• Navigating the Future of Legal Tech: LexLab's Market Map of Generative AI-Powered Legal Solutions

    October 23, 2023

    This semester, we have been focusing our attention on the quickly evolving field of Generative Artificial Intelligence (“GAI”). On September 19th, we hosted an event on “Generative AI for Lawyers” with an incredible panel, including Prof. Alice Armitage (LexLab), David Wang (CIO, Wilson Sonsini), Jake Heller (CEO, Casetext), and AJ Shankar (CEO, Everlaw). The event included demos of GAI tools from Casetext and Everlaw and a discussion of how GAI is already being used to augment the practice of law.

     

    Professor Alice Armitage and Professor Drew Amerson also had the opportunity to speak at UC Law SF’s faculty and board retreats to discuss the use of GAI in the legal space. They presented demos of tools being used by legal professionals and led a discussion on the future impact of generative AI in the law. The faculty and board voiced support for embracing GAI in our curriculum. UC Law SF intends to leverage our location in San Francisco and our existing connections to many of the companies at the cutting edge of this technology.

     

    They also presented a significant development from our LexLab team—a market map of legal tech companies leveraging the power of generative AI. This invaluable resource is designed to keep our esteemed faculty members, students, and the entire legal community informed and up-to-date on the latest advancements in legal technology.

    The Genesis of the Market Map:

    Our journey began with the recognition that the legal industry is undergoing a profound transformation, with technology playing an increasingly pivotal role. AI—and now, generative AI—is at the forefront of this transformation, revolutionizing how legal professionals operate and engage with legal documents.

     

    As part of our commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration, we set out to create a market map that identifies and categorizes legal tech companies offering generative AI solutions. These innovations cover a wide spectrum of applications, from legal research and e-discovery to contracts and dispute resolution. This map is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all legal tech companies using generative AI. Instead, it is intended to provide a snapshot of the areas in the legal profession where AI is taking hold.

    Why a Generative AI Legal Tech Market Map Matters:

    1. Stay Informed: The legal landscape is evolving rapidly, and staying informed about the latest advancements is crucial for both legal professionals and educators. Our market map provides a bird's-eye view of the legal tech ecosystem, making it easier for you to understand the scope and potential impact of generative AI in the legal field.
    2. Empower Decision-Making: With our market map, you'll have a valuable tool at your disposal to explore the diverse range of generative AI solutions available. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions about adopting these technologies in your practice or curriculum.
    3. Foster Collaboration: LexLab's mission has always been to bridge the gap between legal education and practice. By showcasing these innovative companies, we hope to encourage collaboration between legal tech startups, legal professionals, and academia, ultimately driving innovation and progress in the field.

    We hope this market map proves to be a valuable reference point for anyone interested in the intersection of law and technology. It is a testament to our ongoing commitment to support and drive innovation in the legal industry.

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  • Design Thinking & Access to Justice: Consumer Debt

    In Fall 2022, as part of Professor Alice Armitage's Design Thinking and Access to Justice course, students at UC Hastings Law San Francisco will be tacking the ever growing problem of consumer debt. Click here to view our flyer.

    The Problem

    The California justice system has, in the 21st century, fallen short of its lofty mission, which, as stated by the San Francisco Superior Court, is “to assure equal access, fair treatment, and the just and efficient resolution of disputes for all people asserting their rights under the law.” The failure is nowhere more evident than the current system of debt collection permitted in this state as well as, in various forms, across the nation.

     

    There have been articles and books written about this failure for the last decade, and although there have been many recommendations, little has changed. I believe that it will take new methods of approaching and thinking about this complex problem before meaningful improvements can be made. This course is designed to introduce you to some of those new methods and provide the opportunity for you to use them to create possible solutions to our current crisis.

    Objective

    Through our Design Thinking and Access to Justice course, students focus within the context of a real-world problem such as homelessness and housing insecurity. The course will focus on the weaponization of the courts against individuals impact by the California debt collection system. We are seeking participants who are open to speaking with law students about their experiences with debt collection companies, have ongoing court cases related to debt, and have settled prior debts.
     

    Facts

    • Currently, state courts are clogged with millions of debt collection lawsuits.

    • Often debt collectors rely on court rules that allow them to obtain default judgments. This means most often debtors do not appear in court to fight their case.

    • Of the debtors that do appear in Court, less than 10% of consumers are represented by an attorney.

    • Most often low-income and lower middle class individuals face these issues.

    • Most often, people do not discuss their debt due to stigma, shame, embarrassment, and fear of harassment.

    Seeking Participants in the Bay Area and in California!

    We are seeking individuals who are willing to speak about their experiences. All the interviews will remain anonymous. We ask participants to:

    • Discuss their experience with debt collection and the Court system (if applicable).

    • Discuss their background and circumstances.

    • Be willing to participate in a 30-60 minutes follow up call with law students (either by phone, remote, or in person).

    • Based on these findings, students will participate in a brainstorming session to reframe the problems within the system and better identify leverage points that could improve outcomes. Finally, teams will prototype potential solutions to the current crisis. There will be no final exam. Instead, each student will prepare and deliver an oral presentation explaining in detail the problem they have chosen to solve and the solution they have devised.

    How to Participate

    Email us to arrange a time to speak. Call or text us at 415-565-4824 and provide us with your name and the best time to contact you.

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