1. “Technology And its impact on the legal profession”
Presented by Don Deya, Chief Executive Officer, PALU

2. Prefatory remarks
Thank Salieu Taal, who is a member of the PALU ICT Committee
Ms. Ife Osaga-Ondondo, manages legal affairs for Google in Africa
Wanted a lawyer who is deeply immersed in legal affairs in ICTs, IN AFRICA
Wanted a woman, because both law and technology impact differently on women and men, on female and male lawyers
Apologise that this is not completely possible
Apologise also that the opening sessions did not feature women lawyers or young lawyers (both female and male). This is a serious indictment of the way we run our profession – and many other affairs – in our continent, and our world
The Conference will feature
The future of the Judiciary
The future of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
The future of legal education
The future for advocacy for rule of law, human and peoples’ rights
Data Protection and Privacy

3. A look back in the history of the legal profession and technology
2000, 2001: Training for law firms and Judiciary in Kenya to move from type-writers to desk-top computers
We started with the Secretaries and Clerks
2010, 2011: Onset of the tablet, and the smart phone
Many adults bought the gadgets for their children, before they bought it for themselves
Will the same happen, for the next phase?
Dr. Luis Francheschi
UBER of law
MOBILE MONEY/ MPESA of justice
Will we behave the same?

4. What we now use ICTs for
Online legal research: LexisNexis, Westlaw, OpenLII, SafLII, etc
Many Lawyers’ Associations have online databases and directories, where you can check the practice status of their members
Groups
WhatsApp Groups
Meetings with each other and clients online: Skype, GoToMeeting, BlueJeans, Zoom, etc
(Some) Judiciaries leading the path with online filing
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR): You can do commence and conclude an entire case, from your Chambers, without stepping in Arusha, and watch the delivery of the Judgement, live on Livestream

5. What is going on now, and in the near future
5th-generation Internet
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Conveyancing
Robotics
Blockchain:
Contracts, money
Cryptocurrency
Jason Braganza: Digitalisation
Free legal advice websites

6. Some Current Applications and Implications
Judicial independence, or perception of it: Judges on Facebook have been asked to recuse themselves
Cyber-crime: New ways of committing theft and crime
Cyber forensics: New ways of investigating and prosecuting crime
E-health: How will the substantive law and procedural law be adapted to prosecute medical malpractice, for health services rendered electronically?

7. What PALU is offering (and we are open to your ideas)
More reliance on the ICT Committee
Online Seminars: Webinars
Considering setting up an Incubator at the PALU Secretariat
New specialisations within the profession
New ways of doing our work
Engaging the AU to offer leadership, practical guidance and assistance to Member States to formulate policies and laws for benefiting from these technological innovations and evolutions