Episode no. 60 is with Stephanie Rudolph, Deputy Director of Justfix.nyc. JustFix is an American not for profit which believe all tenants deserve dignified housing - and that technology plays a supportive role in equipping tenants and the housing justice movement with the tools, information, and organizing power critical to this fight for racial and economic justice. JustFix co-creates tools with tenants, organizers, and legal advocates to fight displacement and achieve stable, healthy housing f...
Jul 19, 2021•52 min•Ep. 60
Episode no. 59 is with Nicole Bradick, Founder and CEO of Theory and Principle. Our discussion covers: Nicole’s journey from civil rights trial lawyer to CEO of a design and development company; Why 2018 was the right time to start Theory and Principle; Whether Theory and Principle responds to or creates a legaltech market; Why the Mission statement is to improve legal experience for all; Nicole’s focus on deliverables rather than size of the company and what will enable scale given the large pi...
Jul 05, 2021•57 min•Ep. 59
Episode no. 58 features Roger Smith, Author of Law, Technology and Access to Justice blog. Our discussion covers: How Roger first became interested in law, tech and atj; How Australia led the world in legaltech; How cuts to legal aid meant it was imperative to turn to tehcnology; Why Roger started the blog in 2016 and who forms the law, tech and atj community; The one key issue Roger sees with developing and implementing legal technology; Victoria Legal Aid’s evaluation of a ‘dud’ project; His o...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 58
Episode no. 57 features Anne-Marie Cade, Founder of coaching and mediation service Divorce Right. Our discussion covers: why Anne-Marie pivoted from traditional legal practice to coaching and mediation; what conflict coaching, divorce coaching and parenting coordination actually is; how the structured coaching process and setting goals empowers clients to make better decisions; how shifting mindsets aids conflict resolution and results in a win/win situation; the different aspects of a divorce t...
May 17, 2021•55 min•Ep. 57
Episode no. 56 is with Erin Levine, Founder and CEO of Hello Divorce. Our discussion covers: Erin’s journey from lawyer to legal entrepreneur and why she can’t go back; What Hello Divorce is and how it was inspired by Australian lawyers; How technology is saving clients tens of thousands of dollars; Key differences between traditional practice models and Hello Divorce; What Erin has learned about people’s behaviour during divorce; The process Erin undertook to develop the products and divorce na...
Apr 26, 2021•58 min•Ep. 56
Episode no. 55 is with Dominic Woolrych, Founder of Lawpath. Our discussion covers: Lawpath’s origin story; Its current business model including how the subscription service works; The difference between “BigLaw”, “small law” and “tiny law”; The role of law societies in supporting legal innovation; Which software Lawpath uses and how it makes law “proactive”; One thing that is stopping lawyers from improving process efficiencies; Unexpected findings from surveying clients about legal design; Whe...
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 55
Episode no. 54 is with Sheetal Deo, Founder of Shakti Legal Solutions and Ethnic+. Our discussion covers: An image problem the legal profession has created itself; Her key reasons for starting Shakti Legal Solutions; The mechanics of its unique model; The resistance she faced as a junior lawyer in establishing a law firm; How Sheetal is helping other lawyers who want to help, bridge the justice gap; Who is responsible for access to justice; Her learning curve relating to the business of law and ...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 54
Episode no. 53 features Geoff Mulherin. Our discussion covers: The mandate of the Foundation and its practical approach to addressing legal needs; The importance of regular empirical evidence-based research; Findings from interviewing 21000 people about their legal needs; Where people most often go for legal assistance; How integrated multi-disciplinary services can help; Why the foundation developed interactive online legal data dashboards; Whether funding for justice needs redistributing acros...
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 53
Episode no. 52 features Professor Professor Renee Knake Jefferson, Author and Doherty Chair in Legal Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center. Our discussion covers: The importance of understanding your own and others’ perspectives; Traits of the first female lawyers that make them the original legal innovators; The catalyst for Reinvent Law, one of the first legal design labs; The phenomena of new kinds of legal jobs; Her work as Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innov...
Mar 01, 2021•56 min•Ep. 52
Episode no. 51 features Professor Tania Sourdin, Dean and Head of University of Newcastle School of Law. Our discussion covers: the impact of Covid19 on the profession; what’s surprised her about online disputer resolution during the pandemic; the difference between Supportive, replacement and disruptive tech; the role that legal professionals should take in adoption of technology and their innovation readiness; the need for a uniform and national ethical framework for technology adoption in law...
