Hacking Pro Bono

Vanderbilt AI Law Law presents
HACKING PRO BONO

Scaling Justice Through Innovation

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About HACKING PRO BONO
,Join us for a groundbreaking event where legal professionals and technologists join community innovators and students from across disciplines to reimagine how pro bono service can more effectively help bridge America's enormous civil justice gap.
On April 12, 2025, at Vanderbilt Law School, the inaugural HACKING PRO BONO will unite diverse perspectives around a single mission: creating scalable solutions that multiply the impact of legal assistance for those who need it most.
Through our three pillars of Collaboration, Creativity, and Compassion, participants will design new approaches that leverage generative AI technology to transform how we fulfill our profession's commitment to equal justice. No coding skills or legal training are required! Simply bring your problem-solving mindset and dedication to making legal help more accessible for all.
The Three Pillars of HACKING PRO BONO
COLLABORATION
Bringing together diverse expertise across disciplines to tackle this complex challenge
CREATIVITY
Applying design thinking and innovative approaches to reimagine service delivery
COMPASSION
Keeping the needs of underserved communities at the center of every solution
The HACKING PRO BONO Challenge:
How might we leverage generative AI to scale pro bono legal service beyond the traditional 1:1 model, making it more accessible, efficient, and impactful?
For even more context of our Hacking Pro Bono challenge, check out this DEEPER DIVE BRIEF. Here, we outline the key aspects of the dual challenge we seek to tackle around access to justice and pro bono service and provide a bibliography with additional data and resources.
READ THE CHALLENGE BRIEF
Hackathon Information
Agenda, Parking, How to Enter the Hackathon
Agenda
8:15-9:00 AM: Check-in & Coffee
Registration
Informal networking
Coffee, tea, and light breakfast available
9:00-9:15 AM: Welcome & Introduction
Welcome from organizers
Overview of the day's objectives
Introduction to the Hacking Pro Bono initiative
9:15-9:35 AM: Setting the Context (20 min)
Overview of the Access to Justice Gap
Overview of the pro bono paradox
Why we need innovative approaches to scale impact
9:35-10:45 AM: Expert Perspectives Panel (70 min)
A2J Tech: Tech platforms supporting pro bono service
Formally: From hackathon to legal tech startup journey
LawDroid: AI chatbots and more for legal aid collaborations
Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee: Technology integration and pro bono challenges
Husch Blackwell: Centering the user in designing technology solutions
Moderated Q&A
10:45 AM: quick stretch break
10:55-11:15 AM: Tools for Innovation (20 min)
VAILL Lab Students: Introduction to Perplexity Pro for research and ideation
VAILL Lab Students: Overview of Party Rock as a no-code AI platform
11:15 AM: Challenge Framework & Evaluation (30 min)
Presentation of specific challenge areas
Introduction to Human-Centered Design framework for the day
Explanation of judging criteria and final deliverables
11:45 AM: Break & Team Formation
Organization into diverse teams
12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch & Team Kickoff
Lunch Provided
Teams sit together to:
Introduce themselves & share backgrounds
Discuss selected challenge areas
Discuss initial reactions and thoughts on the challenge
Design Sprint (4 hours total)
1:00–1:45 PM: Challenge Discovery & Problem Framing (45 min)
1:45–2:45 PM: Ideation & Brainstorming (60 min)
2:45–3:15 PM: Concept Selection & Refinement (30 min)
3:15–3:30 PM: Break (15 min): Refreshments and quick stretch break
3:30–4:45 PM: Rapid Prototyping & Iteration (75 min)
4:45–5:00 PM: Presentation Preparation (15 min)
Pitch Presentations
5:00–5:45 PM: Team Pitches
Closing & Celebration
6:00 PM: Awards & Celebration!
Parking Information
The closest public parking lot (paid) is located across from the Law School just off of Grand Avenue, behind the retail center where Chipotle and Dunkin Donuts are located. Street parking (paid) is also available on Grand Avenue and along 20th Ave S., one block away from the law school.
