By Bamidele Kolwole

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The role of technology, cannot be overemphasized. Its impact has been felt in the legal profession, from legal education to the practice of law. It has become an integral part of creating efficiency and promoting access to justice.

Technology has transformed almost every sphere of human life. There is virtually no aspect of human activity not affected, either positively or negatively, by technology.

From the use of computers to telephones and the internet, it is all about technology and its revolutionary way of changing how humans conduct their activities.

Over the years, the legal profession has been known for its conservatism and traditionalism, which many believe must be preserved to maintain the profession’s prestige. The legal profession was said to be one of those fields that lagged behind in technology.

However, technological advancement may have put a strain on this medieval practice and traditional ideology.

The wave of technological advancement and globalization, which has swept through various aspects of society, has not left the profession behind. Technology, including Information and Communication Technology (ICT), now play a quintessential role in legal practice and education.

It is becoming increasingly clear in Nigeria that technology is a prerequisite for effective and efficient legal education and practice. The impacts of technology have been felt in the legal profession, from legal education to the practice of law.

Technology has made significant changes to legal education and practice in various jurisdictions. While its impact in Nigeria may not be as elaborate as in other jurisdictions, the fact is that the legal profession in the country has been impacted by technology, and this is bound to continue. The earlier we realize this and embrace it, the better for the profession and the more equipped we can be in maximizing its use while overcoming the attendant challenges.

This paper seeks to discuss the roles of technology in advancing legal education and practice in Nigeria, several reasons why legal practitioners and law firms need to embrace the application of technology in the profession, different challenges to the impact of technology in Nigerian legal education and practice, and recommendations.

The Impact of Technology on Legal Practice and Education

The touch of technology has been felt in the legal profession, from legal education to the practice of law. It has become an integral part of creating efficiency and promoting access to justice. Given the workload and volumes of information and data in the judicial process, applying technology will increase efficiency, promote easy research, allow for easier information retrieval, and, in the end, reduce stress while enhancing the judicial process. Legal technology reduces inefficiency, inaccuracy, lack of transparency, and integrity, which are the major causes of delays in the dispensation of justice.

The stress of legal education, the poorly equipped libraries, and inadequate appliances to ease manual research, along with the cost of quality study materials, greatly hamper the quest for knowledge. With legal technology, students and the public alike can gain easy access to study materials and case files without having to sweat out in poorly equipped libraries or resort to borrowing books from people. Computer-Assisted Legal Research (CALR) innovations aid legal education.

The world of technology has benefited immensely from legal practice. From the emergence of technology, law has shaped its operation, application, and the extent to which it can be applied. Now, technology is giving back to legal practice. Starting from the law office, all the gadgets and equipment are products of technology, which have made legal practice easier. For instance, the computer is used not just for typing and printing court processes but also as a highly useful research tool.

While hard copy sources of legal authorities are good, the computer is better in terms of speed. With a computer, information is obtainable faster and more accurately. Although information lost on the computer can sometimes be irretrievable if the input was by the user, technology has made it possible for court activities to continue even in the most challenging situations.

My firsthand experience includes participating in a court session for judgment during COVID-19 when it was practically impossible for people to gather in the courtroom as usual.

During the diaspora court session, parties and their counsel entered and announced appearances respectively through Zoom live streaming. There was no difference from the usual formal court setting.

The contribution of technology can also be seen in courtrooms, where court proceedings are recorded by special devices that capture everything said by both counsel and the judge. These devices provide better court records than judges can, as human errors—whether the hand is slower than the brain, or vice versa—can lead to missing links and potential miscarriages of justice.

International law practice has also become easier, thanks to the contributions of technology. Parties to arbitration processes can conduct hearings without necessarily traveling to a specific place, after having front-loaded their respective relevant documents. This method is very cost-effective, as expenses for transportation and hotel lodging are eliminated, along with the risks associated with traveling.

