Check back for Sprint 2025 details in Fall 2024
Sprint Application FAQs
Q: WHAT IS LAWwithoutwalls? is it like doctors without borders but for lawyers?
A: LawWithoutWalls is not like Doctors Without Borders. LWOW doesn’t send teams of legal professionals out to parts of the world for clinical practice. Instead, LWOW is an initiative that combines law with technology, business and innovation. Students will work in teams comprised of legal and business professionals and academics to solve team-specific challenges at this intersection. Click here to see the list of topic challenges over years past.
Q: How does LWOW Sprint work?
A: Watch a 10 minute pre-recorded presentation about the SPRINT 2024 program here.
Q: What IS THE TIMELINE for LWOW 2024?
A: The timeline for LWOW 2024 can be found here. LWOW Sprint is an in-person event over 3 days. Sprint days are ALL DAY experiences. Sprint 2024 will be held 15—17 March in Madrid, Spain and hosted by IE University Law School. Students should arrive in Madrid no later by Thursday, 14 March and depart no earlier than Monday, 18 March.
The LWOW Pre-Sprint Learning Modules will be held (unless assigned to be completed independently and asynchronously) mostly on Wednesdays from 15:30pm Eastern Time USA (20:30 UTC) onwards in the 7 weeks (24 January—6 March 2024) leading up to the in-person Sprint. The final schedule of the learning modules will be published in Fall 2023.
Q: When DO applicationS OPEN AND WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?
A: Applications for Sprint 2024 opens 13 September, 2023. Unless otherwise noted by a participating school, students must complete their Sprint 2024 Applications (click here for How to Apply) by 10 November 2023. This includes completion of the Application Form and the Applicant Recommendation, also due 10 November, 2023. Applications are not considered complete until both are submitted. All students will be notified of acceptance by 1 Dec 2023.
Q: What do i need to submit for my lwow application?
A: You will need to complete 1) the online Application Form 2) Submit an Interview Video 3) Submit your LinkedIn url and finally, submit 4) a Recommendation from an academic or professional supervisor.
Q: Who should complete the Applicant Recommendation, and how?
A: Only ONE recommendation is required. Students applying to LWOW must have a current or past academic or professional supervisor (e.g., a professor who supervises their work as a research assistant, a thesis supervisor, a work manager, recent boss, etc.) complete the Applicant Recommendation on their behalf. Students should inform the supervisor of their candidacy for LWOW and send the link to their supervisor for completion. An application without a recommendation will not be considered. Click here for the Recommendation Form.
Q: What should my Interview Video include?
A: Your Interview Video should tell us why you're a fitting candidate for LWOW by answering the interview questions in a thoughtful, creative manner. Each video should display examples of problem solving, leadership, and creativity. Applications to LWOW are competitive, so what makes you stand out? The Interview Video is your opportunity to give us an in-depth visual idea of your identity, personality, complimentary interests and desire to participate in LWOW. Note: The Interview Video may be a mix of video clips, still photos, and animated media; however, it must be one cohesive video file. Visit How to Apply for Interview Video Questions + Instructions. Follow instructions for creation and submission.
Want some ideas on the video? Click HERE for a YouTube playlist of past Personal Pitches (whilst this is not exactly what your Interview Video will look like, it will give you an idea on the quality of the LWOW applicant pool as well as creativity of the video submissions).
Q: What is the cost to participate in LWOW?
A: LWOW is a nonprofit organization. The administration fee to participate in the LWOW Sprint depends on your school (Note: administration fee includes participation in LWOW Sprint 2024 and Pre-Sprint Learning Modules, but does not include travel or lodging; however, as in years’ past, we will select reduced-rate hotels for students and pair them 2 per room. Students can also request a single room at a higher cost). Funding arrangements vary—some students are fully funded by their schools (administration fee plus travel costs), some students receive a partial-stipend, and others are entirely self-funded. Please contact anita@lwow.org for admin costs.
Q: what is the student role at the sprint?
