Bachelor of Paralegal Studies and Community Based Paralegals
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Increasing Access to Justice
- Grant Amount $75,000
- Grant Period September 1, 2019–December 31, 2020
- Location Cape Town, South Africa
- Geographic Focus South Africa
About this grant
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology launched its bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies in 2017. This degree provides structured, accredited training to people who would like to become paralegals in South Africa. It is the only degree of its kind in South Africa. The project goal is to ensure that community-based paralegals can also benefit from this degree. Past support allowed the grantee to conduct a survey among community-based paralegals to scientifically gauge their formal and informal academic qualifications. The grantee assembled a task team to lead this survey, appointed a field survey company, completed a literature review, identified the target population, and drafted its findings in a report. Ongoing support will allow the grantee to use these findings to draft an appropriate "Recognition of Prior Learning" instrument, workshop it with community-based paralegals, identify the correct mode of delivery, and get further buy-in from community-based paralegals.