Neema Magimba: Africa’s Legal Millennial

“Beyond mastering statutes and case law, the modern lawyer must anticipate shifts in policy, industry, and digital innovation.”- Neema Magimba

 

Neema Magimba is an Advocate admitted to practice law in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. She is currently the Managing Partner of Extent Corporate Advisory, a reputable Corporate and Intellectual Property Law Firm providing services in the East Africa Region and ARIPO. She is also an Innovator, one of the Co-Founders, and the CEO of Sheria Kiganjani (Law On Your Palm), Tanzania’s first legal tech platform. The platform provides easily accessible and affordable legal services to over 3.5 million Tanzanians who cannot access justice due to financial and geographical constraints. Active within legal circles, Neema is a member of the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA), the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), the Zanzibar Law Society (ZLS), the International Trademark Association (INTA), the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual property (AIPPI) and the European Communities Trademark Association (ECTA). Recognised for her exceptional contributions, Neema was celebrated as one of the 2020 “100 Tanzania Sheroes” by the Embassy of Sweden and the Launch Pad Tanzania. She also recently won the 2023 Andrew E. Rice Award for Innovation and Leadership in International Development by a young professional.

 

1. The Driving Force for Choosing the Legal Profession.

Growing up, Neema always knew that she wanted to be a lawyer. As a young girl, she watched two of her Aunts become lawyers, their confidence when they spoke and the things they dared to question even when no one else would, made her admire the profession. But as she grew older and started to pursue her law studies, she came to appreciate that the practice of law transcends mere confidence and a willingness to challenge norms. She realised that her knowledge and expertise could profoundly impact people’s lives, whether individuals or businesses. “The ability to make a tangible difference in the lives of those I serve, leveraging my skills and insights, is what truly fuels my passion and makes this profession deeply fulfilling”, Neema said.

 

2. Qualities of an Exceptional Lawyer and How Young Professionals Can Cultivate Such Attributes.

According to Neema, a truly exceptional lawyer today combines deep legal expertise with adaptability, empathy, and technological fluency. “Beyond mastering statutes and case law, the modern lawyer must anticipate shifts in policy, industry, and digital innovation”, Neema said. According to her, empathy and cultural competence ensure that legal advice resonates with clients’ lived experiences, while ethical leadership builds trust in an era of instant information. To cultivate these qualities, Neema advised young professionals to:

• Engage in continuous learning: Attend workshops and conferences on emerging fields (e.g., data privacy, legal tech, AI, etc), subscribe to diverse newsletters, and stay up to date on the latest trends.
• Seek mentorship and cross-disciplinary exposure: Pair up with senior lawyers and participate in interdisciplinary projects like tech startups, policy forums, and pro bono clinics to broaden your perspective.
• Embrace soft-skills training: Workshops and training in negotiation, storytelling, and cultural intelligence deepen empathy and communication.
• Volunteer or clerk: Real-world exposure whether in courts, regulatory authorities, law firms, or NGOs sharpens adaptability and ethical judgment.
• Seek stretch assignments: Volunteer or work on cross-border matters involving multiple jurisdictions to expand your knowledge.
• Build a learning network. Join bar associations, professional membership associations, and peer forums to exchange ideas.

 

3. Next Groundbreaking Project or Initiatives and Possible Impacts.

  “Staying on trend and utilising the power of technology, our team is currently working on building our AI chatbot Wakili Msomi, which is currently in beta testing, into a multi-channel legal assistance platform that reaches users wherever they are via WhatsApp, SMS, and our mobile app”, Neema said. She also said, “through this initiative, we will:

• Increase accessibility: The Platform will enable entrepreneurs and everyday citizens to pose legal questions in Swahili or English on familiar channels, whether they are in urban centers or remote villages, without needing in-person consultation.
• Leverage conversational analytics: Track and analyse anonymised user interactions to identify the top legal pain points and use those insights to enhance our services focusing on clients’ day-to-day needs.

By combining AI, data-driven insights, and user-centric design, we aim to transform “Wakili Msomi” from a chatbot experiment into a scalable legal empowerment tool driving both individual agency and systemic improvements in Tanzania’s access-to-justice landscape”, Neema said.

4. Role Models and Impactful Books

 Neema has been influenced by aunts, Honourable Judge Marlin Komba who is serving as a Judge at the High Court of Tanzania, Musoma Registry, and Mrs. Isabella Warioba who is serving as the Partnerships and Child Protection Adviser at the Africa Union Commission. Over the years, she has also been inspired by advocates who combine technical mastery with unwavering commitment to access to justice. On the global stage, the Late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissents and convictions reminded her that principled persistence can reshape society’s rules.

In shaping her mindset, Neema has turned to two transformative works. The first is “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind” by Dr. Joseph Murphy. The work reminds her that beliefs and internal narratives directly influence our professional performance and resilience in the face of setbacks. The second is “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene. According to Neema, the book offers a guide to navigating complex interpersonal dynamics, teaching her how to wield influence ethically, build alliances, and anticipate challenges in both boardrooms and courtrooms. Neema re-read the two books at least once every year.

 

5. Advice or Guiding Principles for Young Legal Professionals and Advocates Trying to Find their Place and Purpose in the Legal Terrain.

According to Neema,

1. Define Your “Why”: Before chasing prestigious firms or high-profile cases, ask yourself what change you want to drive and why you want to do what you want to do, and let that conviction steer your career choices.
2. Build a Broad Skillset and continue learning every day: Don’t silo yourself in legal theory. Learn the basics of finance, tech, and other intersecting fields. It will go a long way in your practice.
3. Embrace Collaboration: Law today intersects policy, tech, and so many other fields. Volunteer or work on multi-stakeholder initiatives to see how solutions are forged across sectors.
4. Practice Resilience: Early setbacks, lost motions, and late nights are inevitable. View each as a lesson in strategy, not a verdict on your potential.
5. Invest in Relationships: Your network, including colleagues, mentors, peers, and even competitors, will open doors you didn’t know existed. Cultivate it with generosity, reliability, and genuine curiosity.
6. Above all, prioritise your well-being: Cultivate routines and mindfulness practices that sustain your passion and balance the demands of legal work.

Click here to read our previous Millennial, Michael Butera

Editorial Credits for this article
The Millennial Editors at The PALM:

• Silver Obioha – Managing Editor
• Dikeledi Matlhagare – Deputy Managing Editor
• Aya Hamdy, Princess Maake – Associate Editors
• Jemilat Akerele, Vera Enubianozor, Oluwabusayo Awodele, Gift Nwoke, Jessica Odoh, Tracy Karumba, Mary-Jones Ossi, Halimah Oladunni, Mary Linus, Jessica Omoruyi – Assistant Editors