PALSA

A LITTLE ABOUT US

It is with great excitement that I introduce you to the above mentioned Association. The objective of the Association is to be able to have the ability and means to be able to grow, build and develop a strong model to ensure that all Paralegals of South Africa, who join the Association, receive the best guidance, support training and advice possible.

It us our express and intended goal to be the force that brings full accreditation and recognition to Paralegals in South Africa. It is also our goal to become a powerful role player and key member of the legal world, allowing us to also be recognised and to have the means to “have a say” as well on matters of Law, Acts, legal professional conduct, court conduct to name a few.

As we grow, we will be providing regular newsletters, training sessions and material, conferences and various other services. I will also be our focus to link with some of the best training and facilitating institutions in partnership and so as to add value to each other and mostly to our Paralegals.

We will aim to provide a service and ensure that a formal and strict code of conduct and ethics will be in place and adhered to by all PALSA Members. We will have a fair and just disciplinary procedure in place as well. We will also negotiate and mediate where necessary. For employed Paralegals there will be a union formed to address and protect all your rights in the work place as a Paralegal.

Our goal is to ensure that we achieve that ALL paralegals (employed, Community, Contracted and independent)will fall under one body and receive accreditation and recognition in and through that body.

They will upon joining PALSA be placed into a category according to their work field and then rated on a scale according to their years of service and experience or both. They will also be rated on qualifications or “prior” learning. Both will be recognised according to certain criteria. The purpose of this will be to allow members of the public at all times to see this information about paralegals and to also make a choice when wanting to hire or work with a paralegal. It is also so as to encourage Paralegals to add to their experience and take additional ways to gain more experience or training in a particular field, in order to do so.

There will eventually be different membership services that you can apply for, or change between and you will receive assistance and benefits according to the membership package you have picked. Although even the smaller membership package will still offer you all the support, backing and later when we are more established, the full clout of the Association.

On signing you will receive an introduction package as well as the various “need to know” information. As we are a newly formed Association still finding our feet, we ask that you keep this in mind and understand that and that as we grow to each next step in our office, our systems our material and abilities will grow accordingly.

We hope you will join us on this new and exciting journey and on the road of bringing professionalism, recognition, rights and credibility to the very important and strong world of Paralegals in South Africa. After all, is it not the Paralegals who play a vital and pivotal to “making law work”.

They Are the glove to the hand of law.

A deep focus of the Association will also be to work at establishing community based PALSA outlets where experienced independent Paralegals (and Experienced Business Consultants) will be working in or running these Community Resource Centres. They will be able to offer their services to the community as easily accessible and affordable means. More importantly making sure they have the experience and the support to do their best in and for the community.

These centres will also future become an additional training ground, program for paralegals to gain guided and proper “on the ground” experience of real people’s daily needs and “problems”

It is also PALSA’s focus to ensure that we are instrumental in the formation of a set curriculum and accredited study program with the DOHE and with due credits and monitoring. Ensuring that there is a uniform syllabus and accredited study program.

PALSA will (and is) also working on finding ways and meeting with various role players to assist in formulating a “article or candidates” program for paralegals. Added to this is the need for a focused and targeted spotlight on the assisting in attaining employment, working contracts, clients or experience based work options.

We will be visiting your area soon to do presentations, meet and greet and answer questions and sign up members.

Please feel free to connect with me

Nanandi-Simone Albers: Founder/Director PALSA