Ep 069: Using Tech to Manage COVID-19 Legal Issues in Australia

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Australia, as elsewhere, COVID-19 is creating a surge in the demand for legal help, especially among low-income individuals, as people face job losses, evictions, bankruptcy, domestic violence, and end-of-life issues. Further complicating the situation there is that parts of the country are still recovering from the bush fires that only recently were extinguished.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With face-to-face legal help not possible, technology is a critical tool and effective tool in meeting the demand for help, as</span> <a href= "https://justiceconnect.org.au/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Justice Connect</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, an Australian legal services charitable organization, is demonstrating. In recent years, it has developed a number of innovative tools to help people get legal help and understand their legal rights. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our guest this week is</span> <a href="https://justicefutures.com/katebio/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Kate Fazio</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, head of innovation and engagement at Justice Connect. A former corporate lawyer, she leads the organization’s development of online and technology tools to increase access to justice and legal empowerment.   </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to its</span> <a href="https://justiceconnect.org.au/help/covid19/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">COVID-19 resource center</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, Justice Connect’s technology includes an</span> <a href="https://justiceconnect.org.au/help"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">online intake</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">and</span> <a href= "https://justiceconnect.org.au/refer/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">referral tool</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, a cloud-based case management system, a</span> <a href= "https://justiceconnect.org.au/about/digital-innovation/gateway-project/pro-bono-porta