Legal tech is opening the system to those who need legal representation the most
Jane (whose name changed for privacy purposes) had been living with her elderly mother for more than 20 years in a rent-stabilized apartment in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. But three years ago, Jane’s landlord began filing frivolous lawsuits against her and her mother in an effort to evict them from their home.
While Jane was delinquent with rent, her apartment was in a state of disrepair — with mold, cockroaches, and chipping paint throughout. The abusive and neglectful behavior of her landlord was exhausting. As her landlord continued to her harass her and her mother, Jane watched in frustration as other units in her building were remodeled for new, higher-paying renters. Her home, however, was ignored.
Then Jane discovered a Web application called JustFix.nyc in early April, and began using it to take proactive measures against her landlord. Through JustFix, she documented the conditions through photos and case notes, created and mailed an official letter of complaint (which was automatically generated through her account), and finally filed her case in NYC Housing Court.
As a result, Jane and her mother were able to secure succession rights, and their landlord was ordered by the judge to make repairs. This type of resolution may not have been possible without technology.
If technology works so well in a legal setting, why haven’t we seen a greater breadth of legal tech solutions?
It’s likely because the business model for law — billable hours — doesn’t incentivize for efficiency. Until now tech innovations have been slow to infiltrate the legal system.
Emerging startups like JustFix.nyc and legal tech products like LegalZoom and DocuSign have lowered the barrier to entry for legal protection that was previously confined to law offices. Now anyone can write their will or incorporate a company without having to seek legal counsel. The dissolution of the traditional legal business model is good news for public interest law.
Access to justice is a fundamental human right, but most can’t afford to hire legal representation when the need arises. Public defenders, pro bono lawyers, and immigration attorneys provide a great service to citizens, yet the demand for legal support far outweighs the supply of legal aid services. There simply aren’t enough public interest lawyers to go around. Financial hardship shouldn’t be a barrier to justice. Fortunately, simple applications of technology can streamline legal representation, and with wider adoption, may reduce a key contributor to the economic inequality equation.
While law firms have been slow to embrace new disruptive technologies, public interest law is different. Tech allows them to serve more clients. It’s a disruption for good, and nonprofit tech companies are spearheading this movement.
Organizations like JustFix.nyc, in partnership with legal aid groups and community-based organizations, help tenants prepare legal documentation of substandard housing conditions so tenants can self-advocate and, if necessary, self-represent in housing court.
Statistics reveal 90% of landlords are represented in housing court, while 90% of tenants are not. This leads to negative outcomes. When tenants are armed with better documentation, these situations can be addressed through mediation instead of court, reducing the number of cases that must pass through the justice system.
On their own, only 10% of New Yorkers living in deficient housing succeed in securing repairs or preventing eviction. With the support of the JustFix app, tenants in neglectful housing situations have a 66% success rate in achieving housing justice.
