A Survey of Knowledge Management in Law Firms in Botswana

Abstract

This article provides an empirical assessment of knowledge management in law firms in Botswana. It employs survey research methodology and triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection.
Data were collected mainly through a questionnaire administered to the 217 lawyers in all the law firms registered with the Botswana Law Society. The response rate was 64.5% (i.e. 140 returned copies of the questionnaire). Fifteen other lawyers were interviewed. The findings reveal that lawyers in Botswana are still grappling with the concept, requirements and implications of knowledge management. It was concluded that law firms in Botswana need to become proactive about knowledge management in law practice. The study recommended that lawyers in Botswana should consider talking to others in the legal community about knowledge management issues, attend meetings and workshops on knowledge management, invest time and money in creating bulletins boards, form alliances with international professional
associations, and get connected to electronic forums that foster collaborative thinking.