Post Status: Not applicable
Main Project Location: Lusaka
Project country/countries: Zambia
Project dates:  –
Last updated: 23 Mar 2022

Brief overview of the Case Study   

Apptorney is a legaltech platform that provides users with legal information on Zambian case law, legislation, and subsidiary legislation. Apptorney is a legaltech start-up headquartered in Lusaka, Zambia by founders at the intersection technology and law. The platform is an agnostic mobile application that uses natural language processing and content indexing and categorization to provide user friendly search functionality to its users.

The challenge or problem

Millions of Zambians are legally disadvantaged because they do not know the law as it is inaccessible to them. In order to access the law, they have to contact a lawyer, or dig deep into physical court archives, expensive publications, and complicated systems that only legal practitioners can understand. The status quo ensures that a select elite have access to justice while the masses are denied it. The law is currently a privilege of the rich and this undermines the rule of law.

The solution that was implemented

Apptorney is a platform developed to bring the law to the people. It consolidates all sources of law into one platform accessible by all. Apptorney aims to provide free, public, and user-friendly access to the law to make it available to Zambian citizens, legal institutions, and businesses.
Apptorney users can have access to:
Zambian Case Law
Zambian Legislation
Zambian Subsidiary Legislations

What results were achieved?

Apptorney, was founded in 2018 by Muchu Kaingu, Edwin Kamau, Soi Kaingu and Misozi Ngulube at the intersection of technology and law. The founders advocate for legal inclusion through various channels that emphasize inclusive technology. Apptorney is the first mobile application to provide access to Zambian law. The platform is updated by a dedicated team of legal researchers. The Apptorney platform is composed of a right mix of technologists (50%) and legal (50%) whose skills ultimately come together to bring legal information to the Zambian citizens.

Successes
Apptorney was named the winner of Seedstarts Lusaka pitching event in 2019. (extracted from Ventrureburn)

Apptorney’s planned goals and Milestones
Partnerships with the governments, as well as partnerships with mobile network operators.
Provision of free legal access to Zambians.
Addition of a marketplace that will democratize legal services and make legal access more affordable for all Zambians.
Addition of legal directory where law firms can promote their services.

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