Working for Justice: Why A2J Tech is Becoming a B Corp

At A2J Tech, we have one guiding mission: to improve access to justice. From day one, this commitment has been the backbone of everything we do. Now, six years in—and after countless hours of coding, consulting, and collaboration—we’re reflecting on what it means to be accountable to that mission as we continue to grow.

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In our professional world, access to justice typically means improving access to the civil legal system for people with low incomes. This specific goal inspires and informs all our work at A2J Tech. Whether it’s installing Legal Kiosks for Community Legal Services in Arizona, streamlining intake for Legal Aid of Nebraska, or designing an accessible website for Legal Services of Greater Miami, keeping a tight focus enables us to support individuals, families, communities, and practitioners in the most effective ways we can.

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Still, we understand that justice is a much bigger and more expansive concept. Justice systems are interconnected, and no mission exists in isolation. Far from diminishing the value of our work, situating ourselves within a broader concept of justice makes what we do even more meaningful.

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While we remain grounded in our commitment to civil legal access, we also want to think critically about our role within a wider justice framework. This is why we are applying for B Corp Certification.

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What Is B Corp Certification and How Is It Linked to Justice?

To become a certified B Corporation, a company must meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The certification process includes a rigorous application that evaluates a business across five impact areas: Governance; Workers; Community; Environment; and Customers.

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Standards, accountability, ethics, transparency, and fairness are compliance tools; they are also important parts of a justice framework. At A2J Tech, we see B Corp certification as a way to bring our internal practices into closer alignment with the values that shape our external work. We’re also looking forward to joining a global community of companies committed to a more just world. 

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Accountability and Alignment as Justice

A2J Tech was founded to help build a more equitable and accessible legal system. As we grow, we want to make sure our business practices are aligned with the same values that drive our legal work. 

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As part of the B Corp application process, we’ve begun assessing our impact across all five areas. This blog post focuses on Governance and Workers, as they speak directly to the ways we are embedding justice in our organizational structures.

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Good Governance as Justice

A just system requires transparent decision-making, ethical leadership, and stakeholder accountability. The B Corp Governance Impact Area is built around three domains: Mission & Engagement; Ethics & Transparency; and Mission Lock.

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We regard our social impact as the primary measure of our success and prioritize it even when it does not directly drive profitability. A2J Tech formalized this commitment in 2023, when we became a Public Benefit Corporation—legally embedding our mission in our business model.

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For us, being a Public Benefit Corporation means looking beyond business outcomes to design policies and practices that consider the impact of our decisions on clients, partners, and communities. We also prioritize transparency in our internal communications, budgeting, and planning to foster a culture of trust and shared purpose. As a company, we strive for long-term social good over short-term material gain. 

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Workers’ Rights and Wellbeing as Justice

Our mission to improve access to justice is paramount at A2J Tech, but we never want this commitment to come at the expense of our own team’s wellbeing. As a company, we aim for fair and generous labor practices. Still, without systems for accountability a disconnect can grow between a company’s own self-appraisal and the lived experiences of its employees. 

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We are excited to use the B Corp Workers standards to measure ourselves to best practices for just employment. The B Corp Workers Impact Area evaluates Financial Security; Health, Wellness & Safety; Career Development; Engagement & Satisfaction; and Worker Ownership & Representation.

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One B Corp standard involves conducting regular anonymous workplace assessments. This year we are conducting our first internal workplace assessment as an organization. Our goal has been to create a safe space for employees to share their honest feedback on what is working well and what could be improved. 

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Our own belief, reflected in the B Corp standards, is that workplace equity includes not only decent wages and benefits, but meaningful participation and long-term investment in employee growth. For us, this looks like prioritizing flexibility, autonomy, and continuous learning for our team. 

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Process and Improvement as Justice

At A2J Tech, we believe justice must be practiced. That means building products and systems that make legal help more accessible. It also means building a workplace that is equitable, accountable, and values-driven. Pursuing B Corp Certification is one way we’re holding ourselves to that standard. 

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We’re not pursuing B Corp certification to check a box. We’re doing it because the process itself challenges us to improve. So far, this process has enabled us to examine how we lead, how we collaborate, and how we distribute power within our organization. Just outcomes in the world require just conditions at work–starting with our own.

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If you’re working toward similar goals in civil legal aid, public interest tech, or anywhere justice meets practice, we would love to be in conversation.