Meet the co-founders of Contend Legal, Michael Stych and William Boan – two legal sector experts who have spent their careers working to make the law more accessible. With deep experience across both law and technology, they’ve built an AI-powered platform designed to help everyday people get affordable, straightforward legal support when they need it most.
1. What is your company’s mission?
At Contend, our mission is simple: we want to make legal help accessible and affordable for everyone. The legal system is complicated and expensive, and we believe technology can change that.
2. What inspired you to start your company?
After years working in and around the legal system, Will and I kept seeing the same pattern: people with real problems were falling through the cracks because they couldn’t afford a lawyer or didn’t know where to start. We wanted to build something that helped people understand their rights and take action, without needing to jump through hoops or break the bank.
3. What problem are you solving?
We’re tackling the gap between people and legal support. Most people either can’t afford legal help or don’t know where to find it. Contend gives them instant information about their rights and options through a simple AI chat. It’s not about replacing lawyers – it’s about helping people get unstuck and take that first step with confidence.
4. Who are your customers?
Right now, we serve people in the UK dealing with all kinds of legal issues – housing and tenancy, employment, divorce and family law, money and debt, and more. These are everyday problems that affect millions of people, and our goal is to be there when they need help.
5. What is your business model?
We offer direct-to-consumer legal assistance through our AI platform. People can access help starting at £29 a month – with no hidden fees or unexpected subscriptions. And if they’re not satisfied, we offer a full refund. It’s about making legal support both trustworthy and affordable.
6. What is your company’s most significant achievement to date?
We’ve now answered over 125,000 legal questions across the UK, which really shows how strong the need is – and how much our service is resonating with people. We also recently secured pre-seed funding from The LegalTech Fund and Supernode Global. That support is helping us expand our legal coverage, improve our AI, and continue building a product that people can rely on.
7. What are your goals for the next year?
We’re focused on expanding our reach and continuing to grow the impact of our platform. That means building out support for more areas of law, improving the user experience, and making sure more people can access the help they need, when they need it.
8. What is your biggest challenge?
One of our biggest ongoing challenges is making sure our AI stays up-to-date with the latest laws and regulations. Legal systems change all the time, and it’s important that the information we give people is not just accessible, but accurate.
9. What does “justice tech” mean to you?
To me, justice tech means using technology to close the gap between people and the legal support they deserve. It’s about removing barriers, creating options, and giving people the tools they need to navigate a system that can feel overwhelming or out of reach.
10. Why did you join JTA, and what do you love about being part of it?
We joined JTA to be part of a community of builders and advocates working toward a more equitable justice system. It’s energizing to be in conversation with others who are tackling these problems from different angles. We’ve learned a lot, made valuable connections, and continue to be inspired by the creativity and commitment in this space.
11. Share another organization you love that is working to bridge the Access to Justice Gap, and why.
We’ve always been impressed by the team at Citizens Advice, specifically Stuart Pearson and the rest of the team working on Caddy. Citizens Advice is the UK’s largest legal advice charity, and Stu’s team is doing exciting work at the intersection of AI & justice.
12. How can people learn more about your company?
You can visit us at www.contend.legal to learn more, try out the platform, or get in touch. We’re always happy to connect.
Contend Legal is helping pave the way toward more accessible and affordable legal support. By using AI to simplify how people get help with everyday legal problems, the team at Contend is making a real impact for those navigating a system that can feel overwhelming. Their commitment to streamlining the legal process and addressing the barriers individuals face in seeking legal advice exemplifies the mission of the Justice Technology Association.
🔗 Learn more at www.contend.legal
🔗 Connect with Michael Stych and William Boan on LinkedIn