Legalswipe

Legalswipe operated as a social enterprise focused on public legal education through a mobile application. Founded in Toronto, Canada, in June 2015 by Christien Levien, the company aimed to address a knowledge gap concerning legal rights, particularly during interactions with law enforcement. The founder, a criminal defense lawyer, was motivated by personal experience, including an unwarranted police encounter, which drove him to study law and later create a tool to empower individuals, especially those in marginalized communities. Levien, a graduate of the University of Ottawa's law program, identified the need for more accessible legal information after conducting legal rights workshops and realizing the material was difficult for many to understand.

The core of the business was a free-to-use smartphone app, available for both Apple and Android devices, designed to inform users in Canada and the United States about their rights. The application provided situation-based guidance; for instance, if a police officer was attempting to obtain identification or conduct a search, the app would suggest questions to ask and provide talking points based on one's legal obligations. Additional features included the ability to record encounters and automatically upload the footage to a user's personal Dropbox server, ensuring the video was stored securely off the device. This functionality was intended to serve as a rights refresher and a tool for documenting interactions.

The business model primarily targeted individuals and operated as a B2C legal tech platform. Initially, the company's revenue model was not a primary focus, as the main goal was accessibility. Legalswipe sought funding through crowdfunding and was open to public ideas for sustainability. It received a small amount of funding from an accelerator/incubator and a grant in late 2015 and early 2016. The app saw significant initial traction, with thousands of downloads shortly after its launch. Despite its early promise and the clear societal need it addressed, PitchBook data indicates that the company went out of business around September 2018.

Keywords: legal rights education, police interaction app, mobile legal aid, Christien Levien, access to justice, know your rights, legal tech, public legal information, carding, police accountability, civil liberties app, legal resource tool, law enforcement encounters, Toronto startup, social justice tech, legal documentation app, rights awareness, community safety, legal empowerment, criminal justice reform