Justice Lenaola Calls for Legal Training Reforms to Align with Emerging Technologies

Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola has urged Kenyan legal institutions to reform their curricula to align with emerging technological trends, including artificial intelligence, while strengthening ethical standards within the legal profession.

Speaking during the launch of the law school and Bachelor of Laws programme at Zetech University on Friday, Justice Lenaola emphasized that technology is rapidly reshaping industries, and legal education must equip future lawyers to navigate complex legal issues arising from these innovations.

“The legal training has remained somewhat static. What was taught years ago is still being taught today. With the competency-based curriculum and emerging technologies, universities and the Kenya School of Law must be prepared to meet these new demands,” Lenaola said.

The judge challenged law students and legal scholars to begin considering how courts will handle disputes arising from emerging technologies, noting that artificial intelligence and other digital tools will increasingly influence judicial processes and legal practice.

Justice Lenaola also highlighted concerns over unethical conduct in the legal profession. He warned that corruption and exploitation of clients by unscrupulous lawyers undermine public confidence in the justice system. His remarks follow heightened scrutiny of the judiciary, including the recent arrest of a judge by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on corruption allegations.

“These incidents underscore the urgent need to strengthen integrity and accountability among advocates and judicial officers. Cases where clients are swindled by unscrupulous practitioners undermine the credibility of our legal system and must be decisively addressed,” Lenaola said.

At the event, Prof. Alice Njuguna, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic and Student Affairs at Zetech University, said the establishment of the law school marks a major milestone for the institution as it seeks to contribute to the development of a competent and ethical legal workforce.

Prof. Njuguna stressed the university’s commitment to maintaining high standards in legal education and ensuring that graduates are fully prepared to serve society effectively.

Also present was Jack Mwimali, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Legal Education, who confirmed that the accreditation of the Bachelor of Laws programme reflects Zetech University’s adherence to required standards in legal training.

Mwimali emphasized that legal institutions must provide quality education that equips graduates with both the knowledge and ethical grounding necessary to uphold justice.

The launch comes at a time when Kenya’s legal sector faces both technological disruption and ethical challenges, highlighting the need for reforms in legal training to ensure the next generation of lawyers is competent, adaptable, and principled.

Justice Lenaola concluded by urging universities and law schools across the country to adopt innovative teaching methods, integrate emerging technologies into their curricula, and instill a strong ethical foundation in students to preserve the credibility and effectiveness of Kenya’s justice system.