WHY LAW MATTERS IN
PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY
WHY LAW MATTERS IN
PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY
What is PIT
for lawyers?
What is PIT for lawyers?
What is PIT for lawyers?
Speakers in this video
Miguel Willis
Laura Bingham
Lydia Hurtado
Taylor Sargent
Megan Palmer
William Kane
Amy Emerson
Video summary text
This segment features a discussion on public interest technology, emphasizing its role in ensuring technology serves societal needs. Miguel introduces it as a collaborative ecosystem involving programmers, lawyers, and designers. Laura highlights the importance of understanding technology’s pervasive influence on law, especially in social justice contexts. Taylor discusses the dual nature of technological advances, presenting both opportunities and risks for human rights.
Lydia stresses the need for inclusivity in innovation, while Megan notes the unique interdisciplinary opportunities public interest technology provides. William describes it as a collaboration among legal, business, and social sectors. Amy points out the stark justice gap, suggesting that traditional legal models are inadequate, and technology can offer new solutions.
The speakers collectively underscore the critical role lawyers and students can play in shaping policies and advocating for accountability in technology, fostering a broad community focused on social justice and public interest.
Public interest technology, or PIT, is an emerging field, and there is no official definition of a public interest technologist. PIT refers to a set of practices to problem solve, design, deploy and govern technology in ways that advance the public interest. PIT practitioners prioritize working across professional and disciplinary boundaries and dedicate themselves to confronting the urgent ethical, legal, social, economic and political implications of technology. PIT centers justice, dignity and autonomy for all, especially for those most exposed to and impacted by technological harms.
PIT was modeled on and borrows from the concept of public interest lawyering. PIT also incorporates legal and ethical principles, but until now most of the investment in PIT has focused on creating educational and professional resources for technologists and infusing these fields with an informed appreciation and strengthened prioritization of the public interest.
Legal education and lawyering has a critical role to play in PIT. Our approach is pragmatic and direct: from surveillance resistance to digital civil rights, to legal aid, to industry and compliance, to tech policy and beyond, we are demonstrating through creating this career-oriented platform that the field of “law and PIT” is dynamic, diverse, expanding, and warrants concerted investment by educational and workforce development initiatives like ours.
Not at all! There are many paths to this field. If you’re someone whose work is fueled by their values and enjoys working on interdisciplinary teams, PIT could be for you. The Ford Foundation’s article 5 reasons you might be a Public Interest Technologist lays it out well:
- You probably don’t identify as a technologist.
- You believe tech should be used to advance justice, equity, and inclusion.
- You believe it’s time to rethink what “good” technology is.
- You’ve had an unconventional career path, and your interests lay in more than one area.
- You don’t think of yourself as part of any particular field.
PIT strives to build bridges between technology, policy and society. As a lawyer, your understanding of policy, law, and regulation is essential to guide responsible implementation of technology.
So much! PIT strives to build bridges between technology, policy and society. As a lawyer, you can help pursue practical forms of accountability through means such as strategic litigation, policy and legislative advocacy, privacy counseling, compliance and more. Your unique understanding of policy, law, and regulation is necessary to help build the infrastructure to support (and demand!) responsible implementation of technology. For more info about what lessons lawyers can bring to PIT, check out Building a new field of Public Interest Technology: Lessons learned from Public Interest Law – Ford Foundation.
Learn More
Why is PIT law so important?
Speakers in this video
Suzanne Bernstein
Will Gonzalez
Claudia Johnson
Video summary text
The transcript discusses the critical intersections of privacy, technology, and various legal domains, particularly in the context of public interest and social justice.
Suzanne highlights the overlap between civil rights, consumer rights, and technology, emphasizing the need to develop skills for engaging with and protecting oneself from fast-moving technological advancements.
Will stresses the importance of understanding technology to safeguard privacy and digital rights. The discussion also touches on the role of design in assessing and mitigating risks, and the limitations of government regulation and industry self-regulation.
Claudia shares insights on how technology can be utilized to enhance access to legal services for marginalized communities, noting that intentional design can significantly improve service quality and accessibility. The conversation concludes with a call for better cyber hygiene and media literacy to combat misinformation and enhance digital safety in the modern age.
Expert advice from PIT lawyers
Speakers in this video
Suzanne Bernstein
Will Gonzalez
Claudia Johnson
Video summary text
In this segment, Claudia, Suzanne, and Will share their experiences and insights on integrating technology with public interest law. Claudia, the program manager for Law Help Interactive, explains how her journey into technology began with a focus on systemic issues during her time in public policy. She emphasizes the importance of using technology to improve access to justice.
Suzanne, a law fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), advises aspiring lawyers to seek internships and practical experiences that can enhance their understanding of how privacy laws function in real-world settings. She encourages research and collaboration with academics to deepen knowledge and professional development.
Will, the executive director of Ceiba, stresses the value of community engagement, highlighting that firsthand interactions often provide insights that technology alone cannot capture. He underscores the importance of direct communication in understanding unique community needs.
The speakers collectively highlight that technology is a collaborative endeavor, requiring respect and teamwork among various professionals. Claudia concludes by urging individuals to let their values guide their efforts in making a meaningful impact through technology in the legal field.
What can law students get from a PIT career fair?
Speakers in this video
Miguel Willis
Laura Bingham
Lydia Hurtado
Abygaelle Loubeau
Amy Emerson
Taylor Sargent
Megan Palmer
William Kane
Video summary text
In this segment, Lydia and other speakers discuss the vast opportunities for lawyers to engage in public interest technology. They highlight a collaborative career fair organized by law schools such as Villanova, Temple, Penn, and Drexel, aimed at connecting students with employers at the intersection of technology, policy, law, and social justice.
Miguel emphasizes the fair as a platform for law students to explore diverse career paths and engage with relevant topics. Taylor points out that exposure to different legal areas is essential for students to find their niche. Megan notes the fair’s importance for first-generation law students, helping them build networks and understand job opportunities.
Amy highlights the event as a chance to meet professionals in the legal technology community, potentially guiding students toward fulfilling career paths. Abby emphasizes the appeal of working in a field focused on privacy, data, and technology for positive impact. The fair also offers practical benefits, including networking and mock interviews, which help students refine their interview skills.
Overall, the speakers express excitement about the fair, underscoring its accessibility and potential to broaden students’ horizons in the technology and law sectors. The concluding statement, “I am a public interest technologist,” encapsulates their collective commitment to this evolving field.
What can lawyers contribute to the PIT field?
So much! PIT strives to build bridges between technology, policy and society. As a lawyer, you can help pursue practical forms of accountability through means such as strategic litigation, policy and legislative advocacy, privacy counseling, compliance and more. Your unique understanding of policy, law, and regulation is necessary to help build the infrastructure to support (and demand!) responsible implementation of technology. For more info about what lessons lawyers can bring to PIT, check out Building a new field of Public Interest Technology: Lessons learned from Public Interest Law – Ford Foundation.