PUBLIC PARKING FOR THE SUMMIT IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LAW SCHOOL. The lot adjacent to the law school building is reserved for faculty, staff, and students (who pay an exorbitant amount of money for the privilege) and you are subject to being ticketed if you park there. Unfortunately, there is no way to reserve guest parking in Vanderbilt lots surrounding the law school for any events.
How to enter the Vanderbilt Law School Building for the Hackathon
The Law School is located at 131 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN. The main Vanderbilt Law School entrance faces the one-way portion of 21st Avenue and is at the top of a long set of stairs. A ramp also leads to the main entrance; if you're facing the entrance, the ramp is on the left side.
The door will be marked "Enter for Pro Bono Hackathon." This is the only door that will be staffed and accessible during the Hackathon. All other doors to the Law School building are locked at all times.
THE ROI OF HACKING PRO BONO
Why should you or your organization participate in this ground-breaking event?
Students
Make an impact in one day by designing solutions that could help people access the legal help they need.
This one-day innovation hackathon brings together students from all disciplines to tackle one of society's most pressing challenges: the gap in access to justice.
→ No legal background required. No prior hackathon experience needed.
→ Just bring your creativity, problem-solving skills, and desire to make a difference.
What's in it for YOU?
Real-World Impact 🌎
Work on solutions that could help thousands (if not millions!) of people access justice
Resume Builder 📃
Add this experience to showcase your innovation and social impact skills
Network Expansion 🤝
Connect with professionals, faculty, and peers across disciplines
Skills Development 🦾
Practice design thinking, rapid prototyping, and presentation skills
Prizes & Recognition 🏆
Top teams will receive awards and opportunities to develop their ideas further
ROI for students
Legal Pros
WHY YOU? As a legal professional, you already possess the valuable skills needed to solve this important challenge:
You identify issues others miss
You craft practical solutions under constraints
You advocate for meaningful change
You understand the justice system's challenges
You care about expanding access to legal help
Your experience and perspective are exactly what this event needs!
What's in it for YOU?
CLE Credit: Earn CLE hours while contributing to innovation (pending approval)
Connections: Build relationships with like-minded professionals committed to service
Concrete Tools: Take home practical ideas for enhancing your own pro bono work, as well as for implementing design thinking and technology into your own workflow
Community Impact: Be part of solutions that could help thousands access justice
ROI for legal pros
Law Firms
YOUR FIRM'S COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO SERVICE is about to become exponentially more impactful.
As a leader in pro bono service delivery, you understand better than most the fundamental paradox: despite our profession's dedication to service, the traditional one-to-one model cannot possibly address the overwhelming scale of unmet legal needs.
What's in it for YOU?
Amplify Your Pro Bono Impact: Develop approaches that help your attorneys serve more clients with the same time investment
Enhance Your Pro Bono Program: Gain practical tools and frameworks your firm can implement
Showcase Your Leadership: Position your firm as an innovator in access to justice
Build Key Relationships: Connect with leaders across the legal services ecosystem
Fulfill Personal Obligations: Support your attorneys in meeting ethical commitments to service
ROI for law firms
HACKING PRO BONO Partners
HACKING PRO BONO is made possible thanks to the generous support of our community partners. If your legal tech company and are looking for an amazing opportunity to impact justice, check out our ROI for Legal Tech info brief. We would love to have your support!

