'Blank and Osofsky thoughtfully explore the pitfalls of the federal government's use of automated guidance tools to answer questions about legal rights and obligations. A cautionary tale for those inclined to trust the advice such tools provide. Essential reading for anyone interested in making government really work for ordinary people.' Kristin E. Hickman, University of Minnesota Law School

'Both timely and foundational, this book reveals how the US government already uses computers to provide automated legal guidance and shows the promise and pitfalls of this approach. This careful book is neither starry-eyed nor dismissive about automated legal guidance; rather, Automated Agencies provides a realistic picture of where such guidance stands now and suggests a path forward that allows the government to take advantage of these powerful tools while still protecting those who use the tools. Automated Agencies is essential reading.' Sarah Lawsky, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

'No topic in administrative law has been as understudied, relative to its real-world significance, as the ways in which agencies explain the law to the general public. The topic is becoming ever more important, as agencies develop methods of providing online automated guidance. With Automated Agencies, Professors Blank and Osofsky have provided the foundational work on the subject, examining it from every angle and concluding with thoughtful recommendations for agencies to follow. Like the best automated guidance, Automated Agencies is written in reader-friendly plain English, while scrupulously avoiding the perils of 'simplexity.' Lawrence A. Zelenak, Duke Law School