FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Accessing justice through technology
Inaugural Justice Hack BC brings together tech, justice communities
Vancouver, B.C. – Bright minds from British Columbia’s technology and legal communities are putting their heads together to tackle some of the province’s most pressing justice issues. From September 29-30, participants in one of the province’s first justice-dedicated hackathons will develop digital solutions that help British Columbians better access justice.
BC.’s justice system ranks 10th out of 13 provinces and territories (Macdonald-Laurier Institute)
Almost 50% of Canadian adults experience at least one serious everyday legal problem (CFCJ)
Everyday legal problems cost almost half of what a Canadian household spends on housing (CFCJ)
Public confidence in the justice system and courts is lowest in B.C., Manitoba and Quebec (MLI)
“There are many people in technology who don’t realize the social and commercial potential of justice technology, and there are a lot of people in the justice sphere who could benefit from a better understanding of technology,” said Brandon Hastings, family lawyer and mediator, and the founder of Justice Hack BC.
“One of our goals with this event is to gather experts from both sectors so that we can start having meaningful conversations about how to address B.C. access to justice issues through technology,” he said.
Justice Hack BC, funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia and sponsored by Clio and SFU VentureLabs, will see participants work with justice system experts to refine and create prototypes that address challenges in justice.
While teams can choose to tackle any access-to-justice issue, a particular focus on family law will be encouraged.
“Tackling the access to justice crisis requires big, bold, innovative ideas that place the public at the centre of the justice system. This is why I’m so excited to be part of the first Justice Hack BC, which will bring together designers, coders, lawyers, judges, mediators, public servants and everyday citizens to design creative, modern solutions for everyday legal problems,” said Shannon Salter, chair of British Columbia’s Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT).
B.C.’s CRT is Canada’s first online tribunal and a first of its kind in the world, serving as an example of how technology can improve access to – and the efficiency of – B.C.’s judicial system.
Over the course of two days, participants will hear from guests who include Salter; the Honourable Robert Baumann, Chief Justice of British Columbia; and Jennifer Muller, an advocate for self-represented litigants and a member of Access to Justice BC.
“Justice Hack BC 2018 is an illustration of the growing access-to-justice movement underway in British Columbia,” said Jane Morley, strategic coordinator of Access to Justice BC.
“I strongly support the event. It is a creative and exciting way to link justice system actors who care about access to justice with technology experts. Bringing them together for an intense two days will cause ideas to flow, and I have no doubt solutions to persistent access to justice challenges will emerge.”
Prototypes developed at the event will be presented on Sunday, September 30 to a panel of technology and justice system experts. A main outcome, according to Hastings, is to begin to bridge the gap between technologists and the justice system community.
The event occurs in conjunction with B.C.’s inaugural Access to Justice Week, hosted by Access to Justice BC.
“The Law Foundation of BC is committed to improving access to justice for British Columbians. The Law Foundation supports B.C.'s inaugural Access to Justice Week and Justice Hack BC 2018 because these events strive to create a community and to knowledge-sharing around access to justice,” said Eileen Vanderburgh, chair of the Board of Governors of the Law Foundation of British Columbia.
Event details: Justice Hack BC September 29-30, 2018 SFU VentureLabs, 555 W Hastings justicehackbc.org
For more information, contact:
Brandon Hastings
Founder, Justice Hack BC
778.244.8480
info@justicehackbc.org
Justice Hack BC | justicehackbc.org @JusticeHackBC