By Charmaine Ndlela
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel has warned law students against relying on artificial intelligence (AI) to complete university assignments, saying the technology should be used to support, not replace, critical thinking, ethical judgment and personal responsibility.
Addressing aspiring legal practitioners during the Career Day for Law Students at North-West University’s Mahikeng Campus on Friday, Nel said students who fail to understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI risk undermining their professional development.
“Don’t go and ask ChatGPT to write your assignment,” Nel said.
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“Sit. Think. Think deeply about what you need to do. Write out a proper, detailed, well-thought-through and well-constructed prompt. Let AI do its thing. But once the output comes out, the responsibility rests with you to read it, interrogate it and engage with it critically. That is making smart use of technology,” he said.
Nel said AI has transformed the legal profession by enabling practitioners to search vast quantities of case law, summarise judgments, draft contracts and analyse legal information more efficiently.
However, he cautioned that AI could also generate inaccurate information, including fabricated legal authorities, making it risky for legal professionals who rely on it without verification.
“You don’t want to be the advocate or attorney who stands up in the Constitutional Court and gives judges the citation to a case that has never existed in the history of the world. AI is very capable of making you do that,” he said.
While encouraging students to embrace technological innovation, Nel stressed that the legal profession would continue to require qualities that machines cannot replicate.
“A machine can process information, and AI is incredibly good at doing that. Let’s be clear, it can do amazing things. But it cannot possess integrity. It can identify precedent, but it cannot understand the moral weight of a decision. It can analyse evidence, but it cannot fully appreciate the fear of a witness, the vulnerability of a child or the dignity of an accused person.
The future will not need lawyers who compete with machines at processing information. It needs lawyers who bring to technology what technology cannot supply — judgment, empathy, ethics, courage and human understanding,” Nel said.
Beyond technology, Nel reminded students that a career in law is ultimately about public service and safeguarding democracy.
Reflecting on South Africa’s constitutional democracy, he said every generation has a responsibility to continue building a society founded on democratic values, social justice and human rights.
“These are not abstract promises. They are tasks. Those tasks remain urgent and unfinished,” he said.
Nel said law graduates would play different roles in society, but all would contribute to shaping justice in South Africa.
“Some of you will become attorneys. Some will become advocates. Some will prosecute organised crime and corruption. Some will defend people who cannot afford legal representation. Some will draft legislation. Some will advise government. Some will conduct research and teach the next generation. Some of you may sit on the bench as judges. But every one of you will help shape the meaning of justice in South Africa,” he said.
He urged students to view the career exhibition as more than an opportunity to secure employment.
“A career is about what you do. A calling is about why you do it. South Africa needs lawyers who understand both,” Nel said.
Reflecting on South Africa’s democratic journey, Nel acknowledged declining levels of trust in public institutions, particularly among young people, but argued that this should motivate future lawyers to strengthen democracy rather than abandon it.
He said democracy is reinforced whenever prosecutors act independently, attorneys serve clients honestly, judges deliver fair judgments and legal professionals help ordinary citizens understand and exercise their constitutional rights.
Nel also encouraged students to explore the wide range of legal career paths available, including opportunities in government, Legal Aid South Africa, the National Prosecuting Authority, academia and private practice.
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He noted that although many graduates aspire to join large commercial law firms, the majority of South Africa’s more than 35,500 attorneys work in small firms that provide essential legal services to communities while training the next generation of legal professionals.
“But the reality is that the vast majority of legal practices in our country are small firms, with thousands of attorneys practising on their own. These smaller firms and social practitioners are often the first and only point of legal assistance available to communities,” Nel said.
He encouraged students to use networking opportunities to build their careers.
“Every conversation today could open a door tomorrow, but remember that no institution can build a career for you,” he said.
