Dear Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Paralegals in South Africa were dumped by the National Forum on Legal Practice and even by the Legal Practice Act. Community-based paralegals are the first entry into the legal justice system as communities consult them first with their daily social, economic, and legal problems. In other countries, Paralegals represent their clients even in courts, and South African paralegals, although skilled and experienced in law are barred from representing their clients in maintenance matters, etc. I propose that the Paralegal Act should be made a bill. Therefore an act of parliament with immediate effect as paralegals also moves access to justice forward, especially for the poorest of the poor.
Pat Molepo
CEO
Community Advice and Law Centre
email:patmolepo@yahoo.com