Presently, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) devices is a plus for legal practice. With AI, a practitioner can produce and conduct a perfect case theory by simulating the scenario of the case at hand. AI can help a legal practitioner foresee the likely result of the trial in any case that is tested on the AI device.

The role of technology in legal practice cannot be overemphasized, especially in 21st-century legal practice. Prior to now, the vast majority of us believed that legal practice had little or nothing to do with technology.

However, with the recent onset of COVID-19 in our country, Nigeria, and the world at large, it has become clearer that legal practice can hardly survive without the use of technology.

As a way of addressing the situation, most states in Nigeria, for example, quickly enacted laws allowing electronic filing of court cases.

Many of these legislations also permit virtual hearings of cases, not only for lawyers but also for litigants. Additionally, technology has made the job of a lawyer much easier compared to what it used to be.

Most law reports are now transmitted electronically, making them easily accessible and handy. Technology has also introduced stenographic writing, which assists our judges in recording court proceedings.

Although many states in Nigeria have not yet taken advantage of this technological innovation, it is high time our judges stopped relying on outdated methods. There is a need for the government to employ tech experts to assist our judges with writing court proceedings.

Stenographic writing is not rocket science. Our government needs to do more in this regard, as our society becomes increasingly litigious and complex.

The legal profession has become increasingly reliant on technology, driving law firms to adopt digital solutions that enhance efficiency, boost productivity, and deliver exceptional client experiences.

As digital transformation continues to advance, technology is no longer a luxury but an essential component of a law firm’s operations, enabling them to stay competitive and provide high-quality services.

By leveraging technological skills in their practice, lawyers can optimize their workflow, reduce time-consuming tasks, and enhance overall efficiency.

To achieve this, law firms are increasingly turning to innovative solutions like case management software, automation tools, and document management systems, which enable them to streamline processes, boost productivity, and deliver more effective services.

Technology has revolutionized the way lawyers access and manage information, enabling secure and effortless retrieval of legal data from anywhere, at any time, with just an internet connection.

This has greatly facilitated legal research, collaboration, and communication among lawyers across different locations, making it easier to work together, share knowledge, and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the field.

Embracing emerging technologies and continuously updating their skills enable lawyers to leverage innovative solutions, enhance their services, and deliver cutting-edge expertise to their clients.

In today’s digital landscape, technology is a crucial component of legal practice, and lawyers who proactively embrace and adapt to new technological advancements will gain a significant competitive edge, setting themselves apart from their peers and positioning themselves for success in an increasingly tech-driven legal industry.

Information technology is fast evolving as one of the fastest techniques for achieving speedy and desirable results.

The role of technology, however, cannot be overemphasized. Its impact has been felt in the legal profession, from legal education to the practice of law. It has become an integral part of creating efficiency and promoting access to justice.

Given the workload and volumes of information and data in the judicial process, applying technology increases efficiency, promotes easy research, allows for easier information retrieval, and ultimately reduces stress while enhancing the judicial process. Legal technology reduces inefficiency, inaccuracy, lack of transparency, and integrity issues, which are major causes of delay in the dispensation of justice.

The stress of legal education, poorly equipped libraries, and inadequate appliances to ease manual research, along with the cost of quality study materials, greatly hampers the quest for knowledge. With legal technology, students and the general public alike can gain easy access to study materials and case files without having to endure poorly equipped libraries or resort to borrowing books. Computer Assisted Legal Research (CALR) is an innovation that aids legal education.

The advancement of technology and ICT has helped judges and lawyers in applying technology to the judicial and legal processes. Rather than the old method of flipping through large, heavy books to search for cases, people can now, via internet access, quickly get in touch with court cases and decisions from anywhere in the world by logging into a website that maintains a legal database. The introduction of ICT has revolutionized the legal profession in Nigeria.

Consequently, the professional lives of lawyers have been fundamentally and permanently altered. For many, it is difficult to imagine practicing law for even one day without using the internet in some form. Indeed, ICT has a far-reaching effect on the learning and practice of law, providing useful tools.

