THE CHANGING FACE OF LAW (Part 1)
By: Charles Ajiboye,FICMC
Charles Ajiboye, Executive PARTNER, The Penthouse Law
Years ago, a lawyer was that passionate person who was all out to ensure no one was cheated. He was a clergy of some sort. He cared less for money. Many people do not remember that the small pocket behind the robe of a lawyer is actually meant to put any cash gift, as it was more of an honorarium than a fee. I honestly can’t explain how they used to feed and survive but I can imagine that the entire community took it upon themselves that the lawyer never lacked anything. Like I said, he was like a clergy.
Things have since changed, the lawyer became the good looking, well dressed, well spoken, well respected individual who speaks in strange tongues called latin. When he speaks in English, it is with words not used in everyday conversation. ‘De-Law’ became attractive, a trophy academic or magician. Everyone dreaded him and believed only he can deliver them and at the same time punish.
Recently, a lot of things changed, law became a business. The lawyer now has expectations for himself. The society also now has other expections of the lawyer. Training to become a lawyer became expensive, the lawyer realized that his friends, whom he considers himself better than, run successful businesses. He ‘ups’ his game, and begins to deliver his service professionally. Just then, tech set in and everything changed again.
Everything is changing. The way we love, the way we communicate, the way we do business, the way we learn, the way we build houses, construct roads, cook our meals e.t.c. Everything is changing.
The practice of law has changed and is still changing too. Law itself is the fibre of our connection. It is the set of rules that ensures that we can live peacefully with each other. It is the framework by which a part donates her powers and freedom to the whole and agrees to be bound by it or compelled by it.
With the advent of both ‘Legal Tech’ and ‘Law Tech’ its certainly not business as usual for lawyers and this will deepen with time. Indeed, with speed.
Legal tech refers to the use of technology and software to provide legal services. Legal Tech companies are generally founded with the purpose of disrupting the traditionally conservative legal market. It often gives people access to online software that reduces or in some cases eliminates the need to consult a lawyer, or by connecting people with lawyers more efficiently through online marketplaces and lawyer-matching websites.
As it stands machine language, artificial intelligence and cloud-based services are being adopted by law firms. Law firms now use a lot of technology for their accounting, billing, document automation, document storage, legal research, practice management, case management, client management, success rate predictions e.t.c.
More recently growth in Legal Tech has moved to focus on: Providing a marketplace to connect clients with lawyers, providing platforms for client and businesses to complete legal matters by themselves, obviating the need for a lawyer, data and contract analytics; use of digital signature which helps verify the digital identity of each signer, maintains the chain of custody for the documents and can provide audit trails; platforms for succession planning i.e Will writing, via online applications, providing tools to assist with immigration document preparation in lieu of hiring a lawyer and lots more.
As it stands, the Corporate Affairs Commission is gradually reducing the traditional roles of lawyers, the Land bureau in Lagos state is also at it, the embassies are ahead with this. Companies like Law Pavillion, Penthouse Tech, Legalpedia, NextCounsel, Lawyerapp e.t.c are championing a revolution that will disrupt the traditional duties of lawyers. Even the erstwhile rigid Nigerian Weekly Law Report(NWLR) of the late sage, Gani Fawehinmi have woken up online.
Any lawyer that thinks, it is business as usual is on the verge of extinction. It seems though, on the face of it that a lawyer may no longer be required. But that is not happening soon. The roles only have been redefined. Lawyers now are expected to do much more than they used to do before. The traditional roles will all be taken over, however the traditional principles and relevance of the lawyer will now surface. New ways of rendering service to businesses and individuals that will be relevant in the future.
The opportunities are enormous and only those who listen to what the spirit is saying will catch it. This is a new era where smart lawyers will enjoy the pioneer advantage.
Will lawyers still be needed in the future?
What will lawyers do to remain relevant and profitable in the face of the future of law?
Watch out for Part 2
Charles Ajiboye,FICMC is a Partner at The Penthouse law, a 21st Century law firm operating from Lagos, Nigeria. charles@thepenthouselaw.com
