SANGONeT is currently implementing a Central Case Management System (CCMS) for paralegals in South Africa. Supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, a major funder of the paralegal sector, this project aims to develop a centrally accessible database system for paralegal organisations to capture and manage case records and related information, while enabling an online networking and discussion space for them to be informed of one another’s work, share experiences and support the advocacy work which they perform on behalf of the communities they serve. In addition, a publicly accessible web portal is also envisaged for the dissemination of relevant news and information generated by paralegal organisations.
Key paralegal organisations involved in the project include the Association of University Law Clinics, Black Sash, National Community-Based Paralegal Association (NCBPA), Foundation for Human Rights (FHR), Karoo Centre for Human Rights, National Paralegal Institute (NPI) and the Social Change Assistance Trust (SCAT).
The project is being implemented with the support of a technology alliance partner, nTier Software, and will be completed by March 2005.
SANGONeT hosted a one-day workshop in Johannesburg on 28 May 2004 with the afore-mentioned paralegal stakeholders to discuss, amongst other things, the draft technical solution, expanding the scope of the project to include other legal and associated organisations, feedback to be generated at paralegal offices in response to the prototype developed, and the ultimate launch and implementation of the final system.
For more information on the CCMS project, please contact Joseph George – joseph@sangonet.org.za
