ICT for Legal Education: School of Law hosts Artificial Intelligence Seminar

The Inaugural Artificial Intelligence (AI) Law Seminar organized by the School of Law under the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Legal Education Project whose value proposition transcends the theory and practice of ICT Law from a Global South perspective, was held on the 5th of September 2023 in the Africa University Moot Court. The main objective behind this seminar was to demonstrate understanding of Artificial Intelligence in the academic area of law and in the practice of ICT law. The seminar was moderated by second year students from the School of Law. Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Pamela Machakanja graced this event where she placed emphasis on the student-centred approach appreciating  law students for championing the seminar. The  Dean of the School of law Dr Tendai Nhenga also shared some remarks, focusing on innovation where the School of Law , both staff and students,  are focused on the realization of the development of the University in areas of Research and Innovation.

In a comment, Procedural Law Lecturer Mr. Nkosana Maphosa  said, “the utility of outcome-based, student-centred and innovative legal education strategies cannot be stressed enough. Accordingly, in terms of pedagogy, this initiative complements the existing traditional legal education models which were championed by, for example, Christopher Columbus Langdell. As a result, the School of Law’s approach favours 21st-century skills and clinical legal education models.”

The seminar comprised  a variety of presentations from student in the School of Law on topics such the Delictual Liability of Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and E-commerce, the Influence of Artificial Intelligence in Procedural and Substantive Criminal Law and an overview from Mr. T. Tazvitya, Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) Councilor for Manicaland and a practicing lawyer on  artificial intelligence and the law in the practical world.

Seminars such as these feed into the School of Law’s long-term strategic vision of producing dynamic and competitive legal professionals who can contribute to ICT Law reforms to promote economic development nationally, regionally and internationally.