The Law Basket

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Highlights from the finale!!

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Best Oralist and the best female Oralist. Both from team UniMak.

🎈Huge congratulations to the University of Makeni for taking home the crown at the Grand Finale of the Dr. Abdulai O. Conteh Moot Court Competition!

Culled

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The Sierra Leone Law School Orientation Day 2 features the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice M.P Mamie

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Highlights from The Law School Orientation Day 1, with the Solicitor-General as one of the guest speakers

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NOTICE TO MEMBERS

Final Call For Comments On The Land Registration Bill

Dear Colleagues,

The Lawyers’ Society is urgently reviewing the proposed Land Registration Bill, which, among other provisions, appears to transfer aspects of conveyancing traditionally handled by lawyers to other entities.

As part of our efforts to develop a comprehensive position paper reflective of our unified interest in this matter, we are calling on members to review the Bill and submit their comments, observations, and recommendations. Your professional input is vital in ensuring that the Society’s submission accurately reflects the collective views and interests of the legal profession.

Please send your comments to the Secretariat via WhatsApp +23274101703 or email [email protected] no later than Friday, 24th October 2025.

Thank you for your prompt attention and contributions to this important issue.

*The Secretariat*
*The Lawyers’ Society*

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Courtroom expressions you must know.

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Highlights from the LegalTech Summit.

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*Lawyers Society Leads the Way as Law Meets Technology in First-Ever Legal Tech Summit*

By Mo Hamad Kargbo

The Lawyers Society of Sierra Leone made history on Friday, October 10, 2025, by hosting the inaugural Legal Tech Summit at the Freetown City Council Auditorium. The event drew legal professionals, policymakers, media practitioners, and innovators to explore how emerging technologies can transform the legal landscape, improve access to justice, and enhance professional efficiency.

Secretary General of the Lawyers Society, Margaret A.L. Davies, opened the summit, emphasizing that the event represented a critical intersection of law and innovation. “We are charting new territory where traditional legal practices meet transformative technology,” she said. She highlighted the summit’s goal of fostering dialogue, challenging assumptions, and developing collaborative solutions, especially through AI-powered research tools, blockchain applications, and digital ethics in legal practice. Madan Davies encouraged attendees to actively participate, connect with one another, and envision their role in shaping the future of law in the digital era.

Representing the General Legal Council, Mr. Ibrahim Sorie praised the summit as a timely initiative in line with global legal technology trends. He expressed excitement about the discussions and panels, noting that the integration of technology into legal practice was crucial for improving efficiency and modernizing the justice system. Ibrahim Sorie underscored that the ultimate objective was to ensure that technology serves as a tool to enhance legal processes, rather than replace the human element essential to law.

The summit’s guest speaker, Professor Burkhard Schafer of the University of Edinburgh, delivered his address virtually, highlighting the profound impact of technology on legal services. He traced the evolution of AI and digital tools in law since the early 2000s and stressed that technology must be deployed responsibly. “While AI offers efficiency, it also introduces new risks, and understanding its limitations is essential for courts, lawyers, and legal institutions,” he explained.

Professor Schafer further examined the challenges posed by AI in legal decision-making, cautioning that case summaries and automated tools could not fully replace the nuanced judgment of trained lawyers. He called for regulatory frameworks to govern AI applications, emphasizing that lawyers must retain a central role in maintaining ethical and professional standards while integrating technology into practice.

Concluding his address, Professor Schafer urged legal professionals to embrace technology as a means of augmenting their work rather than viewing it as a threat. He highlighted that transformative digital tools could democratize access to legal information, streamline workflows, and create opportunities for innovation provided they are implemented thoughtfully and ethically.

Keynote speaker, Mr. Edgar Kuhimbisa, an e-governance consultant from Uganda, offered an in-depth perspective on the practical application of legal technology across Africa. He began by reflecting on the disruptive potential of AI and emphasized that legal practitioners must prepare for technological shifts to remain relevant. “Disruptive technology challenges how we work, but it also presents opportunities for efficiency and productivity,” he noted.

