We focus on assisting:

  • Low-income individuals
  • Marginalised and vulnerable communities
  • Victims of injustice or discrimination
  • Community groups in need of legal guidance

We are dedicated to helping disadvantaged individuals access justice. However, as a non-profit with limited resources, we are unable to assist everyone.

To ensure our services reach those most in need, we apply a means test to all applications. This allows us to fairly assess each person’s financial situation and determine eligibility for free legal assistance.

Means Test Applicants

The application of a Means Test shall determine whether you qualify to be assisted with free legal services as follows:

NMP to create Table: https://probono.org.za/means-test/

  • Assistance for Individuals

If you are employed, you must earn less than R 10 000.00 per month after tax has been taken off.

  • Assistance for Households

If you live with other people for more than 4 nights per week, and these other people share in the cost of food and other costs, then we will look at your total household income. We will only provide free legal assistance to households that earn less than R 15 000.00 after tax per month.

Should you own property, the total value of your assets should not exceed R 950 000.00. These assets include all properties, vehicles, furniture, jewellery, clothing, computer and cellular devices, and any type of cattle or poultry

  • Assistance for Individuals in land matters

If you are employed and wish to apply for legal aid for a land matter, you must earn less than R 15 000.00 per month after tax has been taken off.

Means Test Exemptions

Notwithstanding the above, certain categories of matters are exempt from the means test and will qualify for free legal services automatically, including:

  • Children involved in any Criminal Matter;
  • Individuals receiving State Grants.