LASST researches ways to use federal and state judicial systems in the US to make advances in science and technology safer for people and the planet. This includes:

• Litigation surveillance
  We survey the landscape of litigation in the US for cases that touch on issues germane to our mission, seeking to understand how litigation in the US is impacting the world’s ability to avoid catastrophic risks from unsafe science and technology and looking for opportunities to get involved.
• Fact research
  We conduct factual research, including through the use of open records requests at the state and federal level, to explore potential risks and to evaluate ways to mitigate those risks through legal advocacy.
• Legal Research
  We conduct legal research on how litigation and other forms of legal advocacy could be used to further our mission, with a focus on digging in on specific potential interventions.

LASST informs the legal profession about the risks posed by advances in science and technology and how legal professionals can do their part to help society harness the benefits of such advances while mitigating the associated risks. This includes:

• Pro bono program expansion
  We work with law firms to expand their pro bono practices to include work on catastrophic risk mitigation beyond climate change (not that we don’t think climate change work is important, too).  
• Volunteer research coordination
  We work with volunteer legal professionals who want to donate their time to mitigating catastrophic risks from unsafe science and technology.

LASST advocates to make advances in science and technology safer for people and the planet. This includes:

• Amicus curiae briefs
  We rely on our surveillance of relevant litigation to find opportunities to file amicus briefs to educate the judiciary about catastrophic risks posed by advances in science and technology, build impactful coalitions to back amicus briefs, draft briefs, and manage local counsel to get them filed.
• Impact litigation
  We look for ways litigation can mitigate catastrophic risks from advances in science and technology, partner with appropriate subject matter experts to evaluate potential interventions, and pursue impactful litigation.
• Policy advocacy
  We advocate for common sense policies to mitigate catastrophic risks from advances in science and technology in government, industry, and academia.