Lone Star Legal Aid’s Technology Innovation Grant (TIG)-funded AI ChatBot Project continues to evolve as we prepare for internal rollout. Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress in functionality, expert engagement, and national visibility.
Expert-Led Content Development
We’ve moved into the subject matter expert (SME) phase for NAVI, our client-facing chatbot, with SME input also benefiting our internal tools Juris and LSLAsks.
- Ashley Oborn, Director of Data Analytics, is coordinating subject matter experts for NAVI.
- Sapna Aiyer, Directing Attorney of Urban Programming, provided a curated list of contributors across practice areas.
- Victoria Smith, Directing Attorney of Program-wide Units, and her team submitted FAQs, resource links, and supporting documents by legal category.
- Kristy Rodgers, Directing Attorney of Rural Programming, has begun with input from Staff Attorney Meme Thomas on education law and will continue with additional categories.
Reaching subject matter experts allows us to survey and collaborate with LSLA attorneys to gain deeper insights into what should go into each bot’s knowledge base.
Internal Testing & Bot Readiness
We’re currently finalizing data and testing functionality ahead of a phased rollout:
- The homepage for Juris is complete and looks great—its clean design and intuitive layout are on par with other legal AI tools currently on the market. This compatibility will help deliver a seamless user experience for legal staff.
- Juris does not include memory, by design, to protect sensitive client data and maintain safety protocols. However, NAVI, our client-facing bot, will include memory, allowing for more personalized interactions over time.
- Juris can be customized to include local or court-specific rules, and is able to remind users to check those rules every time they’re working on pleadings—making it a powerful legal research and practice support tool.
- LSLAsks, designed to assist staff with internal administrative needs, continues to evolve based on user feedback and internal collaboration.
After internal testing, we’ll gather feedback, refine responses, and expand access.
National Events & Community Engagement
Our team has been active over the summer with scheduled presentations upcoming in the legal aid and technology communities through several speaking opportunities and collaborations:
- Spoke at LegalServer AI Community Call
- Date: July 2025
- Format: Presentation with Susan Vincent from LAFLA
- Spoke at LSC Learning Lab
- Date: Summer 2025
- Format: Virtual lab session hosted by Legal Services Corporation
- Spoke at Pro Bono Coordinator Retreat & Poverty Law Conference
- Date: August 2025
- Format: Conference presentation
- Attending NLADA Annual Conference
- Date: October 30 – November 1, 2025
- Format: National conference
- Speaking at Stanford Law School – Access to Justice Tech Series
- Date: November 2025
- Format: Invited speaker session
Media Interest
We’re excited to share that the Houston Chronicle has expressed interest in covering our AI chatbot rollout. Once the bots go live, we’ll coordinate with their team to bring broader awareness to this innovative work.
As we move toward implementation, we’re focused on ensuring that each bot reflects the lived expertise of our legal team and supports LSLA’s mission to deliver accessible, accurate civil legal help. Stay tuned for more updates on our rollout and results.
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