Exploring the opportunities and limitations for artificial intelligence to reduce legal aid backlogs in Malawi

Malawi, a low-income country with a population of over 20 million and a GDP per capita of approximately $635, is facing a significant legal aid crisis. The Legal Aid Bureau is burdened with over 25,000 active cases, managed by fewer than 50 lawyers, while the judiciary struggles with severe staffing shortages and outdated systems. This Discovery research project, supported by the Frontier Technologies Hub and FUMBA, explores how artificial intelligence (AI) could support justice sector reform by addressing legal aid backlogs. Using a combination of desk research and six focus groups with over 50 stakeholders including private sector lawyers, legal aid lawyers, judicial office holders, law students, and academics, the study identifies promising AI use cases such as legal research assistants, document automation, public-facing chatbots, and case triage systems. Stakeholder demand for these solutions is strong, but implementation must address key concerns around localisation, legal ethics, data security, and sustainability. The report recommends a staged approach: starting with a focused pilot in a legal aid or court setting, backed by policy development, capacity-building, and long-term funding strategies. With the right partnerships, Malawi could pioneer an inclusive model for AI-enabled justice reform in resource-constrained settings.<p></p>