Apps to save the world

Law students can be a disagreeable lot. Not in the sense that they’re unlikeable. Rather, law students are disagreeable in the sense that they’re contrary. Trained to mount arguments and play devil’s advocate, they contend and conjecture at every opportunity. 

But there is one point on which I’ve encountered unanimity. And that is the Allens Neota UTS Law Tech Challenge, which teams up students, not-for-profits, a law firm (Allens) and a software company (Neota Logic). Over the course of about six months, four teams work together using no-code software to create an app for their assigned not-for-profit. Simply, students use tech to advance social justice. And every single past participant I’ve spoken to has declared it among the best experiences they had at university. 

The Law Tech Challenge culminates with a grand final in August, where the apps are showcased. In 2022, Team CheckProtect showcased an app for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience to counter the confusion surrounding mandatory Working With Children Checks, to get volunteers on the job faster. In 2018, the Dear Landlord team developed an app that enabled Justice Connect to provide information and services to Victorian tenants facing eviction. 

I took over the Law Tech Challenge this year, and it’s been inspiring. So much so that we’ve pitched a panel session about it for this year’s SXSW Festival. In October, as you may know, the famous SXSW festival will leave Texas for the first time, and UTS will co-host. In all, 1400 sessions have been proposed; to decide what to include, the organisers will rely on a popular vote. So if you’re interested to hear more about a challenge dedicated to law, tech and social justice, please vote for our panel. 

Sacha Molitorisz, UTS Law lecturer