NBA-SLP Set to Hold 2019 Conference in Akure
Since its comeback in 2018, NBA-SLP has not disappointed lawyers in the extremely useful and informative conference and workshops it has hosted. The theme of this year’s Conference is ‘Value Added Legal Practice’. So many other speakers, apart from the Governor of Ondo State, Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) who is the keynote speaker, have been lined up to speak to this topic.
The SLP have a line-up of experienced speakers, which include serving Judges, eminent lawyers, academics, and even non-lawyers subject-matter experts.
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Click: www.nba-slp.org to register
The 2019 conference theme was birthed from the realisation of the need to promote excellent service delivery in the legal profession in Nigeria, to make it at par with international best practices. The legal profession is radically evolving, and the impact of disruptive innovations and technology, cannot be ignored. Artificial Intelligence, now poses a huge threat to the traditional role of lawyers, and the influx of foreign lawyers into the Nigerian practice space is an eye opener to the resulting danger of staying static and being lax. Against this background, there is an imminent need for legal practitioners to consciously and constantly increase knowledge and skills, learn new technologies, and add value to themselves, towards ensuring excellent service delivery. Thus the 2019 conference theme, was informed by the need to bridge the gap between outdated practices and evolving best practices.
The perception that the global trend in the legal profession today is towards Artificial Intelligence has been the apprehension that, almost all traditional legal work will be taken over by AI, and the profession in Nigeria doesn’t seem quite prepared for this. Some practitioners are saying many Nigerian lawyers lack basic computer literacy to compete with Artificial Intelligence.
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But top members of the NBA Section on Legal Practice totally disregard such insinuation. Although, Artificial Intelligence has taken the front seat in virtually every industry, from manufacturing to health services.
According to the Conference Planning Committee Chair, Ayodele Akintunde (SAN), more resources are being channeled by corporations into Artificial Intelligence research and development. Therefore, it is inevitable that AI will make its foray into the legal profession as well.
While Artificial Intelligence has spread its reaches through several fields, I do not see it as a competitor. Rather, I view it as a useful assistant in navigating through the often grueling, monotonous and repetitive tasks lawyers have to perform, and by extension, freeing up time and resources for more specialized tasks. Artificial Intelligence is particularly useful, when is a major bane of legal work.
Artificial Intelligence has shown promise in several areas of legal practice, such as conducting research on cases and statutes autonomously, generating forms, contracts and agreements for clients’ transactions, administrative legal support and la office organization, performing due diligence in complex transactions like mergers and acquisitions (where there are often truckloads of paperwork to sort through). Artificial Intelligence can also be used to discover patterns, and in turn, use this information to predict outcomes of litigation battles by calculating the probability of success/failure. The opportunities for utilizing Artificial Intelligence in legal practice are endless.
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However, technology has been shown, to have a slow permeation rate in Nigeria. This slows down development and progress in every facet of life, legal practice included. In order not to be left behind, it is imperative that lawyers in Nigeria embrace technological tools, for more effective service delivery. Artificial Intelligence is not a threat to lawyers, as long as we keep abreast of technological advancements and harness them for a more successful legal practice. You will be shocked to know that many lawyers in Nigeria are embracing technology much quicker now so that they are not left behind.
At the SLP Conference in Akure, a lot of issues would be tackled. The encroachment of non-lawyers into the legal profession, which has continued to be on the increase, sizeable number of work which had erstwhile been the exclusive preserve of lawyers is now being taken over by accountants, surveyors and other professionals and even quacks, who now prepare legal documents for companies and individuals. The Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers 2007, prohibits the unauthorized practice of law by a non-lawyer. The inflow of foreign lawyers into our jurisdiction, in one guise or the other, including some companies using them as their company secretaries has greatly reduced revenue for lawyers in Nigeria. We shall make such organizations to know that the law as it stands now, is such that, only persons called to the Nigerian Bar can practice law in Nigeria. They must be told that “No jurisdiction opens its legal space to foreign lawyers without clearly defined regulations and a clear licensing regime. We need stronger regulations, and enforcement of the regulations to curb this unhealthy trend.
Social events and entertainment: The NBA-SLP platform encourages lawyers to learn, network, share ideas, and relax, so that they can be more productive. This year, the Conference Planning Committee has put together a number of social and fun events. Delegates will be welcomed with a networking cocktail on Monday evening. There will be a spectacular dinner on Tuesday night, and an after-party with a rave artiste. You don’t want to miss that. Chief A. Adedipe (SAN), is sponsoring the dinner holding on the 7th of May, 2019.
We are making arrangements to invite Ondo State’s star artist, Teniola, who sang “Uyo Meyo” to entertain guests during the closing even. We will also be having an Idanre Hills Challenge, with very attractive prices for participants and winners. Golf enthusiasts, can also play golf at the magnificent Smoking Hills Golf Course at Ilara Mokin. It promises to be a good mix of learning and fun. For delegates attending this year’s conference, it would ‘worth their while’.
Ayodele Akintunde (SAN), is the Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, 2019 NBA – Section on Legal Practice.
Late registration is still ongoing for both SLP members and Non SLP members.
Registration for SLP Members: Young Lawyers: N 8,000; Senior Lawyers: N10,000; SANs / Benchers: N20,000
Registration for Non-SLP Members: Young Lawyers: N 15,000; Senior Lawyers: N20,000; SANs / Benchers: N30,000.
So, to register and pay, kindly visit: www.nba-slp.org
Also, we are partnering with various Branches of NBA in the State to provide free transportation to and fro the conference venue for their members – especially for young lawyers.
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