Lawyer, Code Thyself

Chances are you don't need to be convinced of the merits of learning to program or, in the parlance of today's startup culture, learning “to code.” You already understand not only the professional opportunities it opens but also how it empowers you to solve your own problems: Don't like your website? Build a new one. Think your network security isn't strong enough? Improve it. Want to deliver legal services over the Web? Code a platform for it. You also understand that “coding is the new typing.” As software disrupts industry after industry, the winners will be either those writing the code or those who understand enough about coding to organize others to do it. If you need additional convincing, search for Sam Rysdyk's “Ignite Style” talk called “Law Students Should Learn to Code” on the ReInvent Law Channel from Michigan State University Law School.

Coding Resources

The next question is: “How?” Included here are a few resources to which legal professionals can turn to acquire these key skills. But first, a quick disclosure because this is a legal publication: I am a lawyer and an aspiring/slowly-learning coder. I am obviously convinced of the need to learn to code and I can personally vouch for some of these resources. But beyond simply informing, my hope (intention) for this piece is to encourage those who have been thinking about it but didn't know where to start to take the plunge and start coding. A secondary aim is to spur those who haven't thought about learning to program to not only think about it, but to also convince them of the significant opportunities that await in combining an understanding of the law/legal system and the ability to build software systems.

First, I'll point out Coding for Lawyers (codingforlawyers.com), a free, online guide to basic computer coding geared toward lawyers and advocates, and a project of Dave Zvenyach, the General Counsel for Council of the District of Columbia. As the website says, Dave is a self-taught coder, and well known in the Washington, DC “Civic Hacking” and “Legal Hacking” communities. Currently, I'm working my way through the website and though it is a bit rough around the edges, it's a great start.

Lest readers worry that I'm directing them to a site run by someone who will steal their identity and race off, either virtually or physically, to the French Riviera, let me clarify the use of the term “hacker.” The civic and legal hacking communities are groups of civic activists and legal professionals who apply the hands-on and unconventional problem-solving ethos of the original “hackers” to challenges in the civic arena and the law, respectively. For lawyers and other legal professionals who are learning to code, either one would provide a fantastic and welcoming community in which to connect with civic and legally-minded folks who also suffer from a technology affliction. For civic hacking, look here: http://civic-hacking.meetup.com/. For legal hackers, there's a good list at http://legalhackers.org/people/.

Beyond Coding for Lawyers, there lies a wealth of resources online that teach the basics of coding. One such resource is “Scratch” (scratch.mit.edu), which sees over 10 million views per month and hosts a very active community. While Scratch is generally aimed at a younger audience, it is a helpful place to start for those who are completely unfamiliar with coding, and may be a bit intimidated by the process.

Code.org is a non-profit advocacy and education organization that encourages people to learn computer science. It's been covered in the New York Times , the San Jose Mercury News , and has received almost $10 million in funding from major technology companies and their founders, such as Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Bill Gates of Microsoft.

For those who enjoy Scratch but want to take the experience off-line and, potentially, learn these principles with their kids, there's the fun board game Robot Turtles. Begun as a Kickstarter project by Seattle entrepreneur Dan Shapiro, Robot Turtles became the most-backed tabletop game in Kickstarter history, raising more than half a million dollars. The game teaches the basics of programming without even having to understand how to read let alone an in-depth knowledge of computers.

Finally, there are a number of physical schools and organizations popping up that are teaching the basic “nuts-and-bolts” of coding without the additional academic and theoretical rigor of college-level computer science programs. General Assembly is one example. It offers full and part time courses in Web Development, User Experience Design, Front End Web Development, and Back End Web Development. The courses range from 10-12 weeks and cost between $3,000 and $10,000. You can read more at their website: https://generalassemb.ly/

Conclusion

As Dave Zvenyach says on Coding For Lawyers, many of us went to law school because we “didn't like numbers.” While I would argue that in order to evolve and remain relevant in the new economy, the legal profession will have to overcome its knee-jerk negative reaction to math, for those willing to expand their horizons and get a bit uncomfortable with being a novice again, there are quality free and paid resources that can bring even someone who is terrified of numbers into the fold of competent coders. And this is important because, as Dave also says and as I agree heartily: “We need more lawyers who code.”

Dan Lear is Director of Industry Relations of Avvo, an online legal marketplace connecting consumers and attorneys.

