Our services use legal tools to promote just and equitable communities and drive social progress.
Legal Services.

The services we offer.
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Strategic and test case litigation refers to cases which seek to effect changes in laws and policies, and administrative systems, which are beneficial to the public. It is an access to justice tool through which people are empowered, human rights are promoted and fulfilled, and sustainable and resilient development is fostered.
Power & Associates offers a full range of strategic and test case litigation services, which include constitutional-related cases in all South African courts, representation before specialised courts and tribunals, such as the equality and children’s courts, amicus curiae interventions in ongoing cases, and litigation before international and regional courts and tribunals.
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Law reform and policy development empowers people to engage with the development of laws and policies that impact them and their communities and ensure a just and equitable future.
Power & Associates assists clients in developing the law and policy in line with the Constitution, international law, and best practices. This includes assisting clients with presenting written and oral submissions to parliamentary bodies on proposed legislation, preparing policy documents, and drafting submissions to state departments, Chapter 9 Institutions, human rights treaty-body mechanisms, and special rapporteurs.
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Legal research is central to developing and implementing laws that empower people and better understanding the full ambit of a particular legal question by looking at domestic laws and jurisprudence, and comparative foreign and international law.
Power & Associates assists clients with comprehensive legal research and drafting services, which include research and opinions on prospects of success in litigation, the constitutionality of a policy or law, or compliance with a particular legislative framework. Power & Associates also assists with drafting legislative white papers, bills, and model laws.
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Laws and regulations which focus of promoting human rights and fostering sustainable and resilient development are an increasingly important tool to ensure corporate accountability and transparency.
Power & Associates provides regulatory compliance in the areas of registration and establishment of social enterprises and civil society organisations (CSOs), data protection, and environmental and sustainability law, which includes compliance with organisational registration requirements, compliance with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act 2013 and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation 2016, and drafting policies, codes of conduct, and notices.
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Dispute resolution refers to using the law to resolve disputes between parties through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Accountability mechanisms refer to independent expert bodies, including ombud schemes and commissions, Chapter 9 Institutions such as the South African Human Rights Commission and Public Protector, and independent tribunals.
Power & Associates provides a full range of dispute resolutions services, including representing clients in applications, actions, and appeals in all South African courts and various regulatory bodies, including the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, the Complaints and Compliance Committee of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, and the Press Council of South Africa.
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Power & Associates offers legal advisory and training services, including in relation to equality and inclusion, sexual harassment, data protection, and strategic activism.
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Case involvements (reported judgments)
- Health Justice Initiative v Minister of Health and Another [2023] ZAGPPHC 689 – High Court of South Africa, information rights & media law, access to information
- Mazetti Management Services (Pty) Ltd and Another v Amabhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC and Others [2023] ZAGPJHC 771 – High Court of South Africa, information rights & media law, amicus curiae
- Seriti and Another v Judicial Service Commission and Others [2023] ZAGPJHC 332 – High Court of South Africa, constitutional law, judicial accountability
- Blind SA v Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2022] ZACC 33 – Consitutional Court of South Africa, constitutional law, equality & inclusion, amicus curiae
- Magistrates Commission and Others v Lawrence [2021] ZASCA 165 – Supreme Court of Appeal, constitutional law, equality & inclusion
- Blind SA v Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2021] ZAGPPHC 871 – High Court of South Africa, constitutional law, equality & inclusion, amicus curiae
- AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC and Another v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others; Minister of Police v AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC and Others [2021] ZACC 3; 2021 (4) BCLR 349 (CC); 2021 (3) SA 246 (CC) – Constitutional Court of South Africa, constitutional law, state surveillance, amicus curiae
- Vumacam (Pty) Ltd v Johannesburg Roads Agency and Others [2020] ZAGPJHC 186 – High Court of South Africa, constitutional law, right to privacy, amicus curiae
Press Council of South Africa- John Steenhuisen & Others vs Mail & Guardian (13 February 2023)
- Spotlight Publications v Sadmon Projects and Consulting CC (Appeal Ruling) (13 March 2020)
- Sonke Gender Justice v City Press, News24 (10 December 2018)
Treaty Body Mechanisms
- Written and oral submissions to the United Nations Human Rights Committee during the General Discussion on the preparation of a General Comment on Article 21 (Right of Peaceful Assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (2019) – international law, freedom of assembly
- Written and oral submissions to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights on South Africa’s Initial Report (2017-18) – international law
Amplifying voices for change.
Our guiding principles.
Constitutional Supremacy.
We work tirelessly to protect and promote the fundamental rights and freedoms of our clients, and to defend the Constitution and the rule of law.
Access to Justice.
We provide legal services to underrepresented people and causes to assist in ensuring that the law is accessible to all who need it.
Professional Ethics.
We maintain the highest standards of honesty, impartiality, integrity, and confidentiality in representing and assisting our clients.
Working for a sustainable future.
Fee structures.
In order to facilitate access to justice, Power & Associates provides a variety of flexible fee structures and payment options which are discussed with clients during the initial consultation.
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We do not generally charge clients an initial consultation fee.
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Ordinarily, we charge hourly rates for our services:
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Professional services such as attendance at court and consultations, the preparation of legal documents, case management, and advisory and research are billed at the full hourly rate.
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Administrative support services and disbursements are billed at a reduced hourly rate and/or the actual costs incurred.
In certain circumstances, we may request the payment of an upfront deposit or retainer fee.
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Depending on the type of service requested, we may charge a flat fee for a particular case, legal opinion, or legal research brief. Flat fees are a specific, total fee which is charged once-off.
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We offer a variety of retained legal services which are agreed upfront with our clients and billed at a fixed monthly fee.
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In certain circumstances, we may offer sliding scale fee structures which are measured against a client’s circumstances and ability to pay legal fees. Sliding scale fees are billed at a percentage of the hourly or flat fee rate.
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In order to fund legal services, we may assist clients with sourcing crowd funding for their cases through online platforms such as Crowd Justice, or we may assist clients with applying to legal defence funds.
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In certain circumstances and within our sole discretion, we may represent or assist clients on a (pro bono) fee-free basis, in addition to the 24 mandatory hours of fee-free work required by South Africa’s Legal Practice Council.