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 51
Episode no. 50 features Kanan Dhru. Our discussion covers: What is user-friendly, people-centred justice; The importance of data and evidence-based research; HiiL’s justice dashboard; Key factors for innovation at scale; How the justice accelerator works; The parallels between the medical and legal professions; How HiiL is transforming the justice sector; What you will learn at the Innovating Justice forum; 7 gamechangers for improving people-centred justice; How Kanan’s definition of legal inno...
Feb 01, 2021•50 min•Ep. 50
Episode no. 49 features Elizabeth Shearer, President of the Queensland Law Society (“QLS”) and Founder of Affording Justice. Our discussion covers: the impact of Covid19 on the profession; what changes should remain; the purpose of the QLS Access to Justice committee and the ‘scorecard’; best uses for technology and the opportunity before the profession; Elizabeth’s journey to establish Affording Justice; how the Affording Justice model has evolved; key takeaways from her Churchill Trust researc...
Jan 18, 2021•53 min•Ep. 49
In this episode no. 48 I spoke with Laura Kiely, Barrister and Founder of online dispute resolution platform, Immediation. Our discussion covers: How Laura’s experience in corporate law and at the Bar led her to this point; Immediation – the need it addresses, how it was designed and how it works in practice; The types of clients implementing it and the matters with which it assists; The role of government and private companies in filling gaps in the market, especially as relates to access to ju...
Dec 08, 2020•59 min•Ep. 48
In this episode no. 47, I speak with Stevie Ghiassi, CEO and co-founder of Legaler, and Chairman of Legaler Aid. Our discussion covers: The mission of Legaler Aid and how it works in practice What inspired Stevie to found Legaler Aid to address the justice gap How Legaler Aid is expanding the network of lawyers doing pro bono work What Stevie considers the first step in modernising legal services Why incorporating blockchain technology is critical Video conferencing technology Legaler and its ap...
Nov 23, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 47
In this episode no. 46 I speak with Brendan Lacota, Head of Community Programs at Justice Connect and Vice-President of the Law Institute of Victoria. This interview covers: How online tools help and what technology was used to develop: FineFixer, Dear Landlord, Justice Connect Answers and onlinewillkit.com How to design an online tool How to acquire skills to design an online tool Insights Brendan has gained and why he still applies them The best form of consumer facing legal technology right n...
Nov 09, 2020•55 min•Ep. 46
In this episode no. 45 I speak with President of the American Bar Association and Partner, Snell & Wilcox, Ms Patrica Lee Refo. This interview covers: The ABA’s mission, including racial equity and other practical strategies The current focus on unmet legal needs due to the pandemic The impact of the pandemic on the practise of law including remote working and training junior lawyers The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity facing the profession Who are the people best-placed to innovate and refor...
Oct 26, 2020•54 min•Ep. 45
In this episode no. 44 I interview Lucy Ricca, Executive Director at Office of Legal Services Innovation, Utah Supreme Court. Lucy and I discuss what is arguably the most significant changes to the practice of law in the US in approximately 100 years including reducing economic restrictions around who can practice law to enable more innovation, more scale, and more access for consumers of legal services. We canvas how the current rules of legal regulation limit innovation and access to legal ser...
Oct 12, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 44
Reimagining Justice covers issues at the intersection of innovation, law and social justice. You’ll enjoy it if you’re someone who hopes to make a positive improvement to people’s experience of the law through new ways of thinking and doing. Self-represented litigants… do you love them or loath them? Well either way they are a fact of life and this episode will give you some ideas about how to best respond to self rep litigants no matter which side of the fence you’re on. This is episode no. 43 ...
Sep 28, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 43
In this episode no. 42 I speak with Kate Fazio, Head of Innovation and engagement at legal services charity Justice Connect, where Kate leads an interdisciplinary team to develop products and strategies such as the Gateway Project and Pro Bono Portal to increase access to Justice. For her work transforming justice Kate has received many awards including the 2020 Telstra Business Women’s Award (For Purpose) and the 2019 Victorian Premier’s Design Award in Service Design. As a lawyer, technologist...
Sep 14, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 42
This is episode no. 41 and I am speaking with experienced lawyer, and advocate for survivors of domestic and family violence, Angela Lynch, CEO of Women’s Legal Service Queensland. With over 23 years in the domestic violence legal sector, Angela has a deep understanding of the issues and translates this practical legal knowledge and experience into significant law reform, policy, community legal education and safer client outcomes. In 2017 Angela’s dedication to the sector was acknowledged when ...
