SMU LIT Hackathon 2024
Bridging the Divide between the Law and Technology
7 - 10 AUG 2024
Join Singapores LARGEST and COOLEST inter-varsity legal tech hackathon!
Attractive prizes of up to $7,500 to be won.
Sign up here.
SIGN UP BY 4 Aug 2359!
About Hackathon 2024
The Singapore Management University's (SMU) Legal Innovation and Technology (LIT) Hackathon is back! This is an annual hackathon organised by SMU LIT. Thiis year, it is taking place on 7th, 8th and 10th August. This is the largest inter-varsity, 3-day hackathon held in Singapore, where students from all Institutes of Higher Learning in Singapore can compete to create legal technological solutions. Sign up as a group of (3-7) or register individually with other like-minded students to take on the problem statement together!
This year’s hackathon introduces a new policy component. Apart from creating a legal-tech solution, teams are also required to come up with a policy recommendation to address their chosen problem statement. Such problems tend to be complex in nature, requiring a mix of technological and policy solutions to address effectively. We hope that through this hackathon, participants would have a greater appreciation of this complementary nature between law and technology.
Over the course of the hackathon, participants will also have the opportunity to attend workshops and panel discussions hosted by our partners and guest speakers. On 10 August, teams will be presenting their proposed solution and policy to a panel of judges
We will be awarding over $8000 worth of cash prizes, for multiple prize categories apart from just the top 3! Participants will also receive SMU LIT merchandise* and event t-shirts!
Hackathon Themes
In line with our aim to increase awareness on the divide between Technology and Law, and our endeavour to bridge this gap, the big theme for this year's Hackathon is "Bridging the Tech-Law Divide".
There are 3 problem statements for this year’s hackathon, one relating to online harms, one relating to Generative AI, and the last relating to transnational cybercrimes. Specific problem statements will be released closer on to the hackathon!
(a) Online Harms
(b) Generative AI
(c) Transnational Crimes
Schedule
Time | Event |
|---|---|
1930hrs | Opening Ceremony |
1945hrs | Panel Discussion: Digital Dangers and Defences: Data Privacy & Security |
2045hrs | Break |
2100hrs | Blockchain Workshop by ICPHub Singapore |
2230hrs | End of Day 1 |
Our Platinum Sponsors
Trusted since 1861, Dentons Rodyk is one of Singapore's largest and oldest law firms. Their Intellectual Property and Technology practice group provides clients with a full suite of legal counsel and advisory services covering all aspects of intellectual property and technology law.
Mishcon de Reya is a leading law firm with offices in London, Cambridge, Oxford, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Founded in 1937, it offers bespoke legal services with a focus on diversity, innovation, and integrity. The firm is dedicated to proactive, client-centric solutions, leveraging its intellectual capital to unlock legal potential and provide top-tier advice to global clients.
ICP Hub Singapore is a premier branch of the globally renowned Internet Computer Protocol (ICP), supported by the DFINITY Foundation. They are committed to fostering a thriving tech ecosystem in Singapore with a mission to engage with local tech-savvy and youth communities, educating them about ICP's innovative web3 applications, including decentralised email and chat services.
In Collaboration With
Supported By
Prizes
Main Prizes
$3,000
Champion Team
$2,000
1st Runner Up
$1,000
2nd Runner Up
Special Awards
$500
Dentons Rodyk Online Harms Award
$500
ICP Hub Generative AI Award
$500
Mishcon Dde Reya Transnational Crimes Award
FAQs
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Is there any entry fee participants need to pay to participate?There is NO entry fee that participants need to pay to participate.
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Is it possible to have a team made up of several different schools (e.g. mix of people from NUS, SMU and NYP)?You can have a team made up of participants from several different schools as long as a team comprises of 3-7 people and all team members are currently studying in an Singapore-based Institute of Higher Learning.
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What are the deliverables?Teams are expected to (1) create a software product solution that addresses one of the problem statements, and (2) come up with a corresponding policy solution. For the software product solution, teams may choose to code up their solution from scratch, or utilise low-code platforms to build their solution. For clarity, low-code platforms are those that allow users to build fully functional software solutions with little to no coding involved. Teams may choose to submit Figma prototypes/presentations/documents. However, as these platforms do not allow users to build a functional application or solution, teams may be penalised on the functionality and technical implementation aspects. For the policy solution, teams can choose either to write in prose or a statute format (an example can be found here). Regardless of the format, key components that teams should have in their policy solution include: Objective of the proposed policy solution Definitions of terms used - Be as specific as possible. How you define the terms you use will affect the scope of your policy Policy sections - This could be in the form of imposing positive obligations (“Users who meet condition x and condition y are required to perform obligation z”), or negative obligations (“Users must not perform x, else they will be liable for offence y”) Who will monitor/enforce the proposed policy solution These components are not exhaustive. Teams are encouraged to include additional information if it helps with the clarity of the proposed policy solution.
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What is the Judging Process like ?For this hackathon, apart from a product pitch, every finalist team will also be required to present a policy suggestion relating to their chosen problem statement. The time allocated per team is 15 minutes, and teams are encouraged to utilise the full duration, and are allowed to use any slides, animation, videos or live demonstrations to showcase their project. The judges may ask some follow-up questions if they have any. After the presentations for all participants have concluded, the panel of judges will make their decisions on the winners while the participants would be given a break.