Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project

About

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The Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project (LSNTAP) is part of the Michigan Advocacy Program, a legal aid organization that provides access to the justice system for those who need it the most through direct legal help and statewide advocacy. LSNTAP helps nonprofit legal aid organizations improve client services through effective and innovative use of technology. To do this, we provide technology training, maintain informational resources, create online tools, and host community forums.

LSNTAP Staff

Shellie Reid is the Manager of the Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project (LSNTAP), where she leads initiatives to enhance the use of technology in legal aid organizations. With a diverse background that includes working in local government and recognized expertise in software solutions, Shellie has dedicated her career to improving access to justice through innovative technology. She is a founding member of the Delta Model of Lawyer Competency research group and has been featured in publications such as Legal Business World and ABA’s Law Practice Today. Shellie holds a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law and is passionate about leveraging technology to support legal aid services.

Emma Kimble is a law clerk and a third year law student at Ohio Northern University. Emma is the president of her school's Public Interest Legal Association (PILA) as well as a Student Law Ambassador.

Kristofer Greig is law clerk and a third year law student at Michigan State University College of Law. He has experience with IT and a few programming languages, as well as Linux systems.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee is made up of leaders in the legal tech and public interest spheres. They provide valuable input on many topics related to legal technology, helping LSNTAP better serve the legal aid community.

David Forrester is the IT Director at Northwest Justice Project (NJP), where he leads a dedicated technology team to develop and implement innovative solutions that enhance legal aid services. With over 15 years of experience in helping nonprofits leverage technology to broaden their impact, David plays a crucial role in ensuring NJP’s technological infrastructure supports its mission to provide essential legal assistance to underserved communities. His expertise in IT strategy and project management has been instrumental in advancing NJP’s capabilities and outreach

Molly French is the Technology Manager at Colorado Legal Services, where she oversees the implementation and management of technology solutions to enhance legal aid services. With a strong background in IT project management and a commitment to improving access to justice, Molly plays a crucial role in ensuring that technology effectively supports the organization’s mission. She is also an active member of the Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project advisory board and has served on various committees focused on technology and access to justice. Molly holds a degree in English Literature and a Master’s degree in Agency Counseling.

Marc Lauritsen is the President of Capstone Practice Systems, a Massachusetts-based company specializing in advanced legal software. With over two decades of pioneering leadership in legal technology, Marc has significantly contributed to the fields of document automation and decision support systems. He holds two undergraduate degrees from MIT and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Marc’s career includes teaching at five law schools, authoring “The Lawyer’s Guide to Working Smarter with Knowledge Tools,” and serving as an executive for several startups. He is also a fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and a past co-chair of the ABA’s eLawyering Task Force.

Steven McGarrity is the Executive Director of Community Legal Aid, a non-profit law firm dedicated to serving the legal needs of low-income and senior residents in central northeast Ohio. With a strong commitment to access to justice, Steven has been with Community Legal Aid since 2009, initially serving as Associate Director. His leadership focuses on providing essential legal services to underserved communities, ensuring they receive the support they need. Steven’s extensive experience in legal aid and his dedication to public service have made him a pivotal figure in the fight for equitable legal representation.

Nikole Nelson is the founding CEO of Frontline Justice, where she leads efforts to democratize access to justice through innovative, community-led models. Prior to this role, she served as the Executive Director of Alaska Legal Services Corporation for 13 years, where she spearheaded initiatives like the Partnering for Native Health Medical-Legal Partnership, which won the 2019 World Justice Challenge. Nikole has also played a pivotal role in reforming restrictions on the unauthorized practice of law in Alaska, approved by the Alaska Supreme Court and State Bar Board of Governors in 2022. She is a special advisor to the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense and a member of the Legal Services Corporation’s Rural Justice Task Force

Sateesh Nori is the Senior Legal Innovation Strategist at Just-Tech, LLC. With over two decades of experience representing tenants across New York City, Sateesh has been a pivotal figure in the fight for housing justice. He has served in various legal services organizations and was a commissioner of the 2019 Charter Revision Commission. Sateesh also co-created and co-taught the Housing Rights Clinic at NYU Law. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and NYU Law, he is recognized for his contributions to legal advocacy and has been featured as a “Legal Rebel” by the ABA Journal.

Jonathan Pyle is the Contract Performance Officer at Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA), where he oversees compliance with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations and reporting. With a background in both law and technology, Jonathan has been instrumental in integrating innovative tech solutions to enhance legal service delivery. He is the creator of Docassemble, an open-source platform designed to automate legal document assembly and provide guided interviews for legal aid. Jonathan’s career began as a litigation associate at a large law firm, but his passion for technology and automation led him to develop tools that address inefficiencies in legal processes. His work at PLA reflects his commitment to leveraging technology to improve access to justice for low-income individuals.

Ilenia Sanchez-Bryson is the Chief Program and Innovation Officer at Legal Services of Greater Miami, where she leads efforts to enhance client services through innovative technology and program development. With a career dedicated to legal aid, Ilenia has held various roles within the organization, including Chief Information Officer and Director of Client Services. She is passionate about leveraging technology to improve access to justice for underserved communities. Ilenia holds a law degree from Florida International University and is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar.

Mission, Vision, Values

In 2021-2022, LSNTAP underwent a strategic planning process, which helped define our Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Goals for the upcoming years.

LSNTAP's Mission is: Empowering the legal aid community to improve client services and build capacity through effective and innovative use of technology.

LSNTAP's Vision is: All legal aid organizations have access to curated information about technology which they use to deliver effective legal services.

LSNTAP's Values are:

  • Collaboration: we bring people together to gather and share expertise and create economies of scale
  • Innovation: we cultivate curiosity, experimentation, and creativity
  • Community: we support each other and share and learn from our successes and failures
  • Vision: we keep our fingers on the pulse of what’s next

Partnerships

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Legal Services Corporation

LSNTAP is funded by the Legal Services Corporation through the Technology Initiative Grant program. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a publicly funded, non-profit organization established by the United States Congress in 1974. Its mission is to ensure equal access to justice for all Americans by providing financial support for civil legal aid to low-income individuals and families. LSC is the largest funder of civil legal aid in the country, supporting over 130 independent non-profit legal aid programs across the United States, including every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories

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Just Tech

LSNTAP has partnered with Just-Tech to provide technical assistance, webinars, and technology-focused toolkits to help legal aid programs leverage technology. Just-Tech, LLC is a mission-driven technology firm dedicated to advancing and supporting the use of technology by public interest, legal aid, and public defender organizations to increase access to and delivery of justice for disadvantaged communities across the United States.