Access to legal aid for women in Zambia

The National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW) stands at the forefront of providing legal aid to women in Zambia. The supreme body of the NLACW is the Annual General Meeting of the Law Association of Zambia, whose membership is estimated at 1510 professional lawyers. To function effectively, the Law Association of Zambia has constituted itself into thirteen committees one of which is the Women’s Rights Committee. The Women Rights Committee is responsible for overseeing affairs of the Clinic on behalf of LAZ. The Council elects the Convener of the 9-member Committee. 

The membership comprises members from diverse backgrounds within the legal fraternity. The Director of the Clinic is responsible for the implementation of the program activities and also serves on the Women’s Rights Committee as secretary.

Follow this link for additional information about accessing free or affordable legal aid in Zambia for women and youth entrepreneurs, as well as resources on policy frameworks on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.
angle-left National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW)

National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW)

The National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW) was established in 1990 as a project under the Women’s Rights Committee (WRC) of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ). The project was established to provide affordable legal aid to women and children from marginalized social sectors. These would usually not afford the normal legal costs to hire a lawyer to represent them in their pursuit of justice. The Clinic works to help women, youth and children who have been victims of social injustice and prevent the decrease in their quality of life. This it does through legal redress, arbitration, mediation and advocacy through law reform.
 

SERVICES PROVIDED
 

1. Primary Legal Aid
•    Legal information; 
•    Legal education; outreach campaigns in various communities; and
•    School workshops and support to learners on their human rights and duties.

2. Secondary Legal Aid
•    Legal Opinions; 
•    Legal Advice; 
•    Arbitration; and 
•    Litigation.

Eligibility Criteria

1.    Measure of vulnerable of the person seeking legal aid (objective test to ascertain earning power as well as their cost of living);

2.    Legal Aid is sometimes free for those who are totally vulnerable, and it is subsidized for those clients who can manage some administrative costs; and

3.    If paid for, the fees are based on the discretionary approach by the organization which means there are no fixed legal fees, even though there are some minimum contributions such as File Opening which is currently at 50 kwacha (K50.00).

Public events  organized by NLACW which benefit women

The Clinic organizes a lot of public events that benefit women and children, these include:


•    Community workshops on legal information and education;
•    Mobile legal clinics where lawyers offer free legal support on various cases that affect the community;
•    Legal message communication through drama;
•    Radio and television community engagements on various topics; and
•    Set up of paralegal desks at community level which creates the constant link between the community and the organization.


CONTACT INFORMATION

Head Office

The Executive Director
National Legal Aid Clinic
Plot 110a / 150 Musonda Ngosa Road 
Villa Elizabetha
Private Bag E578
Lusaka
 

Tel: + 260 – 211- 220595
Fax: + 260 – 211- 234747
Email: nlacwlusaka@mail.zamtel.zm 

PROVINCIAL OFFICES:

Suite 4 -7 Warner House
Plot 917 Akapelwa Street

Livingstone

Tel: +260 – 213-320611
Telefax: +260 – 213-320612
Email: nlacwliv@mail.zamtel.zm 

No. 9 Mapanza road
Town Centre
Box 240672 

Ndola

Tel: 260 – 212 -622319
Fax: 260-212-612671
Email: nlacw.ndola@gmail.com

*Note: All correspondence is directed to the Executive Director including provincial offices.