The ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt has turned attention to the future of legal practice, with experts warning practitioners that technology and artificial intelligence are set to significantly reshape how lawyers work in the years ahead. The message emerged during the “Future Practice” showcase session, which examined the impact of AI, alternative dispute resolution, digitalisation and changing client expectations on the profession by 2030.
The discussants identified several traditional practices that could gradually become less relevant as technology transforms the justice system. These include lawyers spending long hours in court only to discover that proceedings have been adjourned, heavy dependence on physical documents, traditional law libraries, routine research and drafting by junior lawyers, appearance fees and manual processes for appointing arbitrators. The panel also projected greater reliance on arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, particularly in civil matters.
On artificial intelligence, the speakers stressed that the technology should be viewed as a tool for improving efficiency rather than as a replacement for lawyers. While AI can assist practitioners in retrieving information, analysing legal principles and producing preliminary work, the responsibility for verifying, interpreting and applying such information would remain with the lawyer. The panel consequently urged practitioners to subject AI-generated content to proper professional review and due diligence before relying on it.
The session further examined the qualities that could distinguish successful lawyers in an increasingly technology-driven profession. Participants identified sound legal judgment, courtroom strategy, effective advocacy, strategic cross-examination, emotional intelligence, problem-solving ability and professional integrity as capabilities that technology cannot easily replicate. Lawyers were also encouraged to understand their clients’ businesses and provide commercially relevant solutions rather than limiting their roles strictly to traditional legal functions.
Young lawyers were particularly challenged to prepare for the changing demands of the profession by embracing continuous learning and developing technological competence. The panellists stressed the importance of patience, mentorship, integrity and understanding emerging business opportunities, while urging younger practitioners to remain open to different areas of legal practice. They noted that future opportunities would increasingly emerge where law intersects with technology, business and new forms of transactions.
The central message from the session was that the future of legal practice belongs neither entirely to technology nor to traditional methods, but to lawyers who can effectively combine both. As the profession moves towards 2030, practitioners were urged to embrace innovation without surrendering professional judgment, recognising that AI may provide the information, but the lawyer must provide the judgment, strategy and responsibility