Aug 31, 2020•57 min•Ep. 41
Each Reimagining Justice episode covers issues at the intersection of law, social justice and innovation. You will enjoy it if you are someone who hopes to improve people’s experience of the law through new ways of thinking and doing. Welcome to episode 40 where the tables have been turned, the interviewer is Walkley award winning journalist The Wandering journo Nance Haxton and the guest is me! After years at the ABC, and a stint as Griffith university’s journalist in residence, Nance is now a ...
Aug 18, 2020•1 hr 1 min
In episode 39 I speak with Jon Cina, Associate Director, Access and Equity at Victoria Legal Aid (“VLA”). In this role since 2016, Jon oversees the legal help contact centre, funding to Victorian community legal centres, support and innovation in the sector all the while maintaining a focus on a whole of client approach to legal service delivery. VLA deals with a huge volume of inquiries each year and during this interview we discuss the approaches VLA is implementing to best respond to those ne...
Jul 21, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 39
In this episode no. 38 I speak with Eduardo Gonzalez, who has had a variety of roles in his short career and who is now Project Manager with the Self-representation Litigation Network (“SRLN”). The SRLN is a network of professionals including judges, court administrators, the private bar, technologists and librarians all connecting in relation to access to justice and whose core work is to support collaboration and knowledge sharing. But Eduardo has also worked in legal design both as a consulta...
Jul 07, 2020•51 min•Ep. 38
This is episode no. 37, with Associate Professor and Dean of law at Flinders University Tania Leiman in which we cover many highly current topics. From history to the future, looking back in order to improve how we move forward, skills for lawyers of the future, how technology has evolved to make the law more accessible, what law students should know about Australia’s place in the world and being a global citizen, how to increase legal literacy, the role of law in all our lives, how Flinders Uni...
Jun 23, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 37
This episode no. 36 is with Program Manager of LawHelp Interactive at Pro Bono Net, Claudia Johnson. When in some states of America there are 27 forms to file for a simple divorce, we discuss where responsibility lies to make the law relating to housing, health, and family issues, more understandable for lay people, which is particularly important given the global rise in numbers of self-represented litigants. There’s been a theme going for the past few episodes around the use of document automa...
Jun 08, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 36
In this episode no. 35, I speak with New Orleans based lawyer Amanda Leigh Brown. Amanda is founder and Executive Director of Langiappe Law Lab, a legal aid technology non-profit serving Louisiana’s justice community by empowering the public with legal information and helping legal service providers do their work better. Throughout her career Amanda has worked on apps that assist people after disasters, a state-wide portal system providing information and referrals and practical and ethical guid...
May 25, 2020•52 min•Ep. 35
In this episode no. 34, I speak with Sydney-based lawyer Carly Stebbing who established Resolution 123 - a law firm using technology and flexible work to deliver employment law services to employees in a fast, simple and affordable way. Carly has over 13 years of employment law experience working for employer associations, law firms and volunteering at community legal centres. The fact that she has worked for employers means she has the benefit of knowing how employers think and what their lawye...
May 11, 2020•46 min•Ep. 34
In this episode no. 33 I speak with Quinten Steenhuis, Clinical Fellow at Suffolk University Law School doing what I would describe as ground-breaking work through a project responding to the covid19 crisis by bringing essential legal services online. But before this project, as a senior housing attorney and systems administrator at Greater Boston Legal Services Quinten had developed MADE, an effective legal tech product assisting people with eviction proceedings. He also runs his own consulting...
Apr 27, 2020•56 min•Ep. 33
In this episode no. 32 I speak with Jennie Pakula, Manager of Innovation & Consumer Engagement at the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner. We covered a lot of ground in this interview, charting the role of regulator from traditional disciplinarian to modern stakeholder solving challenges of both clients and lawyers; examples of effective uses of technology in the profession; and the purpose of a regulatory inbox. We covered the kinds of issues lawyers are looking to professional ...
Apr 13, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 32
This episode no. 31 is a really important one in light of current circumstances and the impact on the legal profession, not only through disrupted working conditions but regarding current modes of conducting hearings - it covers issues of grave importance to maintaining the rule of law. I speak with Dr. Natalie Byrom who is Director of Research at UK The Legal Education Foundation where she leads work to build the evidence base for what works in helping individuals to secure their rights. Last y...
Mar 30, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 31
