Yakha Isizwe means “building a nation”, an imperative in South Africa today. The Yakha Isizwe Business Law Helpdesk is a Pro Bono Business Law Clinic that was set up as a result of a partnership between University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Entrepreneurship (UJCE); Fasken, an international law firm; and ProBono.Org, an NGO committed to provide pro bono legal advice and assistance. The Business Law Helpdesk provides pro bono legal services to qualifying Entrepreneurs.
Aligned to the continuous commitment to upskill individuals, share knowledge, training and development, Fasken, Pro Bono.Org and the UJCE, partnered to host a training session at the offices of Fasken (in Johannesburg) for 40 paralegals who staff pro bono advice helpdesks for Entrepreneurs in townships and rural areas.
The training session was presented by lawyers at Fasken and covered tax exemption and tax clearance; including insights on deregistering companies; how to register a company; and learnings on the types of business entities.
ProBono.Org has significant projects that train paralegals so that they may promote access to justice. Machaka Mosehana the head of UJCE welcomed attendees and spoke about the programs available to entrepreneurs at UJCFE. The workshop was well attended and paralegals received training that was specifically designed for them to enhance their knowledge and expertise so that they could assist entrepreneurs with the provision of basic legal services in the townships and rural areas.
