Computer Science senior capstone projects make legal expertise more accessible
Three computer science student groups have created apps designed to remove barriers to affordable legal advice and to connect communities to each other.
The apps are the product of a year-long senior capstone, in which computer science students translate the knowledge they’ve gained from their time at Western into a single product.
The student groups collaborated with WWU alum and local lawyer Ziad Youssef to develop the concept, user interface and code for the three apps.
Each app was created to address a specific need identified by Youssef: remove barriers to general legal expertise, AI-powered information on how to fight traffic infractions and a networking app designed to connect people to each other through public events.
“I’m a Western alum who loves teaching, technology, law and community, so what better place to develop projects that will make an impact than right here?” Youssef said.
Throughout the academic year, Youssef met weekly with the students to discuss their progress, refine their vision and consider any biases they might bring to the development process.
“I came in with an open mind and realized that I’m learning from them as much as I’m teaching,” he said. “I’m really impressed with our program at WWU and hope to collaborate more in the future. I hope that the students each get to see that projects, regardless of where they end up, usually teach us something we can use in the future.”
The ability to create something new and useful is why Henry Baisch chose to study computer science.
“My whole life I’ve been interested in making something people will use someday,” he said.
The student-made apps are entering the final stages of development and user testing. When finished, the teams plan to launch the apps to the Apple App Store.
AskZizo
WWU students Mai Rapo, James Rees, Ziming Lei Lin and Aaron Vadnais created AskZizo, which leverages artificial intelligence to remove barriers to expert legal advice and connect people with local legal representation where applicable.
AskZizo allows users to ask legal questions to an AI-powered engine that will answer with information as a lawyer might. Partnered lawyers will then review and certify the answer into legal advice.
“It’s easy access to the law,” Rees said.
The AI is powered by OpenAI and trained on a database of legal code and court rulings to ensure users get the most accurate information possible. As more people use the app, the developers will be able to use all certified legal advice given through the app to further refine the AI.
“I'm getting to bring together a lot of individual tools I've learned throughout my learning and fold them all together,” Rees said about the app’s development process.
Rapo agreed that pulling on all the tools of her education was one of her favorite parts of the project.
“It’s very magical, watching it come together,” she said.
The team is currently testing the app and plan to launch to the public in the fall. Those interested in participating as a test user can email info@askzizo.ai to learn more.
Ticket Champ
Ticket Champ connects users with information on how to fight traffic infractions. Created by students Haakon Scheibler, Henry Baisch and Joshua L. Cary, Ticket Champ hopes to make legal advice more accessible to the general public.
“Today, there is no practical way to access the most valuable part of the of the citation dispute process — the expert review of the report — without paying for everything around it,” Baisch said. “By extracting and scoring the most relevant features of the traffic report, we’re unlocking value that’s currently left on the table and giving consumers what they want: legal insight first, and the freedom to choose what to do with it.”
The team began their project in winter quarter and worked to refine their ideas and zero in on a specific need the app will address. Now in spring quarter, the team is beginning to build out the app’s backend processes.
Plus 1 Social Club
Maya Galley, Ruchi Gupta and Niels Larsen designed Plus 1 Social Club as a networking site that connects people who want to attend community events but don’t want to go alone.
The app is for people who are introverted and want social support, or for extroverts wanting to help others come out of their shell. Users will be able to post public events and indicate their interest in attending. Then, Plus 1 Social Club will use an algorithm to match users through location, hobbies and interests.
The team is entering the final stages of the app’s development and starting user testing.
Individuals interested in becoming a test user can contact Plus1SocialClub@gmail.com
To learn more about the Computer Science Department, visit https://cs.wwu.edu/
Mikayla King, ’17, covers the College of Science and Engineering and Woodring College of Education for University Communications. Reach out to her with story ideas at kingm24@wwu.edu.