Africa is positioned to skip traditional phases of technological progression in the legal world in the same way it has leveraged mobile technology, thus leapfrogging more developed regions. Hopes are high for a continent that has previously missed out on older generations of technology. The mobile technology boom, in particular, has displayed that Africa’s path to progress does not need to follow the ‘conventional’ route.
That said, the ambition to mimic the mobile success story in terms of legal technology adoption may not be a walk in the park. Among the hurdles Africa might face are peculiar challenges like a scarcity of data and the scale of law firms operating within its borders. The lack of requisite data could impede an efficient and value-driven deployment of legal tech, while the relatively smaller scale of law firms may pose difficulties in leveraging economies of scale usually afforded by larger operations.
The possibility of Africa’s advancement in legal technology is compelling. Yet, whether the continent can overcome these challenges and turn potential into reality remains to be seen. The extent to which it can leverage legal tech to further accelerate its growth on the world-stage will undoubtedly be an interesting space to watch. More details here at law.com.