This study examines how paralegal training in Lesotho was designed and managed. It analyses
the content of the training and methods used. An assessment is made of how the participants
used the training in the field.
Since the inception of paralegal training in 1993 in Lesotho, no systematic and consolidated
analysis lias been done to present a story on the existence o f the paralegal training programme.
Paralegal training in this context is defined as the training of community-based people who are
given skills to help disadvantaged individuals and groups to fight for thcirrights through the legal
system. The legal profession adopted the use o f "barefoot lawyers" to address the imbalance in
the accessibility o f legal services and facilities. Internationally the use of paralegals has taken
root. In Lesotho the use of paralegals is fairly new, so there is the need to explore mis approach.
There are two organisadons involved in paralegal training - the Community Legal Resource and
Advice Centre (CLRAC) and the Lesotho Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA). Both serve
urban and rural populations.
Lesotho being a case in point, this is a study aimed at obtaining in-depth information to highlight
the paralegal training programme in Lesotho. It sought to ask critical questions about who were
recruited as paralegal trainees, which topics were handled in the paralegal training programme,
what training methods were used and what responsibilities paralegals fulfil after training. The
outcome of this study has already contributed towards establishing a common content and
methodology by presenting a systematic analysis of differences and common issues.
The methods used to compile the Lesotho case study of paralegal training were reference to files
and reports kept by CLRAC and FIDA,in house interviews and observations and interviews with
paralegals and village leaders. Forty paralegals, who were trained by the two organisations, were
involved in the study. They were identified from the districts o f Module's Hock, Mafeteng,
Thaba-Tseka, (the three districts where CLRAC operates), Teyateyaneng and Quthing (two o f
the three districts where FIDA operates). An interview schedule was developed which was used
lo collect the information from the different respondents who were available during data
collection phase of the study. The outcome of this study is that paralegal work is useful. There
is the need to train more people as paralegals and to design the paralegal training programme in
such a way that it responds to problems within a given context of rural and urban settings.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/14727 |
| Date | 05 June 2014 |
| Creators | Mokhothu, Limakatso |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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