Professor Jeannette EicksVermont Law School

Center for Legal Innovation

Government-Citizen Interaction

People Need Assistance Accessing Government Services

eGovernment Means Accessibility

More Efficient Government Services

… and More Effective

Law Students Bring New Ideas and New Energy

DIY Apps – the Legal Hackathon

Legal Hackathon Course• 2 or 3 credit course• Open to J.D. and undergraduate students• Involved stakeholders in Vermont agencies,

legislature & judiciary• Social good focused• Prototyped web and mobile apps• Stakeholders, faculty and other interested parties

judged apps

Flowchart of Processes

Rapid Application Prototyping

• Iterative process - teams and stakeholders• Involvement resolving community problems• Focused on areas where technology is changing

government, policy and legal practice

The Apps:• Text-a-Lawyer• Pocket Lawyer (now OccupyLaw)• Agricultural Lease Agreement (sustainability)

Outcomes• Portfolio for students• Plain English conveyance of legal concepts• Formed partnerships with stakeholder• Delivers services in accessible way• Built creative, collaborative solutions• Responded to legal needs of underserved

Hackathons Foster the Ideas of Tomorrow

Goal: Educate the public on legislative processes by developing proposals for policy and legislative action

Target:

“Law changes that will foster economic development, particularly development involving innovative technology, but which will not require significant public expenditure or subsidy, and which will respect the general good of society.”

Citizen Education through Creation• Experiential educational event• Two days• Draft model legislation• Coached legislative legal innovation• Mentors drawn from academia, legislature and business• Focus on economic development• Fostered technology-based business while protecting the

public interest

Empower Change Leaders