
Advancing the Mission: Leveraging Internal Tool for Enhanced Efficiency & AI-Driven Task Automation
Legal services can use AI to promote equity and justice by improving efficiency and accuracy. Maryland Legal Aid's recent adoption of an AI policy and the development of tools like mlaGPT can show how automation can streamline tasks, from document summaries to routine processes. This session will offer practical steps to implement AI while maintaining ethical standards.
- Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the key considerations and processes involved in developing an AI policy for organizational adoption and explain how staff's AI usage can support professional development and continuous improvement.
- Upon completion, participants will be able to identify the potential of generative AI for automating repetitive tasks by exploring real-world examples, including summarization, generation, analysis, and interaction with custom data sets.
- Upon completion, participants will be able to discuss privacy, security, and ethical considerations when implementing AI to promote responsible and equitable use.

Kristi Schulenberg, JD
Chief Operating Officer
Maryland Legal Aid
Kristi Schulenberg serves as Chief Operating Officer at Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) , where she spearheads operational initiatives that ensure efficient, high-quality legal support for underserved communities. With extensive experience in nonprofit management, Kristi has been instrumental in streamlining processes and implementing strategic improvements that enhance the organization’s service delivery. Kristi's commitment to social justice and operational excellence drives innovative solutions that expand access to vital legal resources, making a tangible difference in the lives of Maryland residents.
Prior to MLA . Kristi served as Director of the Center for Capacity Building at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, providing training, legal and technical assistance, and tools to support organizations and public agencies in ending homelessness. Previous roles include assisting veterans experiencing homelessness through legal services, managing and evaluating multi-million-dollar HUD grants for a national nonprofit, and offering technical assistance to implement evidence-based practices in addressing homelessness. Kristi also served as executive director of a small nonprofit, worked in operations and administration for a large corporation, and acted as training director at Amnesty International USA. Kristi's affiliations include the State Bar of California and the District of Columbia Bar. Kristi hold's a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton and a law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law.

Russ Bloomquist
Program Manager & Senior Full Stack Developer
Maryland Legal Aid
Russ Bloomquist is a Program Manager & Senior Full Stack Developer at Maryland Legal Aid, specializing in software development, innovation, and automation. With over 25 years of experience in design and development, Russ has a proven track record of leading transformative technology projects that enhance access to justice.
Russ developed a web-based expungement application for Maryland Legal Aid that enabled small legal teams and pro bono volunteers to host large-scale legal clinics by automating the analysis of records and generation of petitions. To date, the application has been used to generate over 130,000 petitions and documents. His contributions to application development, data collection/reporting systems, SMS integration, and timekeeping have also optimized service delivery, communication, and invoicing for the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance (MCLA), a subsidiary of Maryland Legal Aid. MCLA uses an application Russ developed to track upwards of 186,000 interactions annually across phone, chat, email, and walk-in services for self-represented litigants.
Beyond development, Russ is an AI and data analytics mentor, training staff to leverage emerging technologies for greater impact. He has also chaired several committees, including a strategic planning committee, helping to shape the organization's long-term technological vision. Russ has extensive knowledge of data privacy and security, ensuring that the systems he develops adhere to best practices for safeguarding sensitive legal and client information.
Through his expertise in software development, system design, data privacy, and data-driven decision-making, Russ continues to drive efficiency, automation, and innovation at Maryland Legal Aid and beyond.