CodeX Fellow Hilary Ferejohn‘s article, “How Can We Improve Legal Services? Start with the Words” has been published  on the legal.io blog.

Ferejohn’s article argues that “the legal industry should help everyone, especially the most vulnerable. Let’s speak the same language as those we’re trying to help.” She starts with the lessons she learned when a family member was hospitalized.

“To recover, she needed supplementary oxygen at home, so an attendant came to her hospital room to show her how to use the two oxygen tanks. I listened as the representative rattled off the procedures needed to turn the tanks on and off, and how to manage the oxygen flow. He did not provide a handout that we could refer to later. What do patients do who are alone, tired from illness and struggling to concentrate, without a family member or friend to help?”

She compares that to the legal industry and advocates that lawyers need to be more transparent—and show empathy. Excellent observations and advice!

CodeX Fellows Tony Lai and Pieter Gunst are the co-founders of Legal.io. The software “powers professional, client-facing web and mobile presences for law firms and legal networks,” the website says.

Monica Bay is a Fellow at CodeX and a freelance journalist for Bloomberg BNA Big Law Business. She is a member of the California bar. @MonicaBay. Email: mbay@codex.stanford.edu.