LEGALTECH CAREER PATHS IN AFRICA.
Note* The options listed here are not peculiar to only Africans. In other words, any of the options can be chosen as legaltech career paths in Africa and all other parts of the world.* It’s tech after all. Mostly borderless.
Let me start by stating some facts.
I bet you had no idea that a report published in 2019 revealed that a whopping 61% of South Western Law Students in Nigeria do not want to practice law.
Hopefully, leveraging technology might just be the modern way to retain our lawyers and keep them in a form of “active practice.”
(1)”Is there a legal tech career path in Africa?”
(2)”What are the job opportunities available in Legaltechnology?”
A huge number of Lawyers and Law students have these questions edged up in their minds somewhere.
Luckily, I answered these questions in an amazing community of tech enthusiasts I belong to so it’s only right I elaborate my reply a bit more here.
Let’s jump right into what Legaltechnology is.
LegalTech/ legal technology is a broad description of the technology Lawyers, Non-Lawyers and law firms use.
Clearly, what separates legal tech from other types of “tech” is that it mainly assists law firms and lawyers.
It helps them acquire more clients and other times, it helps Lawyers serve their clients more swiftly and efficiently.
A good example is lawpavilion. This is one of the biggest legaltech companies in Africa.
Now that that is out of the way, we need to take a walk down to the legaltech career paths in Africa.
1. CREATING A LEGALTECH START-UP.
2. WORKING WITH A LEGALTECH START-UP/ LEGAL MARKETING.
3. LEGAL ENGINEER ROLES
4. INFLUENCING LEGALTECH PRODUCTS.
1. CREATING A LEGALTECH START-UP.
Legal Practice like every other profession can be super-enhanced with technology despite its traditional approach.
Start by talking to Lawyers. Attend Bar Association meetings and join online groups where Lawyers congregate.
Discover the inherent problems you and other attorneys are witnessing in legal practice then create a legal tech start-up to solve them.
For example, we created a company that consults for legal tech start-ups and builds websites for African Law Firms.
www.legaltechbusiness.com
I was speaking to the CLO of a multinational last month. and he told me he wished their in-house legal team had an app that could send all of them real-time notifications on court dates and stages of their trials.
We are in conversations about building a trial product as we speak.
Build your Start-up and pitch it out to investors.
However, before building and seeking funding, confirm the following;
a) Firstly, it must solve a huge problem for Lawyers.
b) Secondly, one must have gathered enough data that shows lawyers need and will pay for it.
Once that is out of the way, you will be shocked at how many law firms and international investors are interested in funding legal tech start-ups.
Over 1.2 Billion USD was invested in Legaltech start-ups around the world in 2019.
The increase in 2021 can only be imagined.
You should also note that Legaltech is not developing as fast as fintech and the likes because Lawyers are a bit traditional as mentioned earlier.
Luckily, the narrative is changing rapidly. The pandemic made sure of that.
If you are asking questions about legal tech opportunities, other lawyers and law students are too.
Legalese was made obsolete. It means traditional practice may become obsolete in the nearest future.
This will leave more room for legal tech and other innovators.
Legaltechbusiness, Lawpavilion, Nextcounsel, Clio, Contractbook are all legal tech companies.
2. WORKING WITH A LEGAL TECH START-UP/ LEGAL MARKETING.
Not everyone is cut out to build start-ups. Securing employment in a start-up is enough for some Lawyers. If that’s you, by all means, visit the websites of legaltech companies and apply for job roles.
www.legaltechjobs.com is a good start.
Some of these roles are remote. Getting a job in a foreign company equals being paid in the currency of that country.
We are all aware that Law firms are not allowed to advertise. Fortunately, Legaltech companies are.
Legaltech startups sell their services through legal marketing. Let’s face it, what’s a disruptive solution without marketers.
One can become an integral part of legaltech companies by taking up such offers.
I know a lawyer that writes for Legaltech startups in the United States and earns in USD.
Copywriting and digital marketing roles are a few of the opportunities you can take up remotely.
The best part? It can be taken up as a part-time job.
3. LEGAL ENGINEER ROLES
Top Law firms are opening up to legaltech at the moment.
Consequently, any lawyer who understands how to recommend and effectively use legal tech tools is steps ahead of other attorneys in that firm.
As for the role I shared above, it is the job description of Legal Engineers.
4. INFLUENCING LEGALTECH PRODUCTS.
This may sound a bit Gen Z-ish.
It may probably be the reason a lot of Lawyers are not exploring the option.
I have done my research and I feel strongly that a business can be created around it.
Knowing a legal tech product that can help attorneys is one thing.
Introducing your followers to the company and earning a commission as an affiliate is another thing. All in all, it can become an amazing career option.
For instance, currently, we are giving out $100 for every successful referral. Once the client’s website goes live, we transfer the $100.
Referring Six (6) Law firms is $600. (Terms and Conditions apply)
Luckily, this career opportunity does not restrict you to one company.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, legal tech is still developing and we are yet to scratch the surface.
Other career opportunities will continue to spring up.
You have a lot to offer legal practice and legaltech can be the right tool.
Without mincing words, currently, these are realistic roles for a career path in legaltech in Africa.
I hope it helps.
Kindly send your opinions and suggestions to tayo@legaltechbusiness.com.
We would love to read from you.
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