Award for Innovation and Progress in Digitalization in the Judicial System
The 4th Digital Justice Award will be presented as part of the 5th Digital Justice Summit. The award recognizes outstanding, innovative products and services that serve as catalysts for the modernization and digitization of the justice system. In doing so, it acknowledges these innovations and gives them greater reach and visibility, thereby serving as an incentive for others.
To drive the digital transformation of the justice system in a sustainable way, the award provides targeted incentives and promotes innovation. This year, three projects selected by the jury will have the exclusive opportunity to:
- present their innovative solutions in a live pitch at the summit and
- and showcase them to a panel of experts.
New this year is that the award will be presented in three categories: One successfully implemented project from each of the categories—Start-up & Business, Student Body, and Justice—will be selected to present its work. The award thus not only provides a platform for concrete implementation prospects in the legal system, but also offers:
- visibility for forward-thinking ideas and
- the opportunity to network with decision-makers from politics, the judiciary, and government.
The Digital Justice Award thus makes an active contribution to the digital transformation of the legal system.
Apply by email now and until 30 September to djs@wegweiser.de
Application period
13.07.2026- 30.09.2026
Jury selects the top three for the 5th DJS
12.10.2026-30.10.2026
3 pitches at the Digital Justice Summit & the Audience Favourite award
23./24.11.2026
How does the application process work this year?
From 13 July to 30 September 2026, interested parties can apply for the 4th Digital Justice Award in the three categories: Start-ups & Business, Students and the Judiciary. The award is specifically aimed at national and international projects, initiatives and teams that are contributing to the digital transformation of the judiciary through innovative approaches. Our expert jury will select one winning project per category from among the entries, which will then have the opportunity to pitch to a high-calibre expert jury and a wide audience at the 5th Digital Justice Summit. The audience will then decide who the audience favourite for 2026 is.
To apply, please submit a PDF file of no more than two pages (excluding graphics) containing the following information by email to djs@wegweiser.de:
- Who is applying and for what? (Contact details)
- What is the aim of your project? What impact do you expect?
- To what extent is your project unique or innovative?
- What specific benefits will the judiciary derive from your project?
- What have been the key milestones? What are the next steps?
What is the prize?
The three category winners (TOP 3) selected by the jury will receive the following for their live pitches:
- a VdZ feature on their project in the run-up to the 5th Digital Justice Summit
- free admission to the 5th Digital Justice Summit and, consequently,
- access to all specialist events, panels and networking sessions.
- The opportunity to network with leading figures from the judiciary, politics, public administration and business
On the first day of the conference, these projects will present their innovative solutions in one-minute pitches to the entire audience and the expert jury. The audience favourite will be chosen via a live vote.
The audience favourite will receive the following exclusive prizes:
- An editorial feature on our specialist portal VdZ.org with nationwide visibility and
- A free Silver Package for the 6th Digital Justice Summit in 2027
On the second day of the conference, there will be time to take a closer look at the projects.
The Jury
The jury is made up of independent and qualified members of the Digital Justice Summit’s advisory board and is responsible for selecting the shortlist.
Brigitte Zypries
Bundesministerin a. D., Kongresspräsidentin DJS
Alisha Andert, LL.M.
Mitgründerin und geschäftsführende Vorständin
Legal Tech Verband Deutschland/ This is Legal Design
Ellen Best
Vizepräsidentin Amtsgericht Bremen a.D. und Mediatorin
Dr. Benedikt M. Quarch
Co-Founder & Managing Director der RightNow Group / Gründungsherausgeber LegalTech Zeitschrift (Nomos-Verlag)
RightNow Group
Dr. Peter Röthemeyer
Jurist und Mediator
3rd Digital Justice Award 2025
The winner of 2025
Following the jury’s assessment of 10 entries, the projects Codify, xJuRAG and CourtnAI emerged as the three winners and were given the opportunity to pitch their products on the main stage at the 4th Digital Justice Summit. Further information on the projects can be found here.
CourtnAI was voted the audience favourite via a live poll and has therefore also won an article on VdZ.org as well as a free Silver Package for the 5th Digital Justice Summit in 2026.
Your contact for all matters relating to applications and the award
Franziska Mehlhase
Senior Programmmanagerin - Strategische Geschäftsentwicklung, Analyse & Teamleitung
Wegweiser Research & Strategy GmbH
Your contact for VdZ
wegweiser.de