University of Pretoria (UP) alumnus Elmariese Vermeulen (30), an admitted attorney and notary of the high court, has made the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans list for 2024 in the Legal Services category.

Vermeulen, who graduated with a BCom Law degree in 2015 and holds an LLB degree (2017) from UP, is the founder and director of OPREG, a legal advising app that is tailored for South Africans who cannot afford the costs associated with seeking legal advice.

“I was very excited and proud of the work we had put into OPREG,” she says. “I was also filled with gratitude towards my team, family, mentors and the users who believed in our vision. I feel that the recognition of OPREG as a legal solution can be attributed to all of them and isn’t something that I could have done by myself.”

Vermeulen was prompted to come up with the app because of her experiences as an attorney, which exposed her to the immense need for affordable, accessible legal services in South Africa, especially for small businesses. She recognised that many people have basic legal questions but cannot afford the cost or time spent on traditional legal consultations.

By offering services through a mobile app and retainer services at a fraction of the cost of traditional legal consultations, OPREG hopes to make seeking legal advice more convenient, less intimidating and cost effective, enabling more people to understand their legal rights and obligations. This empowerment leads to better decision-making and ultimately helps individuals and businesses protect their interests and resolve legal issues effectively.

Being selected as one of the 200 Young South Africans has reinforced Vermeulen’s passion for alternative solutions and technological innovation in the legal field. 

“This incredible recognition by the Mail & Guardian has boosted my confidence and inspired me to pursue even greater goals,” she says. “It’s a reminder that with determination, hard work and a little faith, we can achieve remarkable things.”

This recognition has helped increase visibility for OPREG, attracting more users and potential collaborators. As a young woman who learnt the importance of stepping out of her comfort zone, embracing new skills and the power of collaboration, this has opened doors to network with other young leaders and innovators who provide opportunities to exchange ideas and collaborate on projects that can further enhance access to legal services in South Africa.

Vermeulen says she started OPREG without coding experience, which was daunting. So she decided to assemble a team of skilled professionals, which included her siblings.

“My sister Alecia is a developer, and with her expertise, we went about combining the legal world with the functionality of a mobile app,” she explains. “My other sister, Bianca, is a 3D animator and motion designer who brought the South African vibe alive by creating the animations that you see in the app and across our social media platforms.”

Vermeulen says the company plans to introduce more interactive features to the app, add a broader range of free resources and expand their compliance protocols for retainer clients.

“I am also particularly excited about our upcoming student programme, which will provide valuable guidance for future legal professionals on the various options available to them in the legal field,” she adds.

Vermeulen hopes the programme will inspire future legal professionals to take an innovative approach to legal advice in South Africa and change the legal landscape for the better.

Her advice to young people is to embrace challenges and step out of their comfort zone.

“For those at the beginning of their legal careers, I would encourage you to get as much practical exposure as possible,” Vermeulen says. “Spend time in law clinics, firms and shadowing other legal professionals to get a sense of the profession and where you can see yourself making an impact. And don’t be afraid to learn new skills and seek help from those with expertise in areas you’re unfamiliar with.”