WORK IN PROGRESS

 BY TERI SAYLOR

Despite a steep learning curve and technical problems, North Carolina’s new online case management system, in a pilot phase, is rolling out on schedule with four counties on board and a h expected to come online this summer.

Delivered with great fanfare, paralegals report the system is not measuring up to their expectations yet.

Complaints include problems uploading documents and trainings that don’t match the way the system actually works.

Natalie Porter, owner of Apricus Paralegal Group in Winston-Salem, supports a variety of attorneys across the state and was excited about the new system, designed to smooth the transition from an antiquated paper practice to digital. She has ended up discouraged instead.

“It’s frustrating to know that we spent our time either traveling to do a training onsite or spent time training online at home and when we tried ling documents it didn’t work because the training doesn't align with how the portal actually functions,” she said.

But a spokesperson for the Administrative O ce of the Courts said improvements are in the works.

Graham Wilson wrote in an email that the system is still a work in progress and getting better each day.

“Both attorneys and courthouse sta are gaining comfort and familiarity with the system,” he wrote. “ at said, any new system has a learning curve and requires con guration re nements during the pilot phase, and that is the case with this project.”

Across the United States, court systems are implementing Odyssey, a judicial information system designed to replace old processes that have been in place for decades.

In North Carolina, the Odyssey suite replaces older legacy systems with a streamlined case management solution including eFiling, eDiscovery, nancial management, document management and other functions for all types of cases.

It is designed to create e ciencies by reducing paperwork and increasing collaboration