A Ugandan law firm has become the first in the country and Africa to launch virtual operations
meant to offer clients convenient and unique ways to access legal services through online
platforms.
Onyango & Co Advocates located on Ggaba road says its virtual operation will enable clients to
use technological means to consult online and purchase legal documents using mobile money
and visa payment platforms..
‘‘The firm has put in place a secure and safe online environment on its website through which
clients can in privacy consult our lawyers and buy a wide-range of legal documents,’’ said
Onyango Owor, the partner in charge of strategy & growth at the firm.
‘‘The lockdown due to Covid-19 has meant that people can’t access legal services and those that
can face difficulties due to restrictions on movement,’’ added Onyango. ‘‘The new product from
our firm addresses these challenges and harnesses the opportunities provided by technological
tools to make legal services accessible to clients from the comfort of their homes and offices.’’
Onyango & Co Advocates has been in operations for the last 10 years. The firm has successfully
handled several commercial, transactional and constitutional cases including the recent win
before the constitutional court that led to striking down of sections of the Public Order
Management Act (POMA) which critics say gives excessive powers to police to accept or deny
public gatherings from taking place.
Among legal documents that can be bought off the firm’s website there are land sales
agreements, car sales agreements, employment contracts, partnership deeds, memorandum and
articles of Association , tenancy agreements, Human Resource documents and Wills.
Users can also consult lawyers using instant chat and a video -conferencing features on the website.
The virtual law firm service users will have to go to the firm website and then click the virtual
law firm tab which will lead them to the firm’s online services. One will be required to register
and create an account using their email addresses; a one time password will be sent to their email
address which can then be changed by the user . Thereafter, the user can access online
consultation services as well as purchase legal documents.
To consult a lawyer online, one will have to choose the consultation option, choose a lawyer they
would like to consult basing on their profiles and the language they speak. The user will then
book an appointment by choosing an appropriate date and time which is then booked
automatically into the lawyer’s online diary.
The user then proceeds to pay by filling in their billing details and choosing the option to either
pay by mobile money or credit card. A user may choose to pay for legal services manually
storing Airtel money using the firm’s merchant code.
The same process will be followed to purchase a legal document.
The law firm beginning the 20th of this month will train Lawyers on the practical aspects of using
technology in providing legal services and sell law firm management and virtual law systems to
lawyers in Uganda and across Africa.
