I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher

US-based Nigerian lawyer and researcher Tolulope Awoyomi has shared her journey from studying Law at 14 to building a career at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), technology, and business analytics.

Awoyomi gained admission to study Law at 14, completed her degree at 19 and was called to the Nigerian Bar at 20. Although she initially expected to follow a conventional legal career, her journey eventually took a different direction as she developed an interest in technology and its growing influence on society.

I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher

Her legal training, however, was far from wasted. The critical thinking, analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills she acquired through her studies later became useful as she explored opportunities in the technology industry.

How Tolulope Awoyomi Developed an Interest in Artificial Intelligence

Awoyomi’s interest in artificial intelligence began in 2018 after someone told her about plans to pursue a master’s degree in the field. The idea caught her attention and encouraged her to learn more about a technology that was gradually gaining prominence.

She began studying AI more seriously in early 2022 and started sharing what she learnt with others on LinkedIn in 2023. By 2024, she had expanded her educational content to YouTube, reaching more people interested in understanding artificial intelligence.

Her curiosity also led her to explore information systems, business analytics, machine learning and software development. Rather than focusing on a single area, she sought to understand how different technologies work and how they can be used to solve everyday problems.

From Law to Technology: Building a Career Across Different Fields

Awoyomi later moved to the United States to pursue broader educational and professional opportunities. There, she earned a Master of Laws degree in Business and Finance Law from George Washington University.

However, building a career in a new country came with its own challenges. She had to adjust to a different professional environment, develop new relationships and establish herself while navigating unfamiliar opportunities.

Over time, her interests in Law, technology, research and business began to come together, giving her a broader perspective on the issues surrounding artificial intelligence.

Today, her work focuses on how AI can be used responsibly, particularly in areas such as data privacy, accountability, intellectual property, ethics and technology governance.

Books and Podcast Helping People Understand AI and Law

Awoyomi has also turned her interest in education into practical resources for people who want to understand artificial intelligence without getting lost in technical language.

She wrote Simple Book of AI to introduce readers to the technology in an accessible way, including those without a technical background.

She also authored Bridging AI and Law: A Practical Guide for Lawyers and Technologists, which aims to help legal professionals and technology experts better understand each other’s work.

Beyond writing, she established the Everything AI & Law Podcast, creating a platform for conversations about artificial intelligence, legal technology, business, research and governance.

Her work also includes publishing research, teaching different audiences, developing practical AI workflows and hosting more than 50 podcast conversations.

Awoyomi Speaks on Nigeria’s Readiness for Artificial Intelligence

Speaking about Nigeria’s readiness to embrace artificial intelligence, Awoyomi said the country has significant potential but needs stronger foundations to make the most of the technology.

She highlighted the need for better AI literacy, reliable digital infrastructure, access to data, stronger cybersecurity and effective data protection and governance frameworks.

For her, embracing AI goes beyond simply adopting new tools. Nigerians also need to understand how the technology works, what it can achieve and where its limitations lie.

She particularly encouraged Nigerian lawyers to learn about artificial intelligence, noting that it is already changing how legal research, document preparation and professional services are carried out.

According to her, lawyers who understand AI will be better positioned to assess its benefits, recognise its risks and use it responsibly in their work.

AI Opportunities Available to Nigerians

Awoyomi also pointed to the range of opportunities artificial intelligence is creating for Nigerians across different industries.

These include AI engineering, cybersecurity, data analysis, product management, legal technology, business analysis, automation, research and AI governance.

She emphasised that people do not necessarily need to become machine-learning engineers to benefit from the technology.

Professionals can instead combine their existing knowledge with AI skills to improve their work, solve problems and develop solutions relevant to their industries and communities.

For instance, a lawyer can learn to use AI tools to support legal research, while a business analyst can apply them to data interpretation and workflow automation.

Her Message to Nigerians Looking to Explore AI

Awoyomi encouraged Nigerians to remain curious, develop relevant digital skills and look for practical ways to apply artificial intelligence in their daily work.

Her journey from studying Law at 14 to exploring AI and technology shows how skills gained in one field can open doors to opportunities in another.

Rather than seeing Law and technology as separate career paths, her work brings them together to address questions about innovation, responsibility and the future of professional services.

As artificial intelligence continues to develop, she believes people who combine their existing expertise with technological knowledge will be better placed to identify opportunities and contribute meaningfully, both in Nigeria and internationally.

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I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher
I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher
I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher
I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher
I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based ResearcherI Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher
I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher
I Studied Law at 14 but Found My Passion in Technology | US-Based Researcher