Practically, we have seen demonstrations of technology use in Nigeria and the world at large. Some examples include the introduction of an online law research material named “Pavilion Law Report (Prismsol)” for speedy and efficient legal research.

Even lawmakers realized the uniqueness of technology and introduced it into the Evidence Act, 2023 (as amended). One of the major innovations introduced in the Evidence Act, 2023 is electronic signatures.

The Black’s Law Dictionary defines technology as the application of information to the design, production, and utilization of services and goods and organizing human activities.

Over the years, technology has transformed almost every sphere of human life. There is virtually no aspect of human activity not affected either positively or negatively by technology.

The use of computers, telephones, mobile phones, the internet, and many more speak to technology and its revolutionary way of changing the way humans conduct their activities and provide solutions.

Over the years, the legal profession has been known for its conservatism and traditionalism, which many believe must be preserved in order to maintain the profession’s prestige. The legal profession was said to be one of those fields that lagged behind in technology.

However, technological advancement may have put a strain on this medieval practice and traditional ideology.

The wave of technological advancement and globalization, which has swept through various aspects of society, has not left the profession behind. Technology, including Information and Communication Technology (ICT), plays a pivotal role in legal practice and is an important prerequisite for effective and efficient legal practice.

The following are the ways technology has impacted the legal profession, from legal education to the practice of law:

1. It has become an integral part of creating efficiency and promoting access to justice. Given the workload and volumes of information and data in the judicial process, applying technology will increase efficiency and promote easy research.

2. It allows for easier information retrieval, and in the end, reduces stress while enhancing the judicial process. Legal technology reduces inefficiency, inaccuracy, lack of transparency, and integrity, which are the major causes of delays in the dispensation of justice.

3. It eradicates the stress of legal education, poorly equipped libraries, and inadequate appliances to ease manual research. The cost of quality study materials greatly hampers the quest for knowledge. With legal technology, students and the public alike can gain easy access to study materials and case files without having to struggle in poorly equipped libraries or resort to borrowing books from people.

4. Computer-Assisted Legal Research (CALR) innovations aid legal education. The advancement of technology and ICT has helped judges and lawyers in the judicial and legal processes. Rather than flipping through large, heavy books to search for cases, people can now speedily, via access to the internet, get in touch with court cases and decisions from anywhere in the world just by logging into a website that maintains a legal database.

 The focus is essentially to automate legal services in the country. Law Pavilion is suitable for the needs of Nigerian lawyers, law teachers, and students. It is also a Nigerian electronic law report and research software for use by judges and magistrates.

What is Technology? Technology simply means the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes or applications. The world has become a global village where every aspect of our life and profession revolves around the use of technology. Legal practice used to be a one-way traffic where innovation and change, in terms of technology, were regarded as threats to the system.

Recently, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has played a quintessential role in legal practice and education. It is becoming increasingly clear globally and in Nigeria that technology is a prerequisite for effective and efficient legal practice.

 Technology has become an indispensable tool in transforming and improving the overall practice and administration of law in the 21st century. Its importance cannot be overstated, as technology revolutionizes how legal professionals conduct client interviews, research, manage case files, draft legal documents, and deliver services.

One of the most important aspects of legal practice that has been revolutionized by technology is legal research and information management. Before technology became integral to legal practice, there was an era of extensive library visits and manual searches through volumes of books and journals. Several legal professionals spent hours and days in the library preparing for court appearances, and this was not done within the confines of their homes. Some even had to visit libraries far from their homes and offices.

Today, legal professionals have access to comprehensive online databases, digital libraries, and search engines that provide instant access to vast amounts of legal information, precedents, and case law. Platforms like Law Pavilion, Legalpedia, Law Companion, Law Breed Limited, NWLR Online, Westlaw, LexisNexis, and HeinOnline have become essential tools, enabling lawyers to conduct thorough and efficient research, thereby saving time and enhancing the accuracy of legal arguments.

