First Chair launches state-specific criminal defense platform

Las Vegas legal tech company First Chair has launched a platform that gives people facing criminal charges and defense lawyers state-specific strategy briefs built on criminal code and case law. The service covers all 50 states and Washington, DC, with a Clio integration, Spanish-language access and mobile apps in development.

Why it matters: - First Chair is trying to close an access-to-information gap in criminal defense by giving users a starting point grounded in state law, not generic legal guidance. - The platform is designed to help people facing charges understand what the prosecution must prove, what defenses may apply and what questions to raise with a lawyer. - Defense attorneys and public defenders can use the tool for a faster first pass on a new file before deeper case work.

What happened: - First Chair launched a legal technology platform that generates a defense strategy brief based on a user's state, charges and case facts. - The platform reads the relevant criminal code and case law and returns defense directions to consider and questions to ask a lawyer. - The service is available at First Chair Defense and covers all 50 states and Washington, DC. - The platform is built for people who have been arrested, their family members and friends, and criminal defense attorneys and public defenders.

The details: - The platform includes a suppression checklist to flag possible improper evidence collection. - Deadline tracking is built in so users do not miss important dates. - The system includes custody credit math to account for time already served. - Users can access a record of a judge's past rulings for hearing preparation context. - The platform supports court preparation, document drafting and case export. - First Chair keeps these tools in one system rather than splitting them across multiple services. - For attorneys, First Chair connects directly with Clio, and review results land inside the practice management system. - The Clio integration is available now as part of the launch. - First Chair also works in Spanish.

Between the lines: - The launch is aimed at making criminal defense information more usable at the earliest stage of a case, when questions about elements, defenses and suppression issues can shape strategy. - By linking citations directly to sources and showing whether they have been checked, the platform is trying to make legal research easier to verify. - The Clio integration suggests First Chair is targeting workflow adoption by defense lawyers, not just consumer use. - Mobile apps in testing point to a broader push to reach people who may rely on a phone after an arrest.

What's next: - A Google Play app is currently in testing and will be available soon. - An Apple App Store version is in process. - The company says the broader goal is to give users more equal footing in criminal cases by grounding early guidance in verifiable law.

The bottom line: - First Chair is packaging state-specific criminal defense research into a consumer and attorney tool meant to make the first steps after an arrest faster, clearer and more actionable.