The Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with Monime, successfully hosted the country’s inaugural Legal Tech Summit at the Freetown City Council Auditorium on Friday, marking a historic milestone in the modernization of the legal sector.
The first-of-its-kind event brought together lawyers, judges, policymakers, technologists, academics, and innovators to explore how technology is transforming legal practice and expanding access to justice in Sierra Leone. The summit featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, with participation from distinguished personalities across the legal and technology communities.
In his virtual address, Professor Burkhard Schafer from the University of Edinburgh spoke on the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for robust regulatory frameworks. Keynote Speaker Edgar Kuhimbisa from Uganda emphasized the importance of contextualizing legal tech solutions for Africa and investing in people as the foundation of innovation.
Mohamed Wurie Barrie played a dual role at the event moderating a panel discussion on “Policy and Regulatory Framework for Legal Tech” alongside Alhaji Manika Kamara, Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah, Madam Salwa Campbell, and Edgar Kuhimbisa, and representing the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) during the legal tech showcase. Barrie highlighted ILRAJ’s pioneering contributions, including organizing Sierra Leone’s first-ever AI tools workshop for legal practitioners.
The summit’s central message was clear: technology is not here to replace legal professionals but to enhance efficiency, strengthen ethics, and democratize access to justice.
In a statement following the event, the Lawyers’ Society described the summit as the beginning of a transformative journey toward a more innovative, ethical, and inclusive legal ecosystem.
“This is just the beginning of a transformative journey. Let’s continue to collaborate and build a legal ecosystem that is innovative, ethical, and accessible to all,” the Society stated.
The Legal Tech Summit marks a pivotal step in Lawyers’ Society efforts to align the justice system with global technological trends, signaling a future where law and innovation move hand in hand to serve society better.
