Africa Melane: Darren Cohen is the General Manager of Legal&Tax and he tweeted me last week to say this is what we are doing for Mandela Day and now he joins me on the line, Darren, a very good morning and welcome to the show.
Darren Cohen: Moring Africa and to all your listeners.
Africa Melane: Let's start by understanding who and what legal and tax is.
Darren Cohen: Legal&Tax Services is an authorized financial services provider. Primarily we offer legal expense insurance products, a leading provider in the industry. We've been in business for over 28 years.
Africa Melane: And what are you doing for Mandela Day this Thursday?
Darren Cohen: So first and foremost, together with our tech partners, Legal Interact, we've developed something called my AI lawyer. It's a platform that provides you with legal advice and answers to any sort of questions you may have within the legal framework. For the month of July, we are providing access to the platform for free. On Mandela Day itself, we're opening up the platform to all of South Africa with unlimited questions. Over and above that, we are also providing access to our information Hub, which has hundreds of articles, videos and guides across categories to provide you with information on any sort of legal category that you're looking for.
Africa Melane: Just to be clear, are these consultations that you're offering to South Africans who use the app on Thursday to ask you legal questions, services that you would normally be able to bill and invoice for
Darren Cohen: My AI lawyer was developed about a year ago. We launched it on Human Rights Day last year. It's not a stand-alone App, but actually lives and breathes on WhatsApp. So, it's very easy to access and you can literally go on WhatsApp and ask your questions.
My AI lawyer is a subscription service. Normally we would charge R49 a month for it. If you weigh that up over the course of a year, it’s in the region of R600 - a consultation with a lawyer is going to cost you a lot more than that.
Africa Melane: Absolutely. So how do I get it onto my WhatsApp?
Darren Cohen: The phone number is 071 526 8527. To access the service, simply send the keyword 'AI' (just the two letters, 'A' and 'I') to 071 526 8527. From there, you’ll be asked for your name, followed by your first legal question. Then you can get started righ
Africa Melane: I think it’s a wonderful initiative, Darren, especially considering that the former President was a lawyer by training. He strongly believed that the law should be just and serve society effectively. We know that accessibility to legal services is a challenge for millions of South Africans, and being able to provide this service achieves much of what many have hoped and fought for
Darren Cohen: Absolutely. Madiba was a staunch advocate for equitable and accessible justice. Our experience shows that many legal issues can be resolved when advice and assistance are readily available. While access to justice often implies costly litigation, access to advice can make a significant difference, helping you protect what you love and fight for what matters. In a country plagued by gender-based violence and exploitation, accessible legal advice can protect and empower the vulnerable members of our society.
Africa Melane: I'm sure there are listeners who are worried that this is just a bot-based system where some computer generates answers to some of the questions that we might be asking it. Let's perhaps share some success stories and feedback you've had from users of the app, and what assurance do we know that the information we receive? Back from the WhatsApp messages is accurate and reliable.
Darren Cohen: First and foremost, our tech partners, Legal Interact, developed the platform on the Microsoft Azure system. It has just won the 2024 Microsoft Global Change Makers Award for its innovation and potential. With the backing of a robust platform like Microsoft Azure, you can be assured of its reliability and security.
Darren Cohen: Recognition like that shows it's trusted. So, what makes My AI Lawyer different? It's digital when you want it and human when you need it. It’s backed by our in-house lawyers who have trained it, emphasizing our purpose of companionship and care. When you engage with it, you'll receive a compassionate and human response.
Going through a legal challenge often brings angst, anxiety, and heightened emotions. Engaging with a tech platform that interacts with you on a very humanized basis can significantly change how you feel about your situation.
What sets it apart from other AI systems is that we’ve specifically trained it on the South African legal framework, and this training is ongoing. Every week, our team of legal professionals updates it with new laws and precedents. They also review the questions people ask and refine the answers provided, ensuring it’s always up-to-date and offers the most sensible advice."
Africa Melane: Brilliant, Darren, thank you very much for reaching out and thank you very much for the service you're offering people of South Africa, Darren Cohen, General Manager at Legal&Tax that number again 0715268527 that's 0715268527. All you have to do is send the message A. Eye and then the engagement will begin. And on Mandela Day, this Thursday, you'll have unlimited questions that you can ask the application.
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