This Paralegal Handbook is the first of a series of training manuals and introduces trainee paralegals in the labour movement to the broad principles of law. Its overall aim is to assist trainees with navigating the legal landscape and carrying out their day-to-day duties. It will facilitate an

understanding how the legal system operates and, ultimately, how labour law is affected by other branches of the law. It is not intended to be a scholarly or academic text, nor should it not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. Accessing legal services in Zimbabwe can be very expensive, especially if a lawyer needs to be consulted. Not only are the legal fees charged by most lawyers beyond the reach of the average worker in Zimbabwe, but the law

itself and the accompanying legal procedures are also generally expressed in technical legal language that is difficult for most people to understand without specialised legal assistance. This results in a situation where most ordinary citizens, low-paid workers in particular, are unable to access justice because it is unaffordable. Courts themselves are few and far between, resulting in many litigants having to travel long distances to access legal services. The concept of training paralegals emerged within the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), with a view to assisting workers who need legal advice, as a means of redressing this situation.

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