Power & Associates is a public interest law firm supporting cases and causes that matter.
About.
Who we are.
Power & Associates is a public interest law firm based in South Africa, serving clients domestically and around the African continent.
The firm was was founded in 2018 by two public interest lawyers to provide quality legal services to marginalised people, public interest actors, and socially responsible organisations.
Staffed by a diverse team of skilled attorneys and researchers, we focus on the laws that empower people, promote human rights, and enable a sustainable and resilient future.
We also advise our clients on the structures and systems which enable and sustain public interest and socially responsible practices.
What is public interest law?
Public interest law refers to the legal practice of representing people or causes that seek to effect changes in laws and policies which are beneficial to the public.
Instead of serving solely commercial or economic interests, public interest law operates through a human rights and sustainability lens and aims to achieve the full realisation of human rights, ensure the lawful and accountable administration of the public and private sector, and enable a sustainable and resilient future.
Public interest law can find application through strategic and test case litigation, engaging accountability mechanisms, research and advocacy, policy development, and law reform.
Amplifying voices for change.
The private-public interest law model (PPILM).
Power & Associates, in association with ALT Advisory, seeks to support public interest projects and litigation and develop the PPILM to facilitate access to justice and legal services in South Africa, and on the African continent.
The model is premised on an understanding that there are constraints on donor funding for traditional public interest law organisations and that new funding mechanisms for strategic and test case litigation are needed.
Accordingly, in developing the PPILM, ALT Advisory, which is managed by the same Directors as Power & Associates, contributes up to 33% of its annual profits and human resources to supporting public interest projects and litigation in Power & Associates.
Equally, Power & Associates relies on multiple fee structures, including pro bono litigation, to facilitate access to justice and legal services.
Enabling access to legal services.
Power & Associates, in association with ALT Advisory, seeks to support public interest projects and litigation and develop the private-public interest law model (PPILM) to facilitate access to justice and legal services in South Africa, and on the African continent.
Building networks around Africa.
Power & Associates continues to develop its regional networks to enable more diversity in our services, and our reach.
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Applications for our 2025-26 Candidate Legal Practitioner (CLP) Programme have closed.
Applications for our 2027-28 CLP Programme will be advertised in early 2026.
We regret that due to the high volume of applications that we receive, Power & Associates is not always able to respond to applicants individually. If you have not heard back from us within three weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.
Promoting justice and equality.
Registration details.
Power & Associates is a law firm registered with the Legal Practice Council of the Republic of South Africa (LPC), and a personal liability company registered in the Republic of South Africa.
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The Director of Power & Associates, Michael Power (LPC Membership Number: 37241), is an Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (with Right of Appearance), in good standing with the LPC, and in possession of a valid Legal Practitioner’s Fidelity Fund Certificate in compliance with section 84 of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014.
