Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Provider
- Lexhack
- Deadline
- 9/27/2026
In short
LexHack 2026 is a virtual student hackathon focused on AI solutions for legal tech, automated law, and AI safety. Participants will build prototypes addressing challenges in legal access, digital rights, AI governance, and administrative efficiency. The hackathon offers $59,560 in prizes, including cash, premium memberships, and priority selection for the LexHack Builders Fellowship. Eligibility is restricted to students who are above the legal age of majority in their country of residence.
LexHack 2026
By Lexhack
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 9/27/202612 days left
Virtual Student Hackathon
Format
$59,560
Total Prizes
AI, Law, and Civic Technology
Focus Areas
LexHack Builders Fellowship
Post-Hackathon Support
Open to global students
Audience
Beginner Friendly, Low/No Code, Social Good
Themes
Overview
LexHack 2026 is a virtual student hackathon designed to empower global student builders to pioneer AI solutions. The event focuses on the intersection of AI, Law, and Civic Technology, encouraging participants to develop real-world solutions that extend beyond typical side projects. Key areas of focus include legal access, digital rights, AI governance, and administrative efficiency. Participants can choose from tracks such as Access to Justice & Civic Tech, AI Safety, Ethics & Governance, Legal Automation & Workflow Innovation, Digital Rights & Policy Tech, and Open Innovation (AI x Law). The hackathon aims to foster innovation and practical application, inviting all skill levels from experienced coders to those new to AI building tools. Projects will be evaluated on real-world impact, practical usability, and innovation. Beyond the competition, high-potential teams, regardless of their final ranking, will be considered for the LexHack Builders Fellowship. The LexHack Builders Fellowship provides post-hackathon support to help teams transform their prototypes into real-world applications. This includes sustained mentorship from industry experts, technical assistance for deployment, and access to networks and grant opportunities. Early registrants for LexHack 2026 receive priority consideration for this fellowship, along with potential NYC event fly-outs and internship opportunities. LexHack 2026 offers a total of $59,560 in prizes, distributed across various categories including Grand Prize, Second Place, Third Place, Most Referral Awards, and general participant benefits. These prizes include cash, premium memberships, platform credits, and domain registrations. The hackathon provides a platform for learning, collaboration, and building solutions that address significant societal challenges.
What to build
Participants are encouraged to build projects related to one or more of the LexHack themes, such as: - Legal guidance, plain-language translation, and public assistance platforms - AI safety, bias detection, and governance auditors - Automated contract parsers and legal workflow agents - Civic engagement and tenant/consumer rights tools - Policy compliance and digital rights systems Projects can be web apps, mobile apps, low-code prototypes, browser extensions, or custom algorithms.
Prizes
Grand Prize
1 winner. Includes CodeCrafters VIP Membership (2 Years, $720 value per team member), Adaption Labs Platform Credits ($1000 value per team member), priority selection in LexHack Builders Fellowship, and eligibility for funded NYC event fly-outs and fast-tracked internship opportunities.
$1,720 in cash
Second Place
1 winner. Includes CodeCrafters VIP Membership (1 Year, $360 value per team member), Adaption Labs Platform Credits ($1000 value per team member), priority selection in LexHack Builders Fellowship, and fast-tracked consideration for NYC event fly-outs and internship opportunities.
$1,360 in cash
Third Place
1 winner. Includes CodeCrafters VIP Membership (6 Months, $180 value per team member), Adaption Labs Platform Credits ($1000 value per team member), priority selection in LexHack Builders Fellowship.
$1,180 in cash
1 Year Complementary .xyz Domain
350 winners. All LexHack 2026 participants get a free 1-year .xyz domain to host and launch their project (first-come-first-serve).
Adaption Labs Premium Access
1,800 winners. All LexHack 2026 participants get Adaption Labs premium access during the duration of the hackathon.
Most Referral Awards - 1st Place
Individual Award.
$500 USD
Most Referral Awards - 2nd Place
Individual Award.
$300 USD
Most Referral Awards - 3rd Place
Individual Award.
$200 USD
YouCam (500 API Units)
500 winners. All LexHack 2026 participants get 500 API Units for YouCam during the duration of the hackathon (first-come-first-serve).
Key dates
- Deadline2026-09-27T17:00:00-04:00
How to enter
- Register: Sign up individually or with a team of up to 4 students.
- Brainstorm: Pick a real legal, civic, or AI ethics problem you want to solve.
- Build: Develop your prototype during the hackathon period using your preferred code or low-code tools.
- Submit: Upload your finished project on Devpost before the deadline.
Submission requirements
- Project Name & Short Summary: A quick overview of what your project does.
- Problem & Solution: Explanation of the specific legal or civic issue your tool addresses.
- Working Link or Code Repository: A link to your GitHub repo, Replit, or live deployed prototype URL.
- Demo Video & Screenshots: A brief video (2–3 minutes) or visual walkthrough showing your project in action.
- Tech Stack: A list of technologies, APIs, LLMs, or low-code platforms used.
Judging criteria
- Real-World Impact & Feasibility (25%): How effectively does the project address a genuine challenge in legal access, civic tech, digital rights, or AI governance? Does the solution offer a realistic, practical approach that could actually be deployed or used by real people?
- Technical Execution & Functionality (25%): How well is the working prototype built? Is the code functional, well-structured, and capable of executing its core workflows? How effectively does the team integrate their chosen tech stack, AI models, or public APIs?
- User Experience & Design (20%): Is the application intuitive, clear, and easy to navigate? Is the interface accessible and understandable for everyday users, non-lawyers, or non-technical individuals who need legal/civic help?
- Innovation & Originality (15%): How creative and unique is the concept? Does the project take a novel approach to solving a legal tech or civic problem, or push the boundaries of how AI tools are traditionally applied?
- Presentation & Documentation (15%): How clear and compelling is the 3-minute video demonstration? Does the Devpost write-up clearly state the problem, solution, tech stack, and transparently declare any pre-existing libraries or AI tools used?