Ohio State Law receives Good-to-Great grant funding for a new capstone: JusticeTech @ OSU
Professor Amy Schmitz’s proposal for JusticeTech @ OSU, a transformative initiative at Moritz College of Law, was recently selected to receive funding from the Good-to-Great Grants Program. The grant program, sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, provides substantial, strategic investment for projects committed to ascending to new heights. Schmitz’s proposal was just one of a small handful approved for funding.
JusticeTech bridges the areas of law and technology in an impactful interdisciplinary program to bolster teaching, research and student learning. Partners in this program include the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), the Institute for Cybersecurity and Digital Trust (ICDT) and the Translational Data Analytics Institute (TDAI).
In part, the program will pioneer a JusticeTech Capstone course. This project-based course will bring together law and computer science students to design and develop legal technologies to serve the needs of legal organizations and other community partners. These projects will help promote ethical AI applications in the legal system, evaluate the cybersecurity and safety of legal technology tools and expand access to justice.
“Bringing cross-cutting perspectives to the table is vital to the ideation and creation of meaningful solutions for legal problems,” Schmitz said. “By nurturing a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, it will inspire innovation, diversity and excellence across disciplines.”
JusticeTech will also hire a program fellow and student researchers, as well as engage faculty mentors from law, computer science, and other relevant fields. This expert team will guide curriculum development, project management and mentorship.
The potential impact and benefits of JusticeTech are far-reaching. At Moritz, it will particularly enhance the efforts of the Program and Data Governance and the Program on Dispute Resolution. This new opportunity gives students hands-on experience with system design and helps prepare them for careers in the evolving landscape of law and technology.
“This initiative will help cement Ohio State Law as leaders in technology justice, a vital component of lawyering in the twenty-first century,” said Dean Lincoln Davies. “Professor Schmitz’s vision and dedication will help ensure that our students are well-equipped for their futures.”
The collaboration with CSE also represents a crucial step toward addressing critical issues at the intersection of law and technology. The partnership will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling comprehensive research, innovative projects and a well-rounded education for students.
As the fields of law and technology continue to advance, JusticeTech will ensure students are prepared for their futures.