Husch Blackwell supports Hacking Pro Bono with a significant financial contribution and a group of data scientists and lawyers to provide mentorship and coaching to Hacking Pro Bono participants. ewm

LawDroid provides technical support and guidance to HACKING PRO BONO (HPB) teams. Its founder Tom Martin is an HPB coach and will be sharing his expertise and experience in helping legal services organizations (LSOs) scale access to legal information through generative AI-powered chatbots like Renter Defender in Tennessee and LANC's LIA in North Carolina.
Warren Newman

PA2J Tech provides technical support and guidance to HACKING PRO BONO (HPB) teams and financial support for the event. A2J Tech projects include: the California Pro Bono Portal, the Maryland Justice Passport, and Minnesota Legal Kiosks.
Warren Newman
The HACKING PRO BONO Competition
What can I submit?
You can submit a working prototype or a workable proposal that aligns with the hackathon’s theme: leveraging AI to scale pro bono legal services beyond 1:1 to one-to-many. Submissions may include web or mobile apps, AI-driven tools, process automation solutions, or any other innovative legal tech solution. Each submission should include a project summary, key features, potential impact, and, if applicable, a demo or GitHub repository.
Can I submit older projects?
No, all submissions must be developed during the hackathon. However, you are welcome to build upon existing ideas or reuse open-source frameworks as long as the core development happens during the competition. Teams must clearly indicate if they are using pre-existing resources.
Can I win a prize?
Prizes will be awarded based on innovation, impact, feasibility, and execution. Specific prize details will be announced closer to the event.
How are teams formed?
You can assemble a team of participants before the event or we can assign you to a team the day of the event. If you're organizing a team in advance of the event, all team members should register individually via Eventbrite. Email Cat Moon at c.moon(at)vanderbilt(dot)edu with information about your team.

Vanderbilt AI Law Law presents

About HACKING PRO BONO

The Three Pillars of HACKING PRO BONO

COLLABORATION

CREATIVITY

COMPASSION

The HACKING PRO BONO Challenge:

How might we leverage generative AI to scale pro bono legal service beyond the traditional 1:1 model, making it more accessible, efficient, and impactful?

For even more context of our Hacking Pro Bono challenge, check out this DEEPER DIVE BRIEF. Here, we outline the key aspects of the dual challenge we seek to tackle around access to justice and pro bono service and provide a bibliography with additional data and resources.

Hackathon Information

Agenda, Parking, How to Enter the Hackathon

Agenda

9:00-9:15 AM: Welcome & Introduction

9:15-9:35 AM: Setting the Context (20 min)

9:35-10:45 AM: Expert Perspectives Panel (70 min)

10:45 AM: quick stretch break

10:55-11:15 AM: Tools for Innovation (20 min)

11:45 AM: Break & Team Formation

12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch & Team Kickoff

Design Sprint (4 hours total)

1:00–1:45 PM: Challenge Discovery & Problem Framing (45 min)

1:45–2:45 PM: Ideation & Brainstorming (60 min)

2:45–3:15 PM: Concept Selection & Refinement (30 min)

3:15–3:30 PM: Break (15 min): Refreshments and quick stretch break

3:30–4:45 PM: Rapid Prototyping & Iteration (75 min)

4:45–5:00 PM: Presentation Preparation (15 min)

Pitch Presentations

5:00–5:45 PM: Team Pitches

Closing & Celebration

Parking Information

How to enter the Vanderbilt Law School Building for the Hackathon

THE ROI OF HACKING PRO BONO

Why should you or your organization participate in this ground-breaking event?

Students

Legal Pros

Law Firms

HACKING PRO BONO Partners

HACKING PRO BONO is made possible thanks to the generous support of our community partners. If your legal tech company and are looking for an amazing opportunity to impact justice, check out our ROI for Legal Tech info brief. We would love to have your support!

Husch Blackwell supports Hacking Pro Bono with a significant financial contribution and a group of data scientists and lawyers to provide mentorship and coaching to Hacking Pro Bono participants. ewm

Warren Newman

PA2J Tech provides technical support and guidance to HACKING PRO BONO (HPB) teams and financial support for the event. A2J Tech projects include: the California Pro Bono Portal, the Maryland Justice Passport, and Minnesota Legal Kiosks.

Warren Newman

The HACKING PRO BONO Competition

What can I submit?

Can I submit older projects?

Can I win a prize?

How are teams formed?