About the 2023 Derby

Our 2023 Future of Contracts Design Derby took on a manageable problem: notice provisions in contracts. 

The 2023 Future of Contracts Design Derby is co-hosted by the Duke Center on Law & Tech, the Program on Law & Innovation at Vanderbilt Law, and the NCCU Technology Law & Policy Center.Thanks to sponsors Latham & Watkins, Nelson Mullins, & Integreon for making this program possible. Thanks also to the many mentors and advisors for providing support to our students throughout the Derby!

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Meet the Winners

Table of Contents

Why notice?

In the grand scheme of contract issues, notice provisions might feel small. The challenges of contract notice provisions are “small,” however,  only in the sense that they allow us to get our heads around them quickly. After all, it wouldn’t make sense to conquer all contracts challenges in this Design Derby. We set forth on this Design Derby experience with some confidence that we’d be able to come up with some meaningful solutions on this narrower issue.

Even more, as we found through contract review, case research, and discussions with practitioners, notice in contracts can lead to BIG liabilities. And contract notice is not small at all in terms of the annoyances, risks, uncertainties, and burdens it brings.

By the numbers

Those Involved

  • All students in Prof. Jeff Ward’s Future of Contracts class at Duke Law
  • All students in Prof. Dana G. Jones’s 1L Contracts class at NCCU
  • Some students in Assistant Dean April Dawson’s Legal Technology Equity & Leadership course at NCCU Law
  • All students in Prof. Kenton Brice’s Technology in Law Practice at Oklahoma Law
  • Many other students from a total of 7 law schools
  • Co-Hosts: Duke, NCCU, Vanderbilt
  • Sites for Design Sessions: Durham Bottling Company, NCCU, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, & Virtual
  • Sponsors: Latham, Nelson Mullins, Integreon
  • Mentors and judges from academia, law firms, in-house, and tech companies

Almost every student entered the Design Derby with limited experience with contracts practice. They brought true beginner’s mindsets! Their fresh perspectives were paired with law school faculty, mentors, and contracts practitioners who were able to offer expertise and experience where needed. 

“Wonderful things happen when we merge fresh perspectives with deep expertise and all are committed to doing things better.”

– Prof. Jeff Ward, Duke Law

Summary

Read what we learned in the Future of Contracts Design Derby in our four-page summary (PDF).

Future of Contracts Design Derby he Future of Contracts Design Derby was a chance for law students to solve real problems and to imagine a better future for contracts practice. Using human-centered design principles and processes, over 100 law students from seven institutions explored the problem of notice provisions. Done wrong, the seemingly simple task of notification is likely to cost an enormous and disproportionate amount of time, effort, and money.” - Student Participant Photo of post it notes with one in focus that reads "Why are we still using fax for delivery?" In the bottom right corner, a small logo for the Duke Center on Law & Tech