Courts Belong To The People: Tackling The Justice Gap With Sonja Ebron

Access to justice shouldn’t be a privilege reserved for those with deep pockets or legal expertise. Yet, our courts often feel like an impenetrable fortress to the everyday person. In Season 10, Episode 4 of “Notes to My (Legal) Self,” I had the privilege of speaking with Sonja Ebron, the co-founder and CEO of Courtroom5. Her platform empowers pro se litigants to navigate the labyrinth of civil litigation. Sonja’s journey — from engineering professor to access-to-justice trailblazer — is as inspiring as it is practical.

Here’s what I learned from our conversation about reimagining the justice system and restoring its rightful owners: the people.

From Power Lines To Power Dynamics

Sonja’s path to the legal field wasn’t traditional — she’s an engineer by training and a former college professor. But life had other plans, landing her in court as a self-represented litigant. Navigating state-level litigation without a lawyer was a trial by fire, sparking her realization that the system is fundamentally biased against the unrepresented.

“Lawyers are trained in power,” Sonja noted. “Their job is to wield it for their clients, but for pro se litigants, that power imbalance can feel overwhelming.”

The numbers back this up: over 75% of civil cases involve at least one self-represented litigant, often opposing corporate or government attorneys. These power imbalances highlight a harsh truth — justice is not truly accessible for all.

Litigation Is A Strategy Game

One of Sonja’s key insights is that litigation is as much about strategy as it is about substance. For many pro se litigants, just understanding what they’re up against is half the battle.

Courtroom5 helps users break down their cases into manageable pieces:

• Understand The Process. Lay out the roadmap from complaint to resolution, highlighting key procedural steps.
• Legal Positioning. Analyze the elements of claims and defenses to build a strong argument.
• Filing And Advocacy. Draft documents in a judge-friendly format and prepare for in-court arguments.

Sonja emphasized the importance of having an endgame. “What does success look like for you? Litigation isn’t just about winning — it’s about achieving an outcome that serves your goals, whether that’s staying in your home or negotiating a manageable settlement.”

Power Imbalances And The Justice Gap

Sonja doesn’t shy away from discussing the systemic inequities baked into our legal system. Race, gender, socioeconomic status, and immigration status often determine whether someone can afford legal representation — or even understand their rights.

This inequality isn’t just a moral failure; it undermines democracy itself. “Without fair access to justice,” Sonja explained, “we lose the rule of law. And without the rule of law, democracy crumbles.”

Her solution? Leveling the playing field by equipping pro se litigants with tools and knowledge to navigate the legal process.

The Role Of Technology In Reconstructing Justice

Technology offers a unique opportunity to rethink the justice system. From AI-powered legal assistants to platforms like Courtroom5, innovation can chip away at the barriers to access.

But Sonja offered a reality check: “Technology alone isn’t enough. Without proper guidance, tools like ChatGPT can lead litigants astray. It’s not just about filing the right document — it’s knowing when and how to file it, and how to argue it in court.”

Transparency is another hurdle. Much of the law — case precedents, procedural nuances — remains inaccessible behind paywalls and firewalls. Sonja called for reforms to make legal information more freely available, enabling AI tools to better serve everyone.

Regulatory Challenges: The UPL Roadblock

One of the thorniest issues for legal innovators is the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). The current regulatory framework stifles innovation by targeting companies that offer legal tools to consumers.

Courtroom5 navigates these waters carefully, working with lawyers to ensure compliance. But Sonja dreams of a world where regulation focuses on preventing consumer harm rather than gatekeeping who can deliver legal services.

Justice Is For Everyone

Sonja’s optimism is contagious. Despite the systemic challenges, she’s confident that innovation, advocacy, and persistence can close the justice gap.

“Justice isn’t guaranteed,” she said, “but access can be. And with access, we can move closer to a democracy that includes everyone.”

Want to hear more about Sonja’s mission to democratize justice? Watch the full episode here.

P.S.: Justice starts with access. Together, let’s open the doors to a fairer legal system for all.

Olga V. Mack is a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat, Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security, and  Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities. She is working on three books: Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024), The Rise of Product Lawyers: An Analytical Framework to Systematically Advise Your Clients Throughout the Product Lifecycle (Globe Law and Business 2024), and Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data (Globe Law and Business 2024). You can follow Olga on LinkedIn and Twitter @olgavmack.

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