Hilary C. Robinson

Hilary C. Robinson is an Associate Professor of Law and Sociology at Northeastern University School of Law. She co-founded the Center for Law, Information and Creativity (CLIC) and leads research on technology’s role in legal decision-making, particularly in algorithmic labor markets and platform economies. Her NSF-funded study (2019–2024) examined digital platforms’ sustainability, worker conditions, and regulatory challenges.

• Education:
• AB, Harvard College (2003), Magna Cum Laude
• JD, Harvard Law School (2006)
• PhD, MIT (2017), Work in Algorithmic Labor Markets: Uber Drivers in Boston

Research Focus: Explores intersections of technology, law, and social order. Key areas include algorithmic workplace dynamics, racial justice advocacy, and surveillance policy reform. Her PhD work pioneered a theory of Uber’s organizational structure and its evasion of legal regulations.

Awards & Grants:

• 2015 James W. Carey Media Research Award
• $1.7M NSF Grant (2019–2024)

Advisory Roles & Grants: Served as first Vice President of the North Shore NAACP (2020–present), driving antiracist initiatives in majority-white communities. Appointed to Boston’s Surveillance Advisory Board (2023). Former visiting professor at Wesleyan University and Vermont Law School.

Labs/Teams: Co-leads CLIC, collaborating with engineers, social scientists, and legal experts to address tech’s societal impacts. Active in multidisciplinary platform economy research.