Twelve early-stage legal technology companies, including five with a core mission of expanding greater access to legal services, have been selected to participate in Duke Law Tech Lab’s summer pre-accelerator program.
In keeping with the Duke Center on Law & Tech’s commitment to technology that democratizes the law, this year’s cohort includes five startups focused on access to legal services: Easy Expunctions, FastVisa, Text A Lawyer, and two Triangle-based companies: Civvis and Courtroom5. Each received an initial $1,000 grant and the opportunity to showcase their services and compete for additional prize money at the program’s culmination, the Duke Law Tech Lab Demo Day on Sept. 20 in Durham, N.C.
The other seven companies, which focus on a mix of traditional legal services markets and historically underserved customers, include DataNovo, DueCourse, FirmVO, LegalMaps, PatentBots, Princeton Gavel, andSuprabook. The latter four offer legal products and services that utilize artificial intelligence.
Now in its third year, Duke Law Tech Lab will offer the 12 startups opportunities to expand their networks, learn to navigate the legal tech environment, and move their business plans forward via an online community, mentoring, and live remote presentations by legal tech leaders, subject matter experts, and key industry players. Previous cohorts have included an online platform for do-it-yourself and assisted divorces, Hello Divorce, which won the $5,000 grand prize at the 2018 Demo Day, and vTestify, which provides its digital testimony collection and review services free of charge to legal aid programs through the ABA Center for Innovation’s Legal Tech for a Change Project.
The Duke Law Tech Lab, which began June 7 and runs through Sept. 20, is supported by sponsors LexisNexis Legal & Professional, an information analytics company with a legal technology center in Raleigh, as well as by Travelers Insurance and the global law firm of Latham & Watkins.
Jeff Ward, Associate Dean for Technology & Innovation at Duke Law and Director of the Duke Center on Law & Technology, called the Duke Law Tech Lab sponsors “true collaborators and hands-on participants who offer advice, expanded networks, and encouragement.”
“We feel lucky to work with folks who are excited about ways that legal practice can be better for all involved,” he said.
Tech Lab graduates may be eligible to move on to the LexisNexis Legal Tech Accelerator, which focuses on companies ready for market launch or in their market already. The two programs are part of a growing collaboration between Duke Law and LexisNexis to boost innovation in law and technology and create an ecosystem of support for legal tech companies at all stages of development.
“LexisNexis is proud to support the Duke Center on Law & Tech,” said Jeff Pfeifer, Vice President and Chief Product Officer, North America for LexisNexis. “We are eager to collaborate on our accelerator programs and to offer further support to the growing legal start-up community. Our organizations share a vision to build and support a dynamic start-up ecosystem that delivers innovation for the legal services market.”
Contact: Kelli Raker, 919-613-7259
The Duke Center on Law & Technology at Duke Law prepares students for the growing landscape of technology in the legal profession through collaboration with Duke University’s innovative and entrepreneurial initiatives, engagement with local entrepreneurs, and by providing educational opportunities at the intersection of technology and the law. More information available at https://law.duke.edu/dclt/. Additional details about the Duke Law Tech Lab can be found athttp://www.dukelawtechlab.com/