LegalWise plays a significant role in the social and economic development of South Africans, through the provision of access to justice for all. Guided by the Financial Sector Code of Good Practice on Black Economic Empowerment in terms of Section 9(1) of the B-BBEE Act 53 of 2003, we aim to further support positive transformation within the communities in which we operate through responsible Corporate Social Investment (CSI) practices. 

In order to facilitate transformation, LegalWise believes in the power of connecting people and establishing shared value partnerships that ensure a meaningful impact in community development. All this is achieved with the support of the LegalWise management and staff, as well as their Members, who believe in working together to improve the lives of all South Africans.

Approach 

LegalWise believes in placing communities at the centre of their own development, so that they become the primary producers of their own wellbeing and enjoy access to all human rights.  

We recognise that communities are not passive participants in their development, but the main driving force in any sustainable development activity.  We ask “what do you have” as opposed to “what don’t you have” and strive to create opportunities for communities to mobilise their own gifts and talents, instead of bringing in outside solutions to their problems.

Our philosophy is:-

“Use what you have and build on what you know”.

“Focus on what is strong in communities, not on what is wrong”

Through this approach - Asset Based and Community-led Development (ABCD), it has allowed us to maximise our efforts with our partners by uncovering and learning about the real issues that communities are dealing with and not what we perceive it to be.

We believe in responsive investing, by partnering with non-profit organisations and communities who are able to demonstrate a capacity to act, through recognising and mobilising their own strengths and capacities.