HiveLaw: How collaboration and tech is shaping the future of university law clinics

Cognisant of this significant responsibility, tech start-up LawLabz, in collaboration with leading corporate and commercial law firm, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH), Cloud Essentials, and the Nelson Mandela University recently unveiled HiveLaw, an innovative legal office that enables employees of the law clinic and its students to use the same type of technology they would encounter in a modern legal practice. The launch took place on Tuesday, 23 July, at Nelson Mandela University, where HiveLaw is currently deployed at the Law Clinic. This state-of-the-art technology offers features such as client onboarding, document management, email filing, time recording, diary management, and student assessments.

We were honoured to have the Honourable Judge Avinash Govindjee who presented the keynote address. In addition, Brent Williams, CEO, CDH; Professor Marshall Sheldon, Dean of Engineering, Nelson Mandela University; Dr Lynn Biggs, Executive Dean Faculty of Law, Nelson Mandela University; Chris Hathaway, Director, Cloud Essentials; Dr Marc Welgemoed, Head of Department - Department of Criminal and Procedural Law, Nelson Mandela University; and Lindi Coetzee, Deputy Dean: Faculty of Law, Nelson Mandela University participated in the speaker line-up as well as Retha Beerman, Director: Knowledge Management, CDH who provided an insightful presentation on the journey of HiveLaw.

Brent Williams, CDH CEO says “The vision for HiveLaw was born from the need for the equitable development of legal practice, as well as fair access to justice, and quality legal education in South Africa. Traditional law clinics often struggle with systems that fail to adequately prepare students for the demands of modern legal practice.”

“As one of the country’s large law firms,” says Williams “we believe HiveLaw helps us realise our responsibility to bridge this accessibility gap, and at the same time, helps law clinics keep pace with the rapid technology transformation taking place across the legal sector. HiveLaw is a comprehensive platform enabling law clinic employees and students to engage with the same advanced tools found in top-tier law firms like CDH.”

Dr. Marc Welgemoed, Head of Department of Criminal and Procedural Law, at Nelson Mandela University, says “The Nelson Mandela University Law Clinic is thrilled to have partnered with CDH through its involvement in LawLabz, in piloting and implementing HiveLaw. The Law Clinic is situated at the Missionvale Campus and is a full-fledged Legal Aid Office. We recognise the need to deliver quality legal services to the indigent living within impoverished areas of Nelson Mandela Bay and other surrounding areas, provide training to law students, and play a prominent role in community engagement.”

As HiveLaw expands its reach, Williams believes the future of legal practice in South Africa looks brighter and more inclusive, promising significant advancements in both education and service delivery.