LSK presidential hopeful, Peter Wanyama, has issued a strong call to advocates across the country to confront the realities facing the legal profession, warning that the market is rapidly shrinking and in need of urgent reforms.
Speaking on his social media platforms as he outlined his vision for the Law Society of Kenya, Wanyama said the challenges affecting the profession, from unemployment to technological disruption, require bold leadership and collective action from advocates.
“We cannot bury our heads in the sand. There is massive unemployment and intense competition for legal work. Young lawyers are underpaid, law firm incomes are declining, and the legal market is shrinking,” he told the advocates.
Peter Wanyama, who joined law school in 2001 despite warnings that the profession was “flooded,” said the situation today is more complex and demands decisive leadership from the LSK.
He has vowed to bring massive changes in the Legal Sector if elected President in the coming polls.
Lawyer Wanyama also noted that although Kenya still has a relatively low number of lawyers per capita, the real crisis lies in the failure to grow and diversify the legal market.
“There is little appetite to expand into innovative and strategic practice areas. With AI and technological platforms converging, the market will continue to shrink unless we intervene,” he warned.
Positioning himself as the candidate prepared to steer the profession through disruption, Wanyama called on advocates to unite behind strategies that protect traditional practice areas while opening new frontiers for growth.
“Lawyers must adapt or perish. We must protect our space from non-lawyers offering legal services, create new practice areas, and seize opportunities in a growing economy. If we expand and ring-fence the legal market, the numbers will not be a threat,” he said.
Wanyama outlined the trends he believes will define the future of practice, including AI-powered legal processes, new specialization fields, hybrid law firm models, and multidisciplinary practice teams.
He said emerging sectors such as cyber security, ESG compliance, and data privacy will be critical for the next generation of lawyers.
“Even the running-down areas are changing motor vehicle and insurance systems are becoming integrated. If we are not careful, compensation may be fully automated under a no-fault system, cutting out advocates entirely,” he cautioned.
As part of his campaign platform, Peter Wanyama announced that he will soon convene a national forum in Nairobi to engage advocates especially young practitioners on the opportunities and risks ahead.
“We must stand above the rest. The profession needs leadership that understands the market, anticipates threats, and empowers advocates at every level. That is the leadership I am offering,” he said.