Pro law for all Issue 19 October 2011 Intro In this issue ProBono.Org is fortunate legal assistance such Back row: Intro: to have a wonderful, as making phone calls, Bianca Waskow, Peggy energetic and committed writing letters, negotiating Makgoatha, Reshma Vallabh, Michal Johnson Lwazi Nkosi, Eveline Abendanon, and the Eversheds group of volunteers with opponent attorneys, Lebohang George and interns. They are preparing briefs for signature project Front row: involved in a wide range attorneys and advocates Webster Chimanga, Lungile Werksmans of activities and gain a and translating if required. Segabi, Mbatho Molokomme gives consumer number of general office law workshop to skills. They also undertake community basic legal work which ProBono.Org may include interviewing volunteers and clients, filling in intake interns sheets, assessing What’s happening in whether clients fulfill the Durban? means test, recording the essential facts, taking SASLAW and statements, writing ProBono.Org launch affidavits, determining Upcoming events whether matters have ProBono Law merit or not, undertaking research, giving direct ichal joined access to justice. precedent in South Africa Michal Eversheds in May for prisoners, who have Some of Michal’s recent 2011 and in less than been trying for a number M successes include: Johnson six months made her mark of years to obtain their trial by her hands-on approach • She successfully transcripts. and the represented Biowatch South and successes in a number of • She obtained a court order Africa in proceedings before landmark cases. on behalf of Kitty and Puppy Eversheds the Competition Tribunal to Michal says she has always Haven in Alexandra in enable it to intervene and been interested in assisting terms of which the City of signature make submissions regarding people in the promotion Johannesburg’s application the public interest element and protection of their to close it down would be project of the merger between fundamental rights and postponed, pending the United States based Pannar ensuring that vulnerable outcome of its rezoning Representing Hi-bred Inc and KwaZulu members of society, who application. the homeless, Natal based Pioneer Seeds would otherwise be unable refugees, or cats (Pty) Limited. In addition to representing pro to realise their rights, are bono clients, Michal is also and dogs – it’s all • She assisted 29 individuals assisted. Joining the pro bono actively involved in various in a day’s work for in obtaining their trial department has allowed her clinics, some in conjunction transcripts through a court Michal Johnson, an to realise her ideal of helping with ProBono.Org, and in order, which some had associate in the pro as many people as possible giving seminars and raising been trying to secure since bono department at that would otherwise not have awareness for various causes. 2006. This matter has set a Eversheds. page 1 Eversheds department. assistance, if necessary It covers the following • Assisting with drafting of signature areas: complaints etc • General advice on the In order to create awareness project issues raised by claimants with the public of their In September 2011 • Preliminary assessment rights and to promote the ProBono.Org and Eversheds of the merits of claims clinic, it is envisaged that launched a new clinic to presented community education assist members of the • Preliminary advice on workshops, presented public with claims against issues like prescription, by the personal injury the police. The clinic is compliance, jurisdiction department of Eversheds, held on the first Tuesday etc will be given to the non- Michal Johnson of every month, staffed • Referral to other profit organisations that by professionals from state departments for are currently working with Eversheds’ personal injury ProBono.Org.d Werksmans gives consumer law workshop to SANCO n Friday, 30 thus their communities, and that South African and safe in the knowledge September, on our spanking new consumers in particular that should further O2011 the South consumer protection laws. are the most protected in assistance be required African National Civic Werksmans Attorneys and the world. Go tell that to they are welcome every Organisation (SANCO) ProBono.Org did the rest. your community! Wednesday from nine secured the Methodist Tamsyn Mountjoy from The enthusiasm was to noon at the offices of Church on Albert Street in Werksmans unravelled the heart warming. The ProBono.Org up on Con downtown Johannesburg. National Credit Act and leaders requested a hard Hill, where experienced It also rounded up the National Consumer copy of the hard facts to attorneys from Werksmans community leaders from Act, commencing with take home and digest and will do the rest – pro bono. far afield who came to the notion that after all, explain further. educate themselves, and