A: Although the professional participants (“Lead Hackers”) from the Sponsoring organization play the lead role on teams because they have a deeper level of expertise/experience related to the assigned problem than do the students, the students or “Student Hackers” are very much at the core of the Sprint. Students Hackers meaningfully participate (they do not just assist) in the real-life problem fine-tuning, solution development, and prototyping during the Sprint. Student Hackers work alongside the Lead Hackers in everything from understanding the big picture and substance of the team challenge/problem to idea generation and prototyping. Students are also the “do-ers” on their teams. In addition to all of the above, it is the Student Hackers that develop the Ignite-style decks that present their Project of Worth, and they present alongside the Lead Hackers to a panel of judges at the conclusion of the Sprint (ConPosium).
Q: What are the expectations LWOW has of me?
A: Learn more about our STUDENT EXPECTATIONS here. LWOW Sprint is an intensive 3-Day, ALL DAY learning experience and well worth the time and travel.
Pre-Sprint Work and Schedule: Students can expect to attend or participate independently in a series of 7 Pre-Sprint Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning Modules (with interactivity) approximately 90 minutes each in the 7 weeks leading up to the LWOW Sprint in order to prepare them for the experience (Note: this pre-Sprint work run 24 January—6 March 2024. Live virtual Instruction Sessions and Webinars will be likely be held starting 15:30pm Eastern Time USA (20:30 UTC). Attendance is mandatory for live sessions, students should check schedules to ensure they can fully participate.
Exact schedule to be confirmed in Fall 2023. Post-Sprint, students can expect to produce a creative work (video, presentation, or visual display, or paper) exploring their Sprint 2024 experience.
Q: how intensive is the workload?
A: LWOW Sprint is an intensive 3-day, ALL-DAY in-person experience. Students will be the “do-ers” on their teams. As such, students are expected to be ALWAYS present and engaged with team members during the Sprint, and allot in extra time as needed to contribute to the their Project of Worth. It’s also our job at LWOW to make sure that students are ready for the Sprint experience.
Pre-Sprint, students will be required to attend a series of synchronous or asynchronous training and learning sessions on topics including key steps in the 3-4-5 Method of Innovation™ (problem finding and mapping, consumer storytelling, and solution ideation), professionalism and presencing, project management skills, and collaboration and teaming skills. Over 7 weeks (beginning 24 January to 6 March 2024) leading up to Sprint 2024, students can expect to spend 3—4.5 hours a week attending or independently watching and interacting with learning modules, meeting with each other in teams, and completing assigned tasks. Exact schedule will be determined by Fall 2023.
Post-Sprint, students are required to complete an assessment—in a creative format— that presents your experience at LWOW Sprint, the process, your team and solution, and importantly your learning and development (professional and personal).
TIME COMMITMENT:
Mandatory: Attend/participate in 7 Pre-Sprint Learning Modules beginning 24 Jan 2024—6 Mar 2024 (total of 7 modules), delivered both Async and Sync. Synchronous sessions are expected to begin at UTC 20:30 for 90 minutes. Exact schedule to come in Fall of 2023.
Mandatory: Participate in a LWOW Tradition: the LWOW Lip Sync.
Mandatory: Attend an in-person Teaming Session on location at Sprint 2024 (details to come).
Mandatory: Attend all 3 full days of the LWOW Sprint 15—17 March 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
Mandatory: Post-Sprint, complete a final student self-assessment. To help preserve students’ learnings and experiences at LWOW, and to communicate the benefits back to the sponsoring institutions, students are also required to complete a creative and engaging post-Sprint overview and assessment that presents their experience at LWOW Sprint, the process, project development, learnings and professional development. We urge students to complete this in a creative way e.g., via a podcast, video or dynamic recorded presentation, a playlist, or something visual like a wireframe/prototype.
Q: My school is not a participating school, but I still want to participate. What should I do?
A: No problem! Students from non-participating schools are welcome to apply to LWOW Sprint 2024, just like students from participating schools. There is no difference in fees. However, applicants must either be currently enrolled or recent graduates of a law or business program to be eligible to apply.
Q: What is a Project of Worth?
A: Learn more about Projects of Worth here.
Q: Will my Project of Worth be used in practice?