The introduction of artificial intelligence and analytics has made document management easy and efficient and has facilitated automation within law firms. Document drafting, review, and storage are streamlined through document management systems (DMS) and automation tools.

AI-powered tools can analyze contracts, predict case outcomes (legal analytics), conduct due diligence, and automate repetitive tasks more accurately and efficiently than humans. These technologies not only improve the speed and accuracy of legal decision-making but also enable lawyers to provide more informed and strategic advice to their clients.

These recent technologies allow for the creation of templates, track changes, manage version control, and automate routine tasks such as generating standard legal documents. As a result of these innovative technological tools, legal professionals now have more time to focus on substantive legal work and client service, rather than administrative tasks which take forever to complete.

In recent years, the legal industry has undergone a significant technological transformation, with innovative tools and solutions reshaping how lawyers practice law. The integration of technology has become essential for law firms looking to enhance efficiency, improve client service, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape in the following areas:

1. Legal Research and Analysis: Digital databases, search engines, and AI-powered tools have significantly improved and accelerated legal research and analysis. Lawyers can quickly access relevant case law, statutes, and other legal materials to support their arguments and decision-making.

2. Document Management and Automation: Legal practice generates a vast amount of paperwork and documentation. Technology enables the digitization, organization, and automated processing of these documents, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of human error.

3. E-Discovery and Data Analytics: With the growing volume of electronically stored information, technology plays a crucial role in identifying, collecting, and analyzing relevant data for litigation and investigations. Advanced e-discovery tools and data analytics help lawyers manage the discovery process more effectively.

4. Client Communication and Collaboration: Online platforms, videoconferencing, and cloud-based tools allow lawyers to communicate and collaborate with clients more efficiently, regardless of geographic location. This can enhance client service and reduce the need for in-person meetings.

5. Practice Management and Billing: Legal practice management software helps law firms streamline their operations, including time tracking, billing, and accounting tasks. This can improve overall efficiency and profitability.

Additionally, ongoing training and professional development are essential to ensure that lawyers can effectively leverage technology to enhance their practice.development are essential to ensure that lawyers can effectively leverage technology to enhance their practice.

Legal technology is commonly known as “legal tech.” It is a combination of software and tools designed to support and enhance the practice of law. These technologies streamline and improve legal processes, making them more efficient, easy, and accessible.

Legal tech allows lawyers to perform routine tasks more quickly and easily. For instance, access to large databases of standard books and forms enables faster completion of court documents. Legal work can be streamlined in various other ways as well. It provides efficient communication among legal professionals. Document and business management tools also help law firms build processes and create checklists for routine tasks.

Technology has become a mainstay tool for legal practitioners, assisting with tasks and enabling lawyers to focus on strategic and high-value activities.

Technology has revolutionized the legal profession, making it more efficient, accessible, and transparent. Legal practitioners now rely heavily on technology for various aspects of their work, including legal research, drafting, advisory services, and litigation practice.

Legal research has become significantly easier with the advent of online legal software such as LawPavilion and LexisNexis. Lawyers no longer need to spend hours buried in volumes of case law in the library; they can now easily access court cases and legal information from anywhere in the world through websites and social media platforms.

Technology has also made legal drafting more efficient. Lawyers can now use various software tools to streamline the drafting process, ensuring accuracy and consistency in their work.

In the area of litigation, technology has played a crucial role. Courts have recognized the importance of electronic means of service, with the Supreme Court holding that service of hearing notices through text messages is sufficient. This has made the litigation process more efficient and accessible.

Moreover, the use of courtroom technology has made court records more accurate, secure, and easily accessible. It has also improved communication between attorneys, judges, and clients, allowing for a smooth flow of information.

Overall, the embrace of technology in the legal profession has enhanced security, transparency, and efficiency in contract management, enabled remote participation and accessibility in legal proceedings, and empowered lawyers with data-driven insights for informed decision-making.