. Follow the information and you should get the legal advice you need without having to pay a fortune.