Law Pro Bono Hackathon | April 12th
Calling All Student Innovators!
April 12, 2025 @ Vanderbilt Law School
MAKE AN IMPACT IN ONE DAY
Design solutions that could help millions 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.
YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS VALUABLE
We’re looking for students from a wide range of disciplines:
✦ Design & UX – Create intuitive interfaces for complex legal processes
✦ Computer Science – Apply AI and tech tools to amplify human expertise
✦ Social Sciences – Understand user needs and behavioral challenges
✦ Business & Management – Develop sustainable, scalable approaches
✦ Public Policy – Navigate systemic constraints and opportunities
✦ Communications – Craft clear messaging for diverse audiences
✦ Engineering – Build systems thinking into solution architecture
✦ Psychology – Address cognitive barriers to accessing help
✦ And any other perspective! – Fresh eyes often see what others miss
The diversity of your academic background is our strength.
THE CHALLENGE
In America, over 260 million legal problems emerge annually, but there are only enough lawyers to address a fraction of these needs!
The Justice Gap By The Numbers:
- 86% of low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal help
- 76% of civil cases have at least one self-represented party
- 71% of low-income households experienced at least one civil legal problem last year
This isn’t just a legal problem – it’s a design, technology, and systems challenge.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE HACKATHON?
You’ll join diverse teams of students and legal professionals to:
EXPLORE 
Dive into the challenge through engaging activities and expert insights
IDEATE 
Brainstorm innovative solutions using design thinking frameworks
BUILD 
Develop prototypes and implementation plans (no coding necessary!)
PITCH 
Present your solutions to judges from legal and innovation sectors
All meals, snacks, and supplies provided throughout the day! AND, all participants will receive 6 months of free access to Perplexity Pro!
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
REAL-WORLD IMPACT 
Work on solutions that could help 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
SKILL DEVELOPMENT 
Practice design thinking, rapid prototyping, and presentation skills
PRIZES & RECOGNITION 
Top teams will receive awards and opportunities to develop their ideas further
WHY THIS MATTERS
When people can’t access legal help, the consequences are profound:
- Families lose homes to wrongful evictions
- Domestic violence survivors can’t secure protection
- Veterans struggle to access benefits they’ve earned
- Small businesses fail due to preventable legal issues
- Communities lose faith in the justice system
Your fresh perspective can help reimagine how legal help is delivered to those who need it most.
JOIN US!
REGISTER HERE via Eventbrite.
No registration fee. Open to undergraduate and graduate students from all majors.
Teams will be formed on the day of the event – come solo or with friends!
Questions? Contact: Cat Moon, VAILL Founding Co-Director & Hacking Pro Bono Producer