By Aisha Saidu Esq
WE all have experienced a change in our lives brought on by the enormous changes in computer technology. Granted, advances in data sciences, supply chain management, and information technologies have all impacted our lives in positive ways, but they are less obvious than hardware. Yet, those advances in software had just as much an impact on our lives as a society as the physical technology we hold.
From time immemorial, legal practitioners have always relied on legislations, case laws and books to successfully execute their duties. It’s no secret that lawyers have a reputation for having vast libraries but this is not for the love of books but a necessity, for everything in the world has laws that govern them. Every sector of a functioning society has a set of rule or guidelines that serve as a guideline for the smooth operation of said sector, which guides every member from the top to the bottom.
Technology has played a very import role in the development of the legal profession especially in the aspect of having easy access to information for ease of timeous dispensation of duties. It cannot be denied that a society that has access to better technology will unarguably have a smoother dispensation of justice and a better running legal system.
The introduction of technology to the legal function adds value to the entire organization and provides additional competitive advantage. The potential benefits are extensive, provided they reflect the strategy that the legal function has developed to support the organization as a whole, and that the selection and implementation of the technology has been rigorous and effective.
Technology has always had an impact on the society and legal technology in particular has had a profound effect on the practice of law. From the way we communicate with one another to how we share files and shop for supplies, technology has profoundly impacted organizations around the world. Nowadays a legal professional need to have access to tangible books to be able to find necessary information to carry out their duties.
Instead of law books, there are now online databases; digital contracts have replaced paper copies; managing clients from your smartphone is the norm. Legal technology has redefined law, bringing efficiencies and simplification to everyday task.
In 2022, the Harvard Law School Library announced the completion of its Caselaw Access Project (CAP), in which Harvard’s entire case law library was scanned, thereby digitizing 334 years of legal history. The CAP project makes state and federal decisions readily accessible to lawyers all over the U.S.
Technology also plays a very crucial role in legal education and practice in Nigeria which has impacted the profession in the following ways:
• Speedy Dispensation of Justice; Technology has significantly impacted the effectiveness of attorneys and their support staff in improving the quality of services offered to their clients.
• Computer aided legal research like Lexis Nexis, Legal Pedia and Law Pavilion. Though legal professionals have become accustomed to the Internet and other such resources for their research method, they are still clung to the print products. They take a printout of everything including the revised laws and regulations and refer to them while working on each case. This adds to the time required for research work.
• Legal research solutions; in this case, helps lawyers remain updated with each and every change in the regulations even when not at their desk. Besides, these platforms avail a vast range of tools and functionalities like ‘search’ that might not be available with print products.
• Video Conferencing for student lectures and professional meetings which was a necessity during the Covid19 Pandemic Lock-down and even after the lock down lawyers continue to use this medium of communication and remote work.
• Online Dispute Resolution which is a kind of remote Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Social media Utilization which is means of networking with colleagues, clients, and potential clients. Law firms also use websites and blogs to improve their practice and broaden their client base.
• Another importance of technology in law sector is that it cuts down the risk of errors that might be possible because of overlooking or misinterpretation of any fact and figure, ultimately bringing a drastic change in the judgment.
• Decline in risk of errors; the technological solutions eases the access to all the details. Also, it adds the facility to use the raw power of analytics in the processing, making it easier for legal practitioners to look at any fact/evidence from different angles and utilize it in a better and effective manner.
• Personal Wellness is improved when technology can increase your efficiency.
In conclusion technology has played a vital role in helping practitioners offer iexceptional service, and also to positively grow and develop their business. The benefits of tech has improved mental health and wellbeing and supports a better work/life balance. All these benefits makes a legal practitioner better for the benefit of his clients.
Saidu writes in on behalf of the Eagles Foundation For Humanity, Abuja, Nigeria