Access to Justice, But Make It Scalable, with Zach Zarnow
Why It Matters
Scalable legal‑tech partnerships can dramatically expand low‑cost legal assistance, reshaping how vulnerable communities navigate the justice system and prompting broader sector investment in equitable solutions.
Key Takeaways
- •Scale Justice partners with courts to build user‑friendly legal tech tools.
- •Their platforms serve 8‑9 million people annually across the U.S.
- •Co‑design model ensures solutions are human‑centered, not vendor‑driven.
- •Public‑facing tools like lawnyc.org and Reclamo empower self‑representation.
- •Mission‑profit structure enables sustainable funding while prioritizing access to justice.
Summary
The Lawyers Podcast featured Zach Zarno, executive director of Scale Justice, a nonprofit that re‑brands the former probono.net to emphasize scaling legal services through technology. Scale Justice collaborates with courts, legal‑aid agencies, and community groups to co‑design tools that make legal processes more accessible, reaching roughly 8‑9 million users each year.
Zarno explained that the organization works both behind the scenes—building custom platforms for courts—and on the front line with public‑facing sites such as lawnyc.org, which serves 600,000 annual visitors, and Reclamo, a wage‑theft claim app. Their co‑design approach prioritizes human‑centered solutions rather than acting as a traditional vendor, and they frequently share grant opportunities and insights with partners to amplify impact.
Drawing on a background that includes Peace Corps service in Ukraine, a law degree focused on legal empowerment, and senior roles at the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation and the National Center for State Courts, Zarno highlighted the mission‑profit model that balances sustainable funding with a core commitment to justice. He stressed that courts are the “locust” of the system, making them a strategic upstream partner for scaling interventions.
The conversation underscores how scalable, tech‑driven solutions can transform access to justice, offering a replicable model for nonprofits and public agencies seeking to serve underserved populations efficiently while maintaining fiscal viability.
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