Online legal aid application system in the works

The justice ministry's legal aid directorate has announced it is developing an online system for legal aid applications with the aim of speeding up the process.This will enable applicants to submit their applications online from anywhere in Namibia.'The online process will allow applicants to complete the shortened legal aid application form, scan their supporting documents into the system and upload them," ministry spokesperson Edmund Khoaseb explained.Once the application process is complete, the application will be registered in the legal aid system. It will then be ready for a decision on whether it will be granted or denied.Applicants will be able to track the status of their applications online instead of calling or visiting the directorate.Modernising the process It will also give stakeholders, such as judges and magistrates, limited viewing rights to check the status of the application without revealing any confidential information about the applicant.The main goal of the online system is to speed up legal aid applications, which currently face delays within the current system."These delays are caused by external stakeholders who do not submit applications to the legal aid head office within a reasonable time," Khoaseb said. "The online system is still in the development stage, and therefore it is not yet possible to establish a timeline for when it will be implemented and available," he added.Current systemThe directorate implemented a case management system in November 2022, through which all legal aid applications are automated.However, it still requires applicants to complete hard-copy application forms and attach supporting documents, which must then be uploaded to the online system by staff."Applications are received from various magistrate courts, police stations and correctional facilities across the country. The registry officers then upload the applications along with the attachments to the system."The system then creates an electronic file with its own reference number, and from there, the entire application process is handled through the system, including the decision on the application."Currently, the system does not grant access to anyone except staff members at our head office who use passwords to gain access," Khoaseb said.Persons with a monthly income of less than N$7 000 may qualify to apply for legal aid. This threshold was increased from N$3 500 earlier this year.The justice ministry previously stated that its budget of N$35 million for the financial year would be sufficient to support the anticipated increase in legal aid applications.

Online legal aid application system in the works

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Online legal aid application system in the works

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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