The Challenge
Colorado State University Student Legal Services had been operating on a 15-year-old ASP.NET Web Forms application – a system showing its age through limited functionality, poor user experience, and inability to support modern workflows. Their attorneys and administrative staff struggled with manual processes for case management, appointment scheduling, and document handling, while student clients had no self-service options and relied entirely on phone calls, e-mails, and in-person visits.
Their office needed a complete modernization that would not only replace the legacy system but expand capabilities to meet contemporary expectations. The challenge was compounded by the need to maintain operations during transition, integrate with Microsoft 365 services, and overcome potential resistance from staff accustomed to established workflows.
My Role
As the sole developer and system administrator, I owned the entire project lifecycle from requirements gathering through deployment and training. My responsibilities encompassed:
- Full-stack development using ASP.NET Core and Entity Framework
- Database architecture and design
- Microsoft Graph API integration for calendar and document management
- Azure AD authentication implementation
- UI/UX design and frontend development
- User training and change management
- Ongoing system administration and support
The Solution
I architected and built CaseTrack as a modern ASP.NET Core Razor Pages application with a clean service-layer architecture emphasizing separation of concerns and maintainability. The system leverages Entity Framework Core with SQL Server for data management and implements comprehensive activity logging across all operations.
Key Technical Implementations
Microsoft Graph API Integration
- Implemented bidirectional calendar synchronization with Microsoft Outlook using application-level permissions for cross-user access
- Resolved complex caching issues by switching from FindMeetingTimes API to real-time CalendarView API with cache-busting headers
- Built intelligent appointment scheduling with business rules enforcement (24-hour advance notice, working hours validation)
- Integrated SharePoint/OneDrive for document management with proper permission handling
Authentication & Security
- Configured Azure AD authentication with tenant-level policies
- Navigated admin approval requirements by leveraging grandfathered app registrations
- Implemented proper authorization throughout the application
- Maintained comprehensive audit logging for all data modifications
Client Portal
- Developed self-service capabilities allowing students to schedule appointments, upload documents, and message attorneys
- Built responsive UI using Bootstrap with attention to visual cohesion and accessibility
- Implemented automated email and SMS reminder systems
- Created intuitive appointment cancellation workflows
Architecture & Code Quality
- Established consistent service layer patterns with dependency injection
- Implemented tuple return types for business logic validation rather than exception-based error handling
- Used AutoMapper for clean object mapping
- Created comprehensive CRUD interfaces with modal-based editing, pagination, sorting, and filtering
- Maintained type safety and proper async/await patterns throughout
Business Impact
CaseTrack delivers approximately 25% more functionality than the legacy system while transforming how the clinic operates:
- Time Savings: Attorneys save hours weekly through automated calendar synchronization and integrated document management, eliminating manual scheduling coordination
- Student Experience: Self-service portal enables 24/7 appointment scheduling and document submission, reducing barriers to accessing legal services
- Administrative Efficiency: Streamlined case management workflows reduce manual data entry and Excel-based tracking
- Enhanced Capabilities: Integrated messaging, automated reminders, and comprehensive activity logging provide features previously unavailable
- Operational Continuity: Phased rollout approach maintains legacy system as safety net during transition
Technologies Used
- Backend: ASP.NET Core, Razor Pages, Entity Framework Core, C#
- Frontend: Bootstrap, jQuery, Font Awesome, responsive design
- Database: Microsoft SQL Server
- Integrations: Microsoft Graph API, Azure AD, SharePoint/OneDrive
- Tools: Visual Studio, Postman, Azure Portal
