Meet Michael Andrew Iseri, 32, CEO and founder LAWPP,  launched on Nov. 16, 2016. He is based in Tustin, Calif., (U.S. citizen.)

 

SOCIAL STUDIES
Website: lawpp.org
Twitter: @LAWPP_LLC
Linkedin

Education & degrees: University of California, Berkeley, 2009, B.A. Legal Studies summa cum laude. University of California, Irvine School of Law, 2015, J.D. Admitted to California Bar.

Day job: Legal Counsel, Center for Accessible Technology.

Past jobs: University of California, Irvine School of Law – Public Interest Fellow at Bet Tzedek.

Is this your first startup? Yes.

How did you name the startup and your offerings? LAWPP’s main logo is a visual pun on “law” and “app.”  “Esq. A.I.” is pronounced “ask a.i.,” and it is a play on words for esquire A.I. “SCUG” loosely means “a place of refuge” in Scottish, and it was originally an acronym for a small claims guide that was created years ago.

What problem does your startup solve? LAWPP creates legal modules called “Esq. A.I.” that dynamically complete legal procedures in 35 fully-voiced languages without requiring any internet.

Esq. A.I. generates a series of customized legal documents, forms, closing letters, instructions, and other materials from scratch — along with mandatory forms if needed. Through these modules, numerous legal areas can be automated through highly customized modules. It uses speech typing, and intelligent error-checking, throughout different legal areas via either simplified client or advance attorney interfaces. Here is a demonstration video.

LAWPP also produces “SCUG Guides” that are free legal and social services guides published on Google Play Store. The most popular guide is a homeless resource guide that lists homeless resources in the northern and southern California. They cover topics regarding homeless and almost homeless people, single parents, veterans, youth, and volunteer opportunities. The homeless guides also double as a domestic violence guide to those who need immediate assistance. Other guides cover criminal law, contracts law, and small claims, and more are being developed.

 

 

 

 

Who uses LAWPP? It assists most legal community members (law firms, public interests, government services, legal clinics, law libraries, shelters, and law school clinics) through the Esq. A.I. modules that cover different legal areas. The goal was to have A.I. modules that could operate quickly and reliably at mobile legal clinics in different spoken languages without needing any internet for dynamic procedural generations; and the same technology developed is being used for stationary in-house services to assist in numerous legal procedures that require vast customizations. From recent tests, clients completed legal procedures for wills and power of attorney in ten minutes rather than the normal hour-and-a-half.

Is the service currently on the market? LAWPP launched with “Esq. A.I.” modules as business to business (B2B), and selected runs are being carried out in California. The modules are customized for each organizations’ specifications and needs, so pricing often reflects those needs. SCUG Legal Guides are currently available on Google Play Store, and the most downloaded app is a homeless resources guide for northern and southern California.

Do you have any patents? Patent pending.

What inspired you to pursue this startup? I wanted to create programs that would assist individuals with disabilities to complete legal documents by themselves, ensuring self-determinism and complete autonomy. I also pushed myself to develop these modules due to my own personal life experience, specifically growing up with a disability. I survived a high school shooting incident where I was shot in the head. Due to other life experiences, I demonstrated high grit levels, and was able to do the legal research and programming by myself.

(Special thanks to the law firm Nixon Peabody — they provided my legal services (for free) after demonstrating some prototypes of “Esq. A.I.”)

 

Do you have funding yet? LAWPP is personally (by me) funded.

What is your biggest challenge re: the startup? Mostly the threats and hostility from others. I had incidents where attorneys vented their anger against me for what I am doing. I have received condescending remarks about my programming skills as an attorney, or using racial epithets due to my “accent” from my disability. A few clients told me that I should not be an attorney because of my accent. Others brushed aside my programs and told me that pen and paper is a better (hence Esq. A.I.’s code name, “John Henry”). Yet, through it all, I continued my journey to find individuals who appreciate my life experience and legal/technology skills.

What have you learned that you wish you knew five years ago? That I can program and create A.I. modules that talk. Also, five years ago would put me as a first year law student — how time flies.

 

What two people influenced you?

Snorri Ogata now he is the Chief Information Officer at Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County. Ogata was the Chief Technology Officer for Orange County courthouses when I worked there from 2010–12. He was my first boss after college and he challenged me by providing amazing legal technology projects and opportunities at Orange County courthouses, including the full creation of the O.C. Courts’ Self-Help Website and the digital signatures project for judicial search warrants. I learned a lot under his guidance and developed my technology skills. (In 2017 he received the Judicial Council Distinguished Service Award.)

 

Justice Martin Jenkins

  is an associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Three. I externed woth him during my first summer in law school through the Judicial Internship Opportunity Program.

He helped me develop my legal skills, and imparted the importance of taking social responsibility for my technology skills. To this day, I am still involved with JIOP as an active alumni and stay in contact with Justice Jenkins.

 

What book changed your life? “Belling the Cat.” I remembered the fable when I was three years old. The message is simple: “It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.” I treasured this message to this day — this was the main inspiration in creating my programs by myself rather than relying on others who like to “say and not do” philosophy.

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs? To be an effective leader— you cannot simply delegate. A leader should do the work and show how others can follow.

What are you afraid of? Running out of tea while programming or doing attorney matters.

Where do you expect to be in 10 years? In front of a computer, whether being an attorney or programming.

What does your workspace look like? (Borrowed from Sam Gosling.) A solid desk with my laptop connected to an external monitor and a cooling mat. Off to the side is a cup of high end tea and some chocolate to nibble.

Favorite musician: Laura Shigihara. See: “Everything’s Alright” and “Wish My Life Away.” Her music is simply amazing. The most memorable moments are when paired with Kan Gao’s works, “To the Moon” and “Finding Paradise.”

 

 

Favorite food: Machaca from El Tepeyac in Los Angeles.

 

 

 

Favorite quote: “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and the needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9 (English Standard Version.)

What’s your mantra? “If you want something done, do it yourself.” — Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, The Fifth Element.

Who would you want sitting next to you if you got stuck for three hours on the tarmac in a 737? Erwin Chemerinsky. In my opinion, he is one of the best legal authorities in law, and you will learn so much more than anyone else in a few hours.

 

Monica Bay is a Fellow at CodeX and a freelance journalist. She is a member of the California Bar. Email: mbay@codex.stanford.edu. Twitter: @MonicaBay.

 

Photo & image credits:
• Associate Justice Martin Jenkens (California Courts).
• Snorri Ogata:     2017 Judicial Council Distinguised Service Awards
• Photo of Michael Iseri: Two Dudes Photo, Mason Foster.
• Photo of Machaca: Michael Iseri.
• Nixon Peabody icon.
• Google Play Store   (SCGU image)
• Cover image and food shot: Clipart.com.