Legal Innovation Spotlight Rethinking Access to Justice: Technology, Equity, and the Role of the Courts with Jessica Frank
Nov 12, 2025
Jessica Frank, Director of Justice Initiatives at Free Law Project, is a legal tech advocate focused on making justice accessible for all. In this enlightening conversation, she discusses the daunting U.S. justice gap and her innovative Litigant Portal designed to assist self-represented litigants. Jessica sheds light on the significance of open court data and AI in creating equity within legal systems. They also explore the role of empathy in legal help, emphasizing that technology should enhance—not replace—the human touch in law.
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Career Shift To Justice Technology
- Jessica moved from teaching document assembly at CALI to leading Free Law Project's Justice Initiatives.
- She shifted focus to build open-source tools like the Litigant Portal for self-represented litigants.
Civil Court Causes Major Life Harms
- Civil cases cause life-changing harms but offer no right to counsel for most people.
- Jessica Frank highlights that civil court is where most people interact with justice and lack representation.
Most Low-Income People Go Unassisted
- The Justice Gap Report shows most low-income people with legal issues don't get help.
- Jessica uses LSC data to estimate tens of millions lack access to legal assistance.