AI is reshaping Africa’s legal landscape by automating repetitive tasks, improving legal research, and providing virtual legal assistance. The State of Legal Tech in Africa 2022-2023 Report notes that AI-powered legal tools can reduce the time spent on tasks such as document reviewing by 70%, allowing legal professionals to focus on strategic work. Platforms such as Nigeria’s LawPavillionGPT have reduced legal research duration by over 80%.
Ethiopia is leading this digital transformation with its AI-enabled smart court system, developed by the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute. The system automates transcription, producing real-time outputs after each session, thereby greatly expediting the entire judicial process. Furthermore, it facilitates virtual court sessions, broadening access to justice, especially for remote regions. This democratization of legal services represents a notable advancement in legal tech for Africa at large.
As AI continues to expand its footprint across Africa’s legal landscape, it holds the potential to bridge longstanding gaps in access to legal services, driving the continent toward a more efficient, equitable, and progressive legal system.
