amica
An online dispute resolution app that helps separating couples agree on property and parenting arrangements without going to court.
The problem
Separating is expensive, especially for people with few resources who don't qualify for legal aid. Parenting plans and property settlements are often ignored until a serious problem arises, and by then the only option left is lawyers and court.
What we did
- Studied what worked and failed in earlier ODR platforms, including MyLaw BC and Rechtwijzer.
- Redesigned the Family Court's DIY consent order form as a plain-language question flow people can finish on their phone, in their own time.
- Ran six rounds of user testing with 34 people who had been through separation, in Adelaide and Melbourne.
- Designed a guided messaging space with a 'tone cop' that blocks abusive language and nudges people towards collaborative replies.
- Built a machine learning model that suggests a fair split of assets. Instead of biased court data, it learned from 1,300+ scenarios assessed by legal aid lawyers in every state and territory.
- [What you personally led or decided]
Key insight
People wanted the tone to be authoritative, but not stuffy or legalistic. Plain language and step-by-step guidance mattered more than any feature.
Outcome
- NATIONALLaunched by the Federal Attorney-General on 30 June 2020
- 200+ COUPLEShad used amica by July 2020
- 2 AWARDSiAward 2020 and Anthem Award 2024
- AUS → USANow being adapted for US family courts as Civily
