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Category: Technology and Innovation

Access to Justice, AI, and the Unauthorized Practice of Law

July 28, 2026

By Anne Hickey, PBI Sheehan Scholar As information technology continues to advance and evolve, new opportunities and new challenges arise for access to justice organizations. Technological advances have paved the way for online resources and tools that help individuals navigate legal issues efficiently and cost-effectively. At the same time, the legal profession is exploring new strategies to engage professionals who are not lawyers in access-to-justice solutions. However, where there is less attorney oversight, more automated assistance/programs, or both, access to justice organizations face more legal challenges alleging the unauthorized practice of law. Update on Upsolve and UPL Restrictions in New

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AI and Technology Help Bridge Access to Justice

February 6, 2026

By Andrew Braun, PBI Intern  Pro bono and legal aid initiatives continue leveraging technology to provide and enhance crucial services. From expanding access to legal resources, to streamlining administrative tasks, lawyers are exploring technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to transform impactful pro bono and legal aid work to serve more clients. Fostering innovation in these technologies remains integral for organizations working to bridge justice access gaps. The access-to-justice field continues committing resources toward understanding the strengths and limitations of technologies like AI and discussing how to bring underserved clients greater access to legal help. AI has been championed for its

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Setback for Justice Advocates in Upsolve Litigation

October 7, 2025

By Alyssa Saunders On September 9, 2025, the Second Circuit ruled that the nonprofit organization Upsolve, Inc.’s use of trained volunteers to assist pro se New Yorkers with their debt-collection actions violated the state’s unauthorized practice of law (UPL) statutes. The Second Circuit overturned a May 2022 decision by the District Court for the Southern District of New York that prohibited New York’s Attorney General from enforcing the UPL statutes against Upsolve. As a result of the Second Circuit’s decision, people facing debt collection lawsuits who cannot afford an attorney will no longer have access to free specialized advice by trained

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Driving Change: The Chief Legal Officer’s Perspective on Innovation and Pro Bono

October 11, 2024

At the 2024 Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, this week, Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), PBI’s global project committed to enhancing in-house pro bono, hosted an engaging session on Driving Change: The Chief Legal Officer’s View on Innovation and Pro Bono. Moderated by Alyssa Saunders, Director, CPBO, the session featured insights from two prominent in-house pro bono leaders: Gayle E. Littleton, Chief Legal Officer of Exelon Corporation,** and Bimal Patel, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of PayPal. The panel attracted a diverse audience from legal departments of various sizes, with many senior leaders present, including

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