The Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) among Legal Practitioners in Ibadan Metropolis

Clara Ademilola Coker^1,

¹Department of Computer Science, Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Clara Ademilola Coker. The Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) among Legal Practitioners in Ibadan Metropolis. Journal of Computer Sciences and Applications. 2014; 2(1):1-5. doi: 10.12691/jcsa-2-1-1

Abstract

This work present the use of ICTs among legal practitioners in Ibadan metropolis and to determine how often the lawyers used ICTs for their information needs and to ascertain the extent to which they were satisfied with the services provided by ICTs. The analyses are based on data from a questionnaire survey of the legal practitioners in the metropolis. The findings revealed that due to lack of awareness, majority of the lawyers were yet to take advantage of the huge potential benefits that can be derived from using ICTs. The study revealed that legal practitioners used some ICTs more than others; for instance, mobile phones and computers were the most frequently used ICTs. Furthermore, young legal practitioners embraced ICTs more than the older lawyers. In addition, about 75.2% of the respondents strongly agreed that the application of ICTs in the legal profession would go a long way in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the profession. The major problems and constraints identified to the use of ICTs among lawyers are the unfavorable economic situation of the country, excessive cost of procurement of ICTs facilities and inadequate infrastructure such as telecommunication and electric supply.

Keywords:
communication computers information legal practitioners mobile phone technologies

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	David S. Wal. Information Technology and Shaping of Legal Practice in the UK. 13th BILETA conference: ‘The changing Jurisdiction’. (Internet) Friday, March 27th and Saturday, March 28th, 1998. www.bileta.ac.uk/98papers/wall.html.5th January 2004.
[2]	Eckes .T. The Developmental Social Psychology of Gender, Lawrence Erlbaum, 2000. [E-book] Available: netLibrary e-book.
[3]	Erich Schweighofer. The Revolution in Legal Information Retrieval on: The Empire Strikes Back. Institute of public International Law, Research Center for Computers and Law, University of Vienna, 1999. http://eij.warwick.ac.uk/jilt/99-1/schweigh.html. 21st January 2004.
[4]	Fogg, B.J, Persuasive technology: using computers to change what we think and do, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Boston, 2003, 30-35.
[5]	Hirsh, H., Coen, M.H., Mozer, M.C., Hasha, R. and Flanagan, J.L, “Room service, AI-style,” IEEE intelligent systems, 14 (2). 8-19. Jul.2002.
[6]	John W.Raine. Modernizing Courts and Tribunals through ICTs – Lessons from the London Parking Appeals Service. International Journal of law, information and Technology, 2001, vol. 9(2), pp115-131.
[7]	Kelly M. Hypertext – A model of lawyers Text Handling Methods. International Journal of Law and Infraction Technology. 1993, vol. 1 (3), 354.
[8]	Kevin Curran and Lee Higgins. A legal Retrieval information System. Enterprise Computing Research Group, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, 2000. The Journal of Information, Law and Technology. (Internet). http://eij.warwick.ac.uk/jilt/00-3/curran.html. 21st January 2004.
[9]	Muren, R.A. Law and Justice: An introduction. Pacific Groove, California: Brooks and Cole Publishing, 1998, P.1.
[10]	Oshikoya T.W. and Hussain M.N. Information Technology and Challenge of Economic Development in Africa. Economic Research, 2000, No 36, pp 1-20.
[11]	Singh Gurmak, John O’ Donogbue and Karen Broome. An Empirical Study in the Use of IT by Small and Large Firms in the UK. Referenced article, 2002. The Journal of Information, Law and Technology. (Internet) http://eij.warwick.ac.uk/jilt/02-1/Singh.html. 5th January 2004.