Consumer help: lawyers, legal aid
Unhappy with your lawyer's service - failure to answer your letters, failure to account for money held on your behalf, overcharging? Here's where to go.
Law Society of South Africa
Umbrella body for the attorney's profession in South Africa. The Society recommends that you talk to your attorney first about any problem you have with his or her service. If you are still not satisfied, then you should complain to your provincial law society - see the list below.
You can complain to your provincial law society about the ethical behaviour of your attorney - failure to answer your letters, failure to account for money held on your behalf, overcharging.
However, the society will not handle complaints, eg alleging incompetence or negligence, which might give rise to claims for compensation, as the societies do not have the power to award compensation. Such compensation can only be pursued through further legal proceedings - ie, you'll have to contact another attorney.
Provincial law societies
- Cape Law Society
- Free State Law Society
- Gauteng Law Council
- KwaZulu-Natal Law Society
- Limpopo Law Council
- Mpumalanga Attorneys' Council
- North West Attorneys' Council
- Law Society of the Northern Provinces
- Also: Black Lawyers Association
Legal Aid
Legal Aid South Africa is an autonomous body established by the Legal Aid Act (Act 22 of 1969) and the Legal Aid Act (Act 20 of 1969).
The objective of Legal Aid South Africa is to render or make available legal representation to indigent persons at State expense as contemplated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996), which affords every citizen access to justice.
SAinfo reporter
South Africans – getting shoddy service? Bought a faulty product? Want to complain about a company, government department, dentist, bank, estate agent? Unsure of your rights as a consumer? Help is at hand:
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