Cape Town - Unisa recently launched its first law clinic in the Western Cape to make legal services accessible to those struggling to obtain it.
The Unisa Law Clinic in Parow, Cape Town, launched at the Cape Town Lodge Hotel last week.
The law clinic is staffed by qualified attorneys and candidate attorneys and will provide free legal services for indigent or any persons unable to obtain legal practitioners in private practice, providing legal representation in any court of law, tribunal or body where this may be required.
“We had members of the community inform us that they welcome the Unisa Law Clinic in Cape Town because they feel that their needs will be addressed by practitioners who understand and relate to them and their struggles on a deeper level,” said Unisa Law Clinic Cape Town’s principal attorney, Nomonde Gxilishe.
Various universities have law clinics, however this is Unisa’s first branch in the Western Cape. Unisa will be adding an additional two branches in Middleburg and Polokwane.
The law clinic focuses on divorce, maintenance, domestic violence, evictions, civil litigation, labour litigation and impact litigation.
The head of the clinic, advocate Kgagudi Morota, said: “We are beyond hopeful that the law clinic will bridge the gap that currently exists – where the marginalised cannot access justice due to the price it costs to be served by legal practitioners.
“Further to that, it is the aim of the Unisa Law Clinic to restore the faith of the marginalised in the justice system and to ensure that they understand that access to justice is not only for the elite but a right enshrined for every citizen in South Africa.”
The law clinic will be based at the Unisa campus in Parow, and will begin consulting clients from August 1. However, appointments can be made now by contacting Tevin Goliath on 076 201 2294.