A: The closer a Project of Worth is to a viable product, the more successful it is likely to be. This is because part of creating your Project of Worth is trying to accurately determine the costs of creating, marketing and implementing it. Understandably, we do not expect you to have business and marketing expertise to an extent where you will be able to do this perfectly; however, part of the fun of the whole process is trying to determine these variables to the best of your ability. Projects of Worth from previous years have lasted beyond the LWOW process, further incubated and refined, and in some cases, have gone into the negotiation stages with venture capitalists and, even beyond this, into the realm of real world application. Given that LWOW Sprint 2024 is 3 days, projects will need more work and “incubation” post-Sprint if the team wants to create viability and bring the project to life.
Q: Is it really possible to create an expansive project virtually POST-SPRINT?
A: Absolutely! For over 13 years, hundreds of students have taken part in LWOW to collaborate across borders, time zones, and institutions to bring Projects of Worth to life.
Q: When will teams and topics be announced?
A: Teams and topics will be announced in February 2024 for LWOW Sprint 2024. Past years' topics can be viewed here. All LWOW teams are sponsored by a corporate legal department, law firm or law company. Projects will focus on a narrow business-of-law challenge or corporate social responsibility (or ESG) challenge that the Sponsor cares about.
Q: How are teams constructed? Can I choose my teammates?
A: Teams are carefully crafted of participants from across a wide range of institutions worldwide. A large part of LWOW is learning about other cultures, communication, networking, and fostering lasting relationships across societal borders in ways that would not otherwise be possible. For these reasons, we take great time and care in crafting the teams in order to maximize cross-cultural understanding and experience.
Q: CAN I CHOOSE MY OWN TOPIC?
A: LWOW topics are selected by the LWOW leadership team and Sponsors. While students cannot choose their own topic, we can try to match students with a topic that aligns with their interest and experience, as expressed in their Application and Interview Video. Topic assignments are made based on a number of factors, including background, experience and ensuring a wholly diverse experience within the team.
Q: I already have a business idea. Can I submit my own topic?
A: While we encourage our students to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas using skills honed in LWOW, our topics for LWOW 2024 are set by our leadership team in collaboration with our Sponsors. Topics can center on current challenges in legal practice, including (but not limited to) the legal profession, legal education, technology and law, corporate law, arbitration, compliance, ESG and access to justice. This allows teams to solve a real problem faced by the sponsoring organization with guidance from experts and employees within the organization.
Q: What kind of technology do I need to participate?
A: In 2024, some Pre-Sprint Learning Modules will be held over Zoom. As such, LWOW recommends a strong internet connection, good earbuds, and a computer (tablets are NOT sufficient) with a built-in or attachable webcam.
LAPTOPS a must at the in-person Sprint! It is mandatory that students bring their laptops to the in-person Sprint as teams will be utilizing their computers to take notes, complete online research, create presentations, create videos and designs, and other tasks.
Q: I cannot afford to travel to in-person events, Should I still apply?
A: LWOW realizes that traveling to and from in-person events is a wonderful privilege, that not all institutions and students can access. Please speak with your participating institution first, then have them reach out to LWOW to discuss possibilities. Also, rest assured that LWOW will pre-negotiate for the best rates for any recommended accommodations, dining and travel options that we issue in our Sprint 2024 “Travel Guide.”
Q: what is the difference between AN ‘Academic HAcker’ and ‘School ambassador’?
A: For LWOW Sprint, each team is sponsored by a corporate legal department, law firm or law company. The Sponsor assigns the team a real business of law challenge. Teams will be comprised of approximately 8-10 people: 2-4 professionals ‘Lead Hackers’ (selected by the team’s Sponsor), 2-4 ‘Student Hackers’, 1 Innovation Coach, and/or 1 Project Manager and 1 'Mentor Hacker'. Some of the Mentor Hackers will likely be an academic/faculty lead and responsible for mentoring and providing guidance to the team during the Sprint as they work towards a solution to the team’s assigned problem.
Some schools have School Ambassadors. The School Ambassador is the key liaison between your school, your students and LWOW. The goal of the School Ambassador is to help spread the word about LWOW at your school, identify potential applicants, and encourage prospective students to apply. Note: Academic Hackers may play the role of School Ambassador but likely it is a Faculty Advisor or former LWOW student who has gone through LWOW Sprint—someone who knows LWOW well and may have participated in LWOW before from your institution.