Microsoft

Luz: Scaling Access to Justice

Role: UX Design | Subject Matter Expert

Duration: 4 months

Problem Statement

How might we use AI to streamline pro bono application preparation, thereby serving more clients in need and scaling access to justice?

Solution:

A whole new case management system that harnesses the power of Azure AI

Harnessing Azure’s capabilities, we built a proprietary solution that created a complete ecosystem for managing DACA applications – from clinic scheduling and case preparation to expert review and volunteer resources.

Using document intelligence, the system scans previous applications, compares them with current client intake information and master form templates, and flags any discrepancies for volunteer review. It then drafts and populates the forms for expert review, reducing case preparation time from several hours to under 30 minutes and enabling clinics to scale efficiently.

The intuitive interface guides new volunteers through each step while AI reduces common errors, empowering even those with no prior experience to contribute effectively right away.

  • I played a key role in the design of Luz, using my UX training to bridge the gap between users and the development team. I provided strategic feedback through design reviews in Figma and facilitated collaborative discussions to refine the user experience. My input ensured the interface was intuitive for volunteers of all experience levels, aligning design decisions with real user needs to create a tool that was both effective and easy to use. My goal was always to make sure that, no matter their background, volunteers could step in and feel confident using the tool from day one.

  • I’ve been volunteering at Microsoft’s DACA clinics for over 10 years, and I brought that deep firsthand knowledge to the Luz project. Project constraints didn’t allow for formal user research, so I served as the voice of the user throughout development. I combined my extensive clinic experience with my immigration expertise to guide the team, ensuring that every design choice and workflow would actually work for volunteers on the ground. My goal was to make sure Luz wasn’t just a technical solution, but a tool that truly supported people doing this important work.

My Role

Featured on New York City Bar Podcast

Podcast Highlight Luz Design featuring Amae

When they have an intuitive, easy to use interface that walks them through the whole process…then you can train a volunteer very quickly, who’s never done DACA before and just start going.”

- Amae Kurre

Skip to 15:50 – 17:40 to hear my work featured.