Legal technologists tout a common refrain during conferences and panel discussions: “Legal technology promotes access to justice.” But a new report found that over 95 percent of legal technology startups do not actually have a direct focus on access to justice as part of their mission.
The report, authored by pro-bono marketplace startup Paladin co-founder Kristen Sonday, looked at 269 for-profit legal technology companies generating products and services for the legal industry. Of those companies profiled, only 4.5 percent identify their primary service as an access-to-justice related one. That number jumps marginally, to 9 percent, when including technology geared toward those seeking to navigate immigration issues.
