The Role of ICT in Legal Studies
Information and communication technology which is the full meaning of ICT has been around for a long time. Basically as long as people have been around, information technology has been around because there were always ways of communication through technology available at that point in time. There are 4 main ages that divide up the history of information technology but only the latest age (electronic) and some of the electromechnical age really affects us today which includes the premachanical, petroglph, mechanical and the different engine. Legal studies on the other hand is defined as an interdisplinary, liberal arts major that engages the meanings, values, practices and institutions of law and legality. Legal studies curriculum examines how law shapes and is shaped by political, economic and cultural forces. The major is designed to stimulate critical understanding of and inquiry about the theoretical framework, historical, dynamics and cultural embeddedness of law.
Information and communication technology law deals with the use of law to regulate matters arising and flowing from the use of information technology. In effects, an appraisal of the role of information and communication in Nigerian legal studies, deals with the use of information technology in Nigerian courts, law firms, legal departments and institutions of legal learning. It will x-ray the significance of information and communication technology in Nigerian legal profession, internet crimes and abuse ICT skills, admissibility of electronically generated documents in Nigerian courts.
ICT IN LEGAL STUDIES
Speaking of the role of ICT in legal studies Dr. Tahir Mamman, the former director general of the Nigerian law school stated in a paper titled “the globalization of legal practice. The challenges for legal studies in Nigeria” that development and advances in ICT have had important impact on education and teaching and how it may be harnessed by law teachers. He further stated that the development and deployment of advanced computer assisted learning systems such as law courseware and IOLIS have changed dramatically the way students learn, created vast opportunities and easer in information, storage, retrieval and dissemination and facilated collaborative activities. Dr. Mammon further briefly outlined some of the ICT platforms and possible uses. These include: E-mail communication which through it resources and questions may be posted to students and obviate the necessity for them to physically go such resources and their responses returned in like manner. The critism is however made that it removes the values derived from social contact among staffs and students, as well as the absence of face to face discussions.
Diverse Electronic Discussion Forums: Forums such as facebook, twitter and various chat rooms enables participants post questions and articulate views on diverse academic issues. This is invariably very suitable for large class academic activities and has the potential to go beyond teachers and students.
Legal Data Bases: This is in use in many law schools across the world to access legal resources most common of which are lexis Nexis and WESTLAW. Data bases house a huge amount of data and knowledge which are available for research, teaching and practice after qualification as a lawyer. Since in large measure, legal research will be conducted by lawyers in practice, it is only appropriate and skills during their education and training in the university and vocational law school. Morever, cybercrimes can better be understood and learnt through understanding ICT, being the mechanism through which it is committed as well as electronically generated evidence.
Video Conferences: This medium holds a lot of promise in teaching and research especially for the injection of international and comparative floor in the curricula as it will enable guest speakers from long distances share resources. It could create a global classroom for students from several institutions to participate in the same course through bilateral and multilateral arrangements. This medium holds even more promise for students and academics in developing countries to share resources with their colleagues in better endowed regions without having a travel and facilitate better understanding of the various legal models and standards which exist elsewhere.
It aids in the development of skilled ICT labour force:- Investment in ICT for legal education and practing lawyers would certainly enhance the development of a skilled, “ICT-capable” labour force that could attract direct foreign investment as well as research and development activities. This would also engender university private sector links that are important drivers in innovation and growth in advanced economy.
It encourages open communication:- Along with having the potential to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom, ICT in legal education has the potential to encourage open communication between and among students, faculty and others that support active learning and knowledge construction.
It supports academic research:- ICT makes available information and resources supporting academic research that would not otherwise be accessible.
It fosters development of academic materials:- ICT fosters development of learning materials, presentations and lecturer in an interactive manner that allows faculty to delivers them to and share them with students directly.
It fosters open distance learning:- The flexibility and accessibility enabled by ICT has fostered and encouraged open distance learning wherein the teacher is removed in space and or time from the student and most communication is through the electronic medium (e.g. Internet radio, television or computer).
A lot of obstacles face the attainment of the maximum goal of information communication technology in developing countries like Nigeria. Some of the constraints with the optimization of ICT includes:-
Lack of Infrastructure:- These are the universally acknowledged problems of infrastructures like electricity and telephone facilities.
Lack of Interest in Awareness:- There is generally a lack of interest in ICT coupled with the low level of awareness and education ICT.
Computer literacy:- This is still essentially at it is rudimentary stage. It is also urban oriented very elitist and highly restricted in scope.
Lack of priority:- Priority is given to commercial and profit yielding ventures over educational and other public oriented social programmes.
Lack of Funding:- Funding is the crux of the matter. The bulk of resources available to legal education and Judicial institutions are the various tiers of government. The effect I that legal training institutions and the entire spectrum of the Judiciary have to scramble for available meager resources with other departments of the government. The legal education intuitions and the worst for it since there are not designed as revenue-generating units. There have been spirited clamour or improved funding for legal education and training intuitions and this would foster a sustainable ICT environment for better performances. In this regard, it is important to note that an alternative source of funding is complement subvention from convention from government is advocated to solve this problem.
CONCLUSION
It is important to add that the government, non-governmental organizations, universities and well meaning individuals have a very crucial role to play in funding the use and development of ICT in legal studies and education generally. The government and NGO’s also have a very important role to play in mobilizing and consientising the populace especially in rural areas on the use of ICT.
It is important to add that the government, non-governmental organizations, universities and well meaning individuals have a very crucial role to play in funding the use and development of ICT in legal studies and education generally. The government and NGO’s also have a very important role to play in mobilizing and consientising the populace especially in rural areas on the use of ICT.
Globalization driven by ICT is having a phenomenal impact on the acquisition of legal and other relevant learning, teaching, and research materials in law libraries across the country. Through ICT, lawyers and students can have access to current court proceedings/cases and law reports anywhere, anytime and in any form in the country. The relevance of ICT adoption and utilization in the Nigerian legal system for effective and efficient legal services delivery and the delivery of justice in Nigeria.
REFERENCES
Alutu, A. N. G. & Aluede, O. O. (2005). The Role of Counselling in dealing with Examination Malpractice and Ethics. Revisita esparola. De orientacion y pscio pedagogia Spain 16 (2) 188-197.
Collins Concise Dictionary. 21st Century Edition (2001). Glasgow: Harper & Collins Publishers.
Denga, D. I. & Denga, H. M. (1998). Educational Malpractice and Cultism in Nigeria. Calabar: Rapid Educational Publishers Ltd.
The globalization of legal practice by Dr. Tahir Mamman
The principles of Nigerian law by Nwikpasi
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