Chances are you don't need to be convinced of the merits of learning to program or, in the parlance of today's startup culture, learning “to code.” You already understand not only the professional opportunities it opens but also how it empowers you to solve your own problems: Don't like your website? Build a new one. Think your network security isn't strong enough? Improve it. Want to deliver legal services over the Web? Code a platform for it. You also understand that “coding is the new typing.” As software disrupts industry after industry, the winners will be either those writing the code or those who understand enough about coding to organize others to do it. If you need additional convincing, search for Sam Rysdyk's “Ignite Style” talk called “Law Students Should Learn to Code” on the ReInvent Law Channel from Michigan State University Law School.

Coding Resources

The next question is: “How?” Included here are a few resources to which legal professionals can turn to acquire these key skills. But first, a quick disclosure because this is a legal publication: I am a lawyer and an aspiring/slowly-learning coder. I am obviously convinced of the need to learn to code and I can personally vouch for some of these resources. But beyond simply informing, my hope (intention) for this piece is to encourage those who have been thinking about it but didn't know where to start to take the plunge and start coding. A secondary aim is to spur those who haven't thought about learning to program to not only think about it, but to also convince them of the significant opportunities that await in combining an understanding of the law/legal system and the ability to build software systems.

First, I'll point out Coding for Lawyers (codingforlawyers.com), a free, online guide to basic computer coding geared toward lawyers and advocates, and a project of Dave Zvenyach, the General Counsel for Council of the District of Columbia. As the website says, Dave is a self-taught coder, and well known in the Washington, DC “Civic Hacking” and “Legal Hacking” communities. Currently, I'm working my way through the website and though it is a bit rough around the edges, it's a great start.

Lest readers worry that I'm directing them to a site run by someone who will steal their identity and race off, either virtually or physically, to the French Riviera, let me clarify the use of the term “hacker.” The civic and legal hacking communities are groups of civic activists and legal professionals who apply the hands-on and unconventional problem-solving ethos of the original “hackers” to challenges in the civic arena and the law, respectively. For lawyers and other legal professionals who are learning to code, either one would provide a fantastic and welcoming community in which to connect with civic and legally-minded folks who also suffer from a technology affliction. For civic hacking, look here: http://civic-hacking.meetup.com/. For legal hackers, there's a good list at http://legalhackers.org/people/.

Beyond Coding for Lawyers, there lies a wealth of resources online that teach the basics of coding. One such resource is “Scratch” (scratch.mit.edu), which sees over 10 million views per month and hosts a very active community. While Scratch is generally aimed at a younger audience, it is a helpful place to start for those who are completely unfamiliar with coding, and may be a bit intimidated by the process.

Code.org is a non-profit advocacy and education organization that encourages people to learn computer science. It's been covered in the New York Times , the San Jose Mercury News , and has received almost $10 million in funding from major technology companies and their founders, such as Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Bill Gates of Microsoft.

For those who enjoy Scratch but want to take the experience off-line and, potentially, learn these principles with their kids, there's the fun board game Robot Turtles. Begun as a Kickstarter project by Seattle entrepreneur Dan Shapiro, Robot Turtles became the most-backed tabletop game in Kickstarter history, raising more than half a million dollars. The game teaches the basics of programming without even having to understand how to read let alone an in-depth knowledge of computers.

Finally, there are a number of physical schools and organizations popping up that are teaching the basic “nuts-and-bolts” of coding without the additional academic and theoretical rigor of college-level computer science programs. General Assembly is one example. It offers full and part time courses in Web Development, User Experience Design, Front End Web Development, and Back End Web Development. The courses range from 10-12 weeks and cost between $3,000 and $10,000. You can read more at their website: https://generalassemb.ly/

Conclusion

As Dave Zvenyach says on Coding For Lawyers, many of us went to law school because we “didn't like numbers.” While I would argue that in order to evolve and remain relevant in the new economy, the legal profession will have to overcome its knee-jerk negative reaction to math, for those willing to expand their horizons and get a bit uncomfortable with being a novice again, there are quality free and paid resources that can bring even someone who is terrified of numbers into the fold of competent coders. And this is important because, as Dave also says and as I agree heartily: “We need more lawyers who code.”

Dan Lear is Director of Industry Relations of Avvo, an online legal marketplace connecting consumers and attorneys.