everyone is a consumer, They left empowered page 2 ProBono.Org’s interns and volunteers speak out We asked our ● Peggy Makgoatha ● Webster Chimanga completed his LLB completed her LLB in at the University of the Witwatersrand interns and 2009 at the University of (Wits) in 2009. He has been working for volunteers a bit Limpopo. She is a family ProBono.Org since June 2010. law intern at Probono. about themselves “The experience, Org and works on the and their knowledge and the great maintenance help desk working environment that experiences at project. ProBono.Org has provided ProBono.Org: “Probono.Org has given me the opportunity have been the key to to make a difference in the lives of others in my personal and career a big way, especially through maintenance growth”. which is very close to my heart,” she said. ● Anthony Sterne works at the Durban ● Bianca Waskow is currently in Refugee Clinic as a volunteer. He has her fourth year of legal studies at the a diploma in labour law, a diploma in University of Johannesburg. She says: business management and is currently doing his second year LLB at the “I am very excited about my internship University of South Africa (UNISA). He at ProBono.Org because of the valuable wanted to be a tax attorney since the age experience I am able to gain. The most of thirteen and it has taken him twenty- important aspect is getting acquainted with five years to be able to “get to study law”. the practical application of our theoretical He says that working at the refugee clinic studies. Understanding that every case is is an interesting experience. not cut-and-dry and learning to deal with the human element in every matter has “ It is an eye opener into the challenges that been enlightening.” refugees face and these are skills we can not learn in books”. ● Maggy Kucera is visiting student from the United States where she is majoring ● Lwazi Nkosi is a volunteer intern in in Human Rights at Bard University. She the family law department at ProBono. came to Johannesburg in July to study Org. He started in April 2011 and is with the Wits International Human Rights currently completing his Exchange Programme. During her time final year BCom Law at ProBono.Org she has undertaken degree, at Wits. research on funding opportunities “The practical exposure that might be available to ProBono. at ProBono.Org has Org through international and local allowed me, as a legal organisations that support non-profits and intern, to develop my ability to apply legal NGOs. concepts to real-life situations and to learn ● Lungelo Magubane an intern in beyond the scope of ‘traditional lecture Durban is studying for his final year LLB halls’. Initially, the process of conducting degree, at the University of KwaZulu- a consultation was daunting, but with the Natal (UKZN). support I received from my supervisor, I gained confidence in my abilities. I am “Although performing community service is grateful for the fact that my knowledge in not yet a requirement for admission as an the practice of law, as well as my practical attorney or advocate, I believe it should be. skills set, is continuously being developed”. I am discovering aspects of the law, which are not much spoken about at university, ● Ernest Ntsoane was born, raised and and the law’s power to bring relief where it matriculated in Gamphahlele, Limpopo. is needed the most. An example of this is He graduated with an LLB degree from refugee law, and the significant impact that UJ in 2010. He says that he is our intervention can have on someone’s life. “very grateful to ProBono.Org for giving Once I become a practicing member of the me the opportunity to experience the joy of legal profession, I will champion the cause making a difference in the lives of ordinary of ProBono.Org within every organisation people.” that I am part of”. (Good one! Lungelo, ed) page 3 ProBono.Org’s interns and volunteers speak out ● Lebogang George is a final year law eventually take what I have learned back student at Wits. She started working to my town and all the surrounding small at Probono.org as a volunteer intern in communities”. May 2011 and so far, she has this to ● Eveline Abendanon is a committed say: “ My experience has been nothing volunteer who has been with ProBono. close to what I imagined. Probono.org is Org since January 2010. not a place where as a volunteer you are assigned to photocopying or making tea “As time permitted over the last decades, for the directors. Instead you get hands on I volunteered at the 702 Helpline and the real legal experience, you get to deal with Family Life Centre, cases, and you get to consult with clients which took me from and to liaise with other attorneys regarding my comfort zone to a the client’s matter. I have definitely place I infinitely prefer: enjoyed working at Probono.Org … The people with real needs.