The Impacts of Information and Communication Technology (Ict) on Nigerian Legal Education
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the relationship between information and communication technology and legal education
- To ascertain the impact of information and communication technology on legal education
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
What is Information Technology Law
Before delving into what information technology law is all about, it is apt to understand what information technology is. Information technology is sometimes misconstrued to mean computers. The application of computer technology to information procurement, processing and provision is certainly an aspect but not entirely reflective of the concept of information technology. Information technology covers a wide spectrum of tools and technologies used for all aspects of information handling and management beginning from information production to its eventual provision and use. It includes computer hardware and software systems, Compact Disk Read Only Memory, video recording and conferencing, electronic information resources like e-books, e-journals, reprographic machines, online databases like LexisNexis and Westlaw, the Internet, Local Area Network, etc. Information technology does not lend itself to easy and a unanimous definition. The MerriamWebster online dictionary defines information technology as “the technology involving the development, maintenance, and use of computer systems, software, and networks for the processing and distribution of data. Another dictionary definition goes thus: “the use, study or production of a range of technologies (especially computer systems, digital electronics, and telecommunications) to store, process and transmit information.” Carter defines information technology as the use of technology to aid the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis and communication of information whether in the form of data, text, voice or image. While the discrepancies in the above definitions are obvious, the components of information technology can further be separated and defined individually. According to Meadow, “Information is processed data that changes the state of a system that processes it, whether a computer or brain, hence a stream of data that does not change the state of its receiver is not information”. This definition succinctly captures the essential constituent of information. Information must make an effect on the receiver, it must add to, vary or alter a line of thought or action of the receiver; it may lead the receiver to perform an act or refrain from doing an act. Communication on the other hand is the activity of conveying information between two or more communicating entities. It can also be described as the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium in which the communicated information is understood the same way by both the sender and the receiver. Technology is defined as “study of the technical means undertaken in all cultures (a universal) which involves the systematic application of organized knowledge (synthesis) and tangibles (tools) for the extension of human facilities that are restricted as a result of the evolutionary process. Implicit in this definition is that technology is a process which results when man tries to fashion out tools and materials to solve his problems; thus, it is an advancement from what used to be to what is needed.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought the impact of information and communication technology on Nigeria legal education
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information the impact of information and communication technology on Nigeria legal education. 200 staffs of law school, Kano state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of information and communication technology on Nigeria legal education. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of information and communication technology on Nigeria legal education
Summary
This study was on the impact of information and communication technology on Nigeria legal education. Two objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the relationship between information and communication technology and legal education and to ascertain the impact of information and communication technology on legal education. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staffs of law school, Kano state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made of HOD, senior lecturers, junior lecturers and non-teaching staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The world in this 21st century has seen an unprecedented transformation with the emergence of ICT and its constant innovations and improvements. ICT seems to have pervaded and permeated every facet of life in today’s world. There is hardly any layer of human interaction, relationship or endeavour that ICT has not directly or indirectly affected in Nigeria. Given these fact, it follows that the law and the development of the country’s legal system must as a matter of urgency and necessity adapt to these realities of ICT revolution. The law needs to respond and adapt to the ICT revolution. Information technology has greatly contributed to the growth and national development of this nation in various areas. But its further potential can only be imagined. To fully benefit from this growth and management of trade disputes that will follow, we must prepare our lawyers and judges by providing them with up-to-date knowledge of internationally accepted laws and regulations on ICT related transactions. The development, introduction and teaching of ICT law in Nigerian law school is a good place to start.
Recommendation
It is known that law is very essential for any action to be taken like the adage goes thus: ‘where there is no law there is no sin’, that means we cannot do without law. Since we know that law is very important in our day –to – day activities, the practice of law should be made convenient for the legal practitioners
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