Community Law Centres o Aotearoa (CLC) in partnership with Citizen AI, a charitable organisation whose mission is to use artificial intelligence for public benefit, has launched a chatbot for people experiencing problems at work.

CLC says Workbot provides information about employee’s rights and responsibilities in easy to understand language in a conversational format. Workbot can be accessed through Facebook Messenger or at https://workbot.nz/.

"Thousands of people across the country are asking questions about employment law on their smartphones everyday.” says Chief Executive of Community Law Centres o Aotearoa, Sue Moroney. “Workbot is a fantastic response to this need and part of the future of access to justice in Aotearoa”.

Workbot is the second of three legal information chatbots produced with funding from the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation. The first chatbot, Rentbot was released last year and has already helped nearly 20,000 Kiwis with tenancy questions.

“We believe everyone should enjoy the protection and opportunity that the law provides. The chatbots make it easy to access free, accurate legal information - essential to helping people understand and access their rights. We were excited to support this innovative work,” says Michelle Wanwimolruk, Chief Philanthropic Officer for the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation.

Twenty-four Community Law Centres work out of over 140 locations across New Zealand to provide free legal help and advice to those who are unable to pay for a private lawyer or who do not have access to legal aid.