Journal of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Human-Centered Computing
Technology has Changed the Practice of Law - But it Cannot Replace Lawyers
Abstract
Enor Mirabel Ofotokun
Technology has transformed the administration and practice of law, changing how lawyers conduct research, communicate with clients, prepare documents, manage information and participate in court proceedings. Artificial intelligence has accelerated that transformation by enabling rapid information processing, drafting assistance and analytical support. Yet technological capability is not equivalent to legal professional judgment. This article argues that the future of legal practice is not a contest between lawyers and machines, but a model of technologically augmented professional service in which lawyers retain responsibility for interpretation, advocacy, ethics, confidentiality, strategy and the protection of rights. Drawing on the Nigerian legal context and practical experience with virtual proceedings involving clients outside Nigeria, the article examines the expansion of access to justice through technology, the limits of artificial intelligence as a substitute for counsel, and the professional obligations that must govern its use. It concludes that technology should strengthen the lawyer’s capacity to deliver justice rather than displace the human judgment on which justice ultimately depends.