AI is Knocking on Zambia’s Legal Door – Are We Ready?
Reagan Blankfein Gates
Managing Partner @ REAGAN BLANKFEIN GATES Legal Practitioners | ENERGY | RESOURCES | INFRASTRUCTURE | REAL ESTATE | PROJECT FINANCE | SECURITIES | ESG
May 20, 2025
Introduction
Big news from the UK: Garfield Law: Garfield AI just became the world’s first fully AI-run law firm approved by the UK’s Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA). Its entire operation? Sending debt collection letters—for just £2 each. No lawyers. No late nights. Just algorithms doing what junior associates and paralegals used to handle. While this might seem distant from Zambia’s legal landscape, it’s a wake-up call. Because where global legal tech goes, the rest of the world eventually follows.
What this means for Zambia’s legal profession
- The “Easy” work is first to go: Drafting standard demand letters, simple contracts, or routine compliance filings doesn’t require a brilliant legal mind—just accuracy and speed. AI can (and will) do this cheaper and faster. If your practice relies heavily on these tasks, it’s time to rethink.
- But AI cannot replace the Zambian lawyer’s edge: Our real value? Understanding local nuances—the unspoken dynamics of a Lusaka business deal, the cultural context behind a land dispute on the Copperbelt, or the human element in a family law case. AI cannot, atleast on its current capabilities, navigate Zambia’s informal economies, tribal considerations, or the art of negotiating in our unique legal environment.
- Adapt or get left behind: The question is not if AI will reshape Zambia’s legal sector, but when. Firms that embrace tech for routine work will free up time for higher-value advisory roles. Those that don’t? They will lose clients to faster, cheaper alternatives.
The way forward
This isn’t about fear—it’s about opportunity. The future belongs to Zambian lawyers who:
- Leverage AI for grunt work, cutting costs and turnaround times.
- Double down on expertise where humans win—strategic advice, dispute resolution, and navigating Zambia’s complex regulatory landscape.
- Stay ahead of the curve by understanding legal tech trends before they disrupt us.
Garfield Law is just the beginning. The global legal market is shifting. Zambia’s legal profession can either lead that change—or scramble to catch up.
What’s your move?
