Botswana Attorney General Selects Legal Files

Springfield, IL September 4, 2004 -- ūThe Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Botswana has selected Legal Files to meet its electronic case management needs. As one of the first steps in implementing the project, five officials from the Botswana Attorney General's office recently completed administrative training at the corporate headquarters of Legal Files Software, Inc. in Springfield, Illinois.

The delegation included Mr. Abraham M. Keetshabe, Deputy Attorney General and leader of the delegation; Mr. Moffat Lubinda, Principal State Counsel; Mr. Kgosietsile Ngakaagae, Senior State Counsel; Ms. Tholoana Phooko, Senior State Counsel; who are all lawyers; and Mr. Ditsabatho W. Kabelo, the information technology guru in the team. Legal Files Software, Inc. hosted the delegation from Aug. 22 until Sept. 1.

The Attorney General's Office first became aware of Legal Files case management software when IT officials visited the company's web site. "If anybody ever had any doubts about the extent of usage and/or usefulness of the Internet, this disproves it," Keetshabe said. Impressed by the demo they downloaded from the web site, AG officials further reviewed the software and decided Legal Files would meet all their requirements.

They were particularly pleased that the flexibility of the Legal Files system would enable them to monitor and track the progress in all their cases. "It's a lovely program," Keetshabe said after completing his training. "Legal Files certainly exceeds our expectations."

In the Republic of Botswana, the Attorney General's Chambers form an extra-ministerial department headed by the attorney general whose constitutional role is that of principal legal adviser to the government. The attorney general is also an ex-officio member of Parliament and sits in the Cabinet. The functions of the Attorney General's Chambers are carried out under various divisions namely: General Division, Civil Division, Prosecution Division, Legislative Drafting Division, Lands Division and Deed Registry Division. All legal actions for and against the government are instituted by or against the attorney general in a representative capacity.

For several members of the delegation, this was their first visit to the United States. Ngakaagae was surprised by the size of American automobiles (and developed a particular fondness for the Dodge Ram), the lack of pedestrians, "how green everything is," and the "absolute kindness of its people."

"Botswana is for all intents and purposes a small country in Southern Africa with a population of 1.7 million people," Keetshabe said. "The country is completely landlocked and has no access to the sea whatsoever. To the south, the country shares borders with South Africa. On the eastern and northern sides, the country shares borders with Zimbabwe whilst to the west, Botswana shares borders with Namibia. Two-thirds of the country is a desert and not at all suitable for both pastoral and agricultural farming, though by and large, Batswana themselves are subsistent farmers."

Keetshabe added, "Botswana is a multiracial society that that has constitutionally entrenched all fundamental and basic human rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of association. A market-free economy has helped make Botswana an African success story. A role model for other African nations, our country is well known for maintaining a multi-party and stable democracy."

During their stay in Springfield, the delegation members enjoyed visiting the home and tomb of Abraham Lincoln. "Abraham Lincoln is the most revered U.S. president in Africa," Keetshabe said. "But we were not aware that Legal Files is headquartered in Lincoln's hometown until we arrived, such a pleasant surprise for us." The group also toured the office of the Illinois Attorney General and met with members of Attorney General Lisa Madigan's staff.

"Our decision to link up with Legal Files Software, Inc. in the United States is a welcome development that should further strengthen the cordial relationship between our two countries," Keetshabe said.

About Legal Files Software, Inc.
Founded nearly 15 years ago, Legal Files Software, Inc., with corporate headquarters in Springfield, Ill., develops case and office management software products for practice management, litigation support, document assembly and integrated groupware. Thousands of users in leading law firms, corporate legal departments, legal services clinics, insurance companies and universities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Africa use Legal Files software to store case information and track office workflow.
For more information, visit the company's web site at www.LegalFiles.com.




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