Legal Innovation and Technology Clinic

The LIT Clinic partners with courts, tribal governments, legal aid programs, and nonprofits around the world to develop innovative solutions for civil legal problems at scale. Most of our work involves developing step-by-step web tools that are offered directly to unrepresented people who cannot afford to pay for an attorney. We also engage in design and process improvement. All required skills are taught during the seminar.

In most cases, students will work with an engaged client at a partner organization. In addition to your impact on your direct client, your work will help thousands of people each year. Our clients have included the Massachusetts Trial Court and Appeals Court, as well as legal aid programs and courts in Minnesota, Illinois, Virginia, and other states.

One of the Lab’s signature projects, CourtFormsOnline.org, has helped more than 30,000 people with problems ranging from domestic violence to eviction prevention and defense. We don’t always get to hear from the people who use our tools, but in at least one case, our tools stopped an eviction in progress. The moving company was forced to return the tenant’s belongings on an emergency stay and the tenant ultimately won an appeal filed with our tools.

Students use legal research and writing, design, project management and computer software development skills to build solutions for our clients.

Prerequisites

  • Open to both 2Ls and 3Ls
  • No prior coding experience or prerequisites
  • Students will be taught all necessary skills during the weekly seminar, including computer programming.

Credits

  • 3 experiential learning credits (1.5 per semester)
  • 3 credits for clinical seminar (1.5 per semester)

Meetings

  • Seminars Thursdays from 2-4 PM
  • Remote, via Zoom

Expectations

  • 7-8 hours of work per week on your projects, outside of seminar time
  • Time management skills
  • Willingness to learn a new skill
  • Commitment to solving access to justice problems

More information can be found on the LIT Lab's website. Feel free to reach out to LIT Directors David Colarusso and Quinten Steenhuis