Kuhimbisa shared comparative insights from Uganda, Ghana, and South Africa, citing initiatives like e-filing systems, online case management, and smart contract platforms. He highlighted the importance of contextualizing technology for Sierra Leone, arguing that solutions must align with local realities, available resources, and human capacity.

He stressed that the success of legal tech depends on deliberate investment in people, training young lawyers, and fostering mentorship programs. “The greatest ideas are often the simplest,” Kuhimbisa said, encouraging incremental adoption of technology through pilot programs and proof-of-concept initiatives.

Kuhimbisa also addressed the role of AI in daily legal operations, noting that while automation can streamline repetitive tasks, it must complement and not replace human judgment. He emphasized that legal professionals must retain decision-making authority and ethical oversight while leveraging digital tools for efficiency.

Highlighting the broader societal impact, he underscored that technology should enhance access to justice and improve outcomes for citizens, not merely serve institutional convenience. He called on stakeholders to invest strategically in legal tech infrastructure, legislative frameworks, and data protection mechanisms to ensure long-term success.

Concluding his address, Kuhimbisa urged Sierra Leone’s legal community to adopt transformational, not just modernizing, approaches to legal technology. “Our goal is not only to be efficient today but to build a foundation for future generations of legal professionals,” he said, urging participants to take ownership of digital innovation in the legal sector.

The summit featured two panel discussions: the first, State of Legal Tech in Sierra Leone, moderated by Sorieba Daffae, included Augustine S.S. Marrah, Osman Jalloh Esq., Madam Salwa Campbell, and Mohamed Wurie Bah. The second, Policy and Regulatory Framework for Legal Tech, moderated by Mohamed Wurie, featured SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara, Lawyers Society President Augustine S.S. Marrah, Madam Salwa Campbell, and keynote speaker Edgar Kuhimbisa. Both panels provided valuable insights, highlighting current challenges and regulatory opportunities in legal technology adoption.

A showcase of legal tech hubs also took place, with institutions such as ILRAJ, Law Hub, and SierraLii presenting their innovative solutions and strategies for modernizing legal practice in Sierra Leone.

In his closing remarks, Lawyers Society President Augustine S.S. Marrah emphasized that the summit marked the beginning of a long-term journey toward digital transformation. He noted the importance of introducing young lawyers to technology early in their careers and encouraged continuous learning and adoption of digital tools. Marrah concluded that AI would amplify, rather than replace, human work, ultimately enhancing the delivery of justice across the country.

*©️ The Trumpet Newspaper*

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Distinguished gentlemen of the inner bar and outer bar, you are all invited to the AFBAWF Session.

The session is a pivotal component of the 2025 Annual Conference of AFBA, scheduled to take place on Monday October 21st, 2025, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana from 4:00-5.30pm. This session, sub-themed "FOREIGN AID AND AFRICAN DEPENDENCY: REIMAGINING EMPOWERMENT," aims to spark critical discussions on the impact of foreign aid on African development, with a specific focus on women in five key sectors- Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Healthcare, Mineral Resources, Banking and Finance.

The session will feature a chairman, a keynote speaker and five seasoned discussants providing a comprehensive and diverse perspective on the topic.

There will also be an *Africana Cocktail* event to foster recruitment, camaraderie & networking on Tuesday 21st October at 6:00 pm at the poolside of the same venue.

Key takeaways from the conference session are expected to include Rethinking Empowerment Strategies, Legal Frameworks and Policy Recommendations, Best Practices and Lessons Learned, and Networking Opportunities.

The AFBAWF session promises to be a thought-provoking and engaging discussion that will contribute meaningfully to the broader conversation on African development, women’s empowerment, and the future of foreign aid on the continent.

Don't Miss Out!
Join us for this engaging discussion, shaping Africa's future and empowering women. Contact the undersigned for more information.

Thank you.

Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam
Secretary, African Bar Women Forum

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Justices of Ghana