GSU COL Pro Bono Program

Professor Charlotte Alexander seeks law students who speak Spanish and/or have experience and interest in data analytics and process innovation to work during the fall 2023 semester on a project in collaboration with the Justice Innovation Lab of the National Judicial College, or the Escuela Nacional de la Judicatura (ENJ), of the Dominican Republic (a national judicial training school that incubates new approaches to judicial administration and access to justice).

The Dominican judiciary is working to digitize court records across the country and has centered technology and data in court operations and demonstrated a commitment to data access and transparency. Professor Alexander will be working with the ENJ to build a beta version of an AI-based tool that will help lower court judges quickly identify the issues addressed in decisions issued by the highest Dominican court, the Supreme Court of Justice, in order to find rulings that are relevant to the cases pending in their own courts. An AI-based system could help quickly flag a subset of decisions for judges for further review, allowing them to deploy their time and analytical resources more effectively and efficiently; making the content of the Court's decisions available via the ENJ's virtual library The system’s classification of cases would also be made available via the ENJ’s virtual library will increase accessibility and transparency for library users.

Requirements (but please reach out to Prof. Alexander if you’re interested but not sure you qualify):

(a) Ability to read and write Spanish; or (b) Intermediate to advanced programming skills (Python preferred; other languages considered); or (c) Experience working on projects involving text analytics or natural language processing.

Logistics:

· Work will take place in Atlanta during the fall 2023 semester

· Scheduled team meetings will take place on Zoom at least once a week

· Number of hours of work per week will vary based on student’s independent study, volunteer, or GRA status

If you’re interested, email Prof. Alexander at calexander@gsu.edu by March 10, 2023 with the following information:

· A brief description of your interest in the project. Please describe your Spanish language skills (specifically reading and writing); your programming skills (specify your level and Python, R, and/or other language); and/or your experience working on projects involving text analytics or natural language processing.

· That you would like to get involved though the Pro Bono Program.

· Your CV.

· Your law school transcript (can be unofficial).

Disclaimer: The project details and logistics may change somewhat from this original description as we work further with ENJ staff. Prof. Alexander will keep all interested students informed so you can make your own informed decision about participation. Emailing Prof. Alexander by March 10 is an expression of interest on your part but does not lock you in to working on the project if your fall semester plans change