Attorney services accessible across South Africa
You may think that you have to appoint an attorney close to you or in your Province, but that is not the case. Specialised attorney services have become accessible to anyone staying in South Africa. This allows clients from all walks of life to appoint attorneys specialising in complex cases such as personal injury or medical negligence litigation.
Different courts all over South Africa
The South African Civil Courts are divided into the Magistrates’ (lower) Court and the Higher Courts (previously referred to as Supreme Courts). Which court you will use depends on the type of claim, where the negligence or dispute occurred, where the parties to the claim live and the amount claimed. A claim brought in the wrong court risks being dismissed and the party bringing the claim in the wrong court may be requested to pay the other party’s legal costs.
To read more about the different Courts in South Africa click here
There are currently fourteen provincial divisions of the High Court situated in the different provinces, and they are listed below:
- Gauteng Main Division seated in Pretoria with the Local Division in Johannesburg;
- Kwa-Zulu Natal Main Division seated in Durban with the Local Division in Pietermaritzburg;
- Eastern Cape Main Division seated in Grahamstown with the Local Divisions in Bhisho, Mthatha and Port Elizabeth;
- Limpopo Main Division seated in Polokwane with the Local Division at Thohoyandou;
- Mpumalanga Main Division seated in Mbombela with the Local Division in Middelburg;
- Free State Division seated in Bloemfontein;
- Western Cape Division seated in Cape Town;
- Northern Cape Division seated in Kimberley; and
- North West Division seated in Mahikeng;
Here is how your attorney can work nationally
The firm that you appoint does not have to have their own branch in your town, city or even province in order to be able to help you. The court rules allow for attorneys firms to act as correspondents, in other words, to attend to the administrative parts of your claim such as filing and receiving court documents. A reputable firm will have good relationships with attorneys firms close to every High Court in every Province in South Africa. These correspondents appointed are efficient and trustworthy and should have the same high professional standards eschewed by your chosen firm.
How do I know that my case is in the right hands?
Your case will always remain the responsibility of the firm you have instructed and signed a mandate with. Your agreement is with your attorney and your legal team will ensure that they only instruct others who will apply the same standard of diligence and confidentiality to your case. Remember, your attorney will only do what is the interest of your case, especially in the event that they are only paid their fee upon success. Your appointed attorney will not risk the success of your case as it is in their interest to have it finalised successfully.
So how can an attorney with an office in Pretoria assist me in a different province?
At Paul du Plessis Attorneys we have built relationships with reputable correspondent firms situated in each province and court jurisdiction. Your case will always remain our priority and under our instruction. We are able to arrange the necessary consultations and transport to appointments on our clients’ behalf, meaning that the logistical arrangements are done by our offices. Our offices are always accessible through telephone, e-mail or videoconferencing such as Zoom or Whatsapp Calls. Our goal is to assist our clients in every way possible.
If you have concerns about appointing an attorney in a different town or province than the one in which you are staying, talk to us and we can answer your questions.
You are welcome to contact Paul du Plessis Attorneys for an obligation free consultation via telephone at 012 809 1588 or via e-mail at paul@pauldup.co.za