Kate Proffitt

With a passion for technological advancements in legal aid, I proudly served as a Law Fellow with the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS). At the heart of my fellowship, I championed the development of an innovative Chatbot — a voice and text-activated system designed to seamlessly guide site users. Diving deep into the realm of user experience, I took on the mantle of refining the Chat bot, optimizing Help4TN's website for search engines, and enhancing overall site usability. It was a joy to witness the tangible results of my endeavors, as I charted the surge in website traffic following the Chat bot's implementation. While my work often took place behind the scenes, I had an unforgettable opportunity to directly witness the impact of our innovations during a two-day usability testing session in Nashville. Alongside Tom Martin, I observed 36 volunteers interact with our text-based and voice-activated chat systems, gathering invaluable feedback. Their insights highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of integrating technology into legal aid, reaffirming our mission to make online legal assistance more approachable and efficient. In addition to these projects, I had the honor of collaborating with staff attorney Kirsten Jacobson, refining content on tn.freelegalanswers.org. This platform, which connects users with volunteer attorneys for civil legal advice, epitomized the heart of TALS's mission. As I reflect on my time with TALS, I'm filled with gratitude for the chance to contribute to the noble goal of broadening access to civil legal aid for the vulnerable communities in Tennessee. This fellowship didn't just enhance my technical and legal skills; it deepened my appreciation for the intersection of technology and justice, and how the two can come together to make a lasting impact. ‍