Lawyers Quick Response App Debuts 

NBA-AGC 2023: Over 14, 000 Lawyers Register for 2023 Conference

Stories by Steve Aya

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs Boma Alabi, has led a team of tech experts to develop a Lawyer specific app that will enhance the productivity, and improve the revenue of Nigerian Lawyers.

In the pre-launch briefing at Eko Hotel last Thursday, Mrs Alabi told the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Y.C. Miakyau, OON, SAN, that the development of the app took a number of years to come to readiness, because the team of High-tech experts wanted to ensure that Nigerian Lawyers got the best from the initiative. 

She said: “After 26 years of my legal practice in London, I returned to Nigeria and discovered we had several challenges and limitations in access to potential clients, real time. The application AptResponse is therefore, a must have for Lawyers. 

“Through the app, Lawyers can be reached quickly by those in urgent need of legal services, including those whose rights are being violated by security agencies. The app will link such persons immediately to the nearest Lawyer, who will come to their aid”.

In response, the NBA President Maikyau said: “I am really excited that this app is coming during my tenure as NBA President. As Lawyers, we have responsibilities which must be discharged with integrity. 

“AI has made it possible, to work from anywhere. The app should also be able to track the billing system of Lawyers, because under the new Act, a Lawyer must not charge less than the prescribed fees; it amounts to professional misconduct for any Lawyer to do so. 

“I am delighted to be part of this, and the NBA will definitely collaborate with your team to support this initiative.”

The NBA President said: “Our work environment has changed post-Covid, and we have to change our traditional approach to work; this app promotes the tech platform for this change.

“Lawyers share greater responsibilities in the society, because apart from ensuring the maintenance of law and order, we equally have the responsibility to direct the affairs of society. This app brings the connect between the Lawyer, the client and the society for good, because if there is a disconnect between what I call the sheep and the shepherd, there will be problems.

“In this digital age, our offices are everywhere, and this is what the app is promoting. We are everywhere, and we need to up platforms that will assist us to discharge our responsibilities everywhere in the society. This will also enable us to enhance the  billing system of Lawyers, in compliance with the new Legal Practitioners Remuneration Act.

“I love this app, and will involve others to love it and benefit from its application. Over 14,000 Lawyers have so far registered for the forthcoming Conference, we must deliver it without compromising the integrity of the Bar. This is a very laudable and revolutionary project, and will definitely add value to our profession”, Mr Maikyau stated.”

 The visioner for the project, Mrs Boma Alabi, started a mentoring programme for Nigerian Law students of the Lagos Campus with about 1, 600 students per session over 10 years ago, highly involved in Duty Solicitors Scheme and always strives to get additional jobs for young Lawyers.

Maikyau, SAN further revealed that with just a few weeks to the 2023 Annual General Conference of the NBA, over 14,000 Lawyers have registered for the Conference.