Michigan State University College of Law’s new ReInvent Law Laboratory is holding an innovative event Feb. 25 to encourage students to help bridge the justice gap in the American legal system.
The ReInvent Law Start-Up Competition challenges student entrepreneurs to explore new business plans and create better delivery models that match appropriately qualified lawyers with the clients who need them, said Renee Newman Knake, associate professor of law and co-director of the ReInvent Law Laboratory.
“One of the main goals of the laboratory is to cultivate learners who will invent the future of law practice,” Knake said. “This start-up competition will encourage our law students to use creative approaches in their future practice, and to create new legal service delivery models through research and experimentation.”
To compete, students submitted a 150- to 300-word description of their business models. Finalists will have six minutes to pitch their ideas. Winners will receive up to $2,500 in seed money to develop and launch their ideas.
The ReInvent Law Start-Up Competition is sponsored by the college, the ReInvent Law Laboratory, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and MSU Federal Credit Union.
“We take great pride in our association with MSU and its world-class academic programs, never ceasing to be amazed by the work created by the university’s students and faculty,” said April Clobes, MSUFCU executive vice president and CEO. “We are certain the student pitches submitted for the ReInvent Law Start-Up Competition will be no exception, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute toward this project.”