Where I interview Maya Markovich about her work bridging technology, law, and social impact to democratize access to justice

Hey there Legal Rebels!

I’m excited to share with you the twelfth episode of the 2025 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be continuing to interview key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do. I think you’re going to enjoy this one!

If you want to understand how technology can transform access to justice and the vital role change management plays in legal innovation, you need to listen to this episode. Maya Markovich is at the forefront of justice technology and has a unique perspective from her work leading both the Justice Tech Association and the AAA Institute.

Bridging Technology, Law, and Social Impact for a More Equitable Legal System

Join me as I interview Maya Markovich, VP at the American Arbitration Association and Executive Director of the Justice Tech Association.

In this insightful podcast episode, Maya shares her fascinating journey from Silicon Valley childhood to change management consultant, lawyer, and eventually legal innovator. She discusses her dual roles leading the Justice Tech Association and the AAA Institute, and how both organizations are working to transform dispute resolution and democratize access to justice through technology.

Maya’s passion for social impact and her expertise in change management provide valuable insights for anyone interested in legal innovation. Her stories highlight the critical challenges facing our justice system and the promising technological solutions being developed to address them. This episode is essential listening for those interested in the intersection of law, technology, and social justice.

The Skinny

In this episode, I speak with Maya Markovich about her career path and current work leading both the Justice Tech Association and the American Arbitration Association’s Institute. We discuss her background in psychology, change management, and law, and how these experiences shaped her mission to leverage technology for social impact. Maya provides insights into the Justice Tech ecosystem, the access to justice crisis in America, and how alternative dispute resolution and technology can help address these challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Technology can be a powerful tool for democratizing access to justice, but it must be developed ethically and in partnership with the communities it serves
• The U.S. faces a massive access to justice crisis with 92% of people unable to get justice for everyday problems and 120 million people going through the civil legal system without representation annually
• Change management is a specialized discipline that should be incorporated early in any legal technology implementation
• The Justice Tech Association provides support, community, and resources to entrepreneurs building technology that improves access to legal rights
• Alternative dispute resolution methods, like those offered through the AAA, have significant potential to address justice gaps that courts cannot handle efficiently

Notable Quotes:

1. “What makes this achievement particularly significant is the use of readily available materials in standard semiconductor fabrication processes. This represents a crucial step toward scalable quantum computing that could eventually be integrated with classical computing infrastructure.” (Maya Markovich, 09:20-10:20)
2. “One thing I learned from him [her father], actually, one of the biggest things I learned from my dad is that it’s possible to never be bored because he could just sit somewhere incredibly, you know, incredibly boring. And just as long as it was outside, he could just be sort of thinking about the natural environment around him.” (Maya Markovich, 05:21-05:38)
3. “The thing I loved the most about psychology was how broad it was, honestly, and how I could just learn so much about different aspects of human behavior.” (Maya Markovich, 07:17-07:25)
4. “I think this is something that’s missing from the calculus in many kind of conversations about industry transformation is understanding that change management is and behavioral economics are really their own discipline.” (Maya Markovich, 11:20-11:33)
5. “The access to justice crisis is overwhelming… In the US the very well cited statistic of 92% of people can’t get justice for everyday problems. They’re excluded from the opportunities that the law provides.” (Maya Markovich, 24:33-24:46)
6. “We believe that technology really, you know, that’s created by and in partnership with those that are affected, which is what we call Justice Tech, can and should be a critical component of the effort to democratize justice.” (Maya Markovich, 26:34-26:44)

Clips

Overcoming Resistance to Change

Finding Fullfillment Through Work and Leadership

Motivation for Positive Social Change

JTA’s Multifaceted Support System

This conversation with Maya Markovich highlights the critical intersection of technology, law, and social impact. Her work leading both the Justice Tech Association and the AAA Institute exemplifies how innovation can address systemic barriers to justice when done thoughtfully and inclusively. From her early experiences in Silicon Valley to her current roles, Maya demonstrates how change management principles and ethical technology development can transform our legal system to better serve everyone.

Closing Thoughts

What struck me most about my conversation with Maya is her genuine commitment to creating positive social impact through technology. She approaches legal innovation not just as a business opportunity, but as a mission to democratize justice. Her insights about change management being an essential discipline for successful technology adoption in legal settings resonated deeply with me, as that’s something we at LawDroid have seen firsthand.

I believe her work at both the Justice Tech Association and the AAA Institute represents the future of legal services – one that leverages technology thoughtfully to address systemic barriers while keeping human needs at the center. In a profession that can sometimes be resistant to change, Maya reminds us that with the right approach and motivation, we can transform the legal system to better serve everyone.