Expanding access to justice can mean finding innovative ways to make legal services more efficient and accessible.

Amani Smathers, Legal Innovation Solutions Manager at @chapmancutler, has done exactly that by helping Legal Aid of North Carolina develop a new tool for preparing wills and advance directives. In just four months, this tool has already helped us serve more than 75 clients! Amani led the development of a document generator that not only simplifies the preparation process but also makes it easier for volunteers to serve clients remotely. By creating a clear summary page and identifying exactly where clients need to initial documents, she helped eliminate communication gaps between remote volunteer attorneys and Legal Aid staff responsible for finalizing documents. This innovation saves valuable staff time, improves the client experience, and creates new opportunities for volunteers in urban areas to assist clients in rural communities. Amani's contributions have extended well beyond the initial development of the tool. She has remained a patient, responsive, and dedicated partner as we continue refining and improving the process. We are so grateful for her creativity, technical expertise, and commitment to using innovation to make justice more accessible! #ProBonoHero #LegalInnovation #AccessToJustice #LegalAidNC