Serisha Barrat

Lawyered Up

What does your company do?

Our company, Lawyered Up, provides affordable and accessible legal services for African SMEs. Leveraging technology such as AI and Natural Language Processing, our platform offers customizable legal documents and facilitates collaboration between SMEs and vetted lawyers. We emphasize corporate governance and compliance, aiming to empower SMEs to navigate legal challenges confidently while fostering their growth. Additionally, through our professional policy, we dedicate three hours weekly to pro bono legal support for gender-based violence victims, demonstrating our commitment to social responsibility. Overall, Lawyered Up aims to revolutionize the legal landscape in Africa by making high-quality legal resources more accessible and by contributing to economic development across the continent.

What is your biggest success?

Our greatest achievement is empowering SMEs in Nigeria, Kenya, and Botswana through our affordable legal services. We've helped them navigate complexities and ensure compliance while providing pro bono support for gender-based violence victims. Seeing tangible improvements in their lives underscores our commitment to driving positive change in Africa's business landscape.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Our biggest hurdle has been overcoming the initial skepticism and trust barriers that SMEs often face when adopting new legal services platforms. Convincing potential clients of the value and reliability of our platform required extensive outreach, education, and building credibility within the market and employing more people.