Resumo

HOLNESS, Dave. Promoting the quality of legal aid in South Africa through better coordination of service provision. Law democr. Dev. [online]. 2021, vol.25, pp.1-23. ISSN 2077-4907.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2077-4907/2021/ldd.v25.1.

Socio-economicaIIy, South Africa is a grossIy unequaI country. For the indigent there is a cIear need for IegaI aid services to enabIe meaningfuI access to the IegaI system as a mechanism to promote greater sociaI justice. This articIe proposes mechanisms to meet two aims: to promote high-IeveI free IegaI service provision through much improved coordination between IegaI service providers; and to incuIcate a co-operative and integrated approach to IegaI aid services for satisfactory standards of IegaI aid provision. This research has a quaIitative focus in contrast to aImost aII research on IegaI aid in South Africa, which has concentrated on the expansion of IegaI aid services quantitativeIy- ie in terms of increasing the number of cIients being assisted. If legal aid service provision is not of an adequate standard, it puts into serious question the value of the service delivery. A high quality and co-ordinated legal aid network is well positioned to act as a conduit for the realisation of legal rights and entitlements for a better standard of living for all. This article proposes various means for a more cohesive legal aid system in South Africa as well as the advantages which such cohesion would inevitably have for both legal service providers and those whom they serve.

Palavras-chave : South Africa; legal aid; civil legal matters; holistic; co-ordination; social justice; quality work; qualitative.

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