Ravid Yoeun, a Cambodian-American software engineer and son of genocide survivors, has launched a first-of-its-kind legal tech platform called ClerkHero — a self-serve AI tool that helps Californians fight traffic tickets without ever hiring a lawyer. What started as a solo coding project born from frustration is now gaining traction as a bold new weapon for everyday drivers navigating a system stacked against them. Think TurboTax for California traffic courts, built by a solo founder with no funding, no team, and zero patience for bureaucracy.
ORANGE, Calif., Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ravid Yoeun, a Cambodian-American software engineer and son of genocide survivors, has launched a first-of-its-kind legal tech platform called ClerkHero — a self-serve AI tool that helps Californians fight traffic tickets without ever hiring a lawyer.
What started as a solo coding project born from frustration is now gaining traction as a bold new weapon for everyday drivers navigating a system stacked against them. Think TurboTax for California traffic courts, built by a solo founder with no funding, no team, and zero patience for bureaucracy.
From Pulled Over to Pissed Off
"I got pulled over for going ten over. Just trying to get home from work," said Yoeun. "I went online and saw lawyers charging $400 to fight a $200 ticket. That's not justice. That's a racket."
While researching options, Yoeun discovered TR-205, a little-known California court form that lets drivers contest tickets by mail without appearing in court. It was free. It was legal. And lawyers were quietly charging hundreds to use it for clients who had no idea it even existed.
Fixing the System with Code
Instead of hiring a lawyer, Yoeun taught himself to code by fixing computers and decoding bureaucracy for his immigrant parents, and decided to build a solution from scratch.
"I grew up translating legal letters and DMV notices for my family," he said. "We couldn't afford lawyers. I watched my parents pay money they didn't have because they didn't know the rules. I built ClerkHero so no one else has to feel that powerless again."
The software reads traffic citations, fills out the required court documents (like TR-205), and generates a ready-to-mail defense packet — no legal knowledge required. It's fast, affordable, and written in plain English.
TurboTax for Courts
"If TurboTax helped people do their taxes without an accountant, ClerkHero does the same for traffic tickets," Yoeun explained. "The court system is full of fine print and legal traps. I built a machine that reads the system and fights back."
ClerkHero doesn't give legal advice. It gives people access to the tools the government never bothered to explain. The process is transparent, step-by-step, and intentionally designed to help citizens self-represent with confidence.
Built by a Son of Survivors
Yoeun's parents escaped the Killing Fields of Cambodia and rebuilt their lives from nothing. That survival instinct to learn, rebuild, and question everything runs through every line of code.
"My dad fixed everything himself: the car, the plumbing, the paperwork. That's how I see code, just another way to fix what's broken."
He built the first prototype of ClerkHero alone at night while working a corporate analytics job by day. When the software won its first dismissal, his own, he knew it worked.
Soon, friends started uploading their tickets. The system kept winning. That's when he quit his job and went all in.
ClerkHero's Mission: Automate Fairness
Since launching quietly this summer, ClerkHero has helped over a dozen California drivers fight their tickets without needing a lawyer. Every success is a quiet protest against a system designed to confuse and extract.
"America doesn't just fine you," Yoeun said. "It buries you in paperwork. But if the government can automate fines, we can automate fairness."
About ClerkHero
ClerkHero is a California-based legal tech startup that automates traffic ticket defense through the Trial by Written Declaration (TR-205) process. Founded by first-generation Cambodian-American software engineer Ravid Yoeun, ClerkHero empowers everyday people to self-represent in court without paying a lawyer.
The platform does not provide legal advice or replace attorneys. It provides access, speed, and clarity in a system that thrives on confusion.
To learn more or try it yourself, visit www.ClerkHero.com
Media Contact:
Ravid Yoeun, Founder
Disclaimer: ClerkHero is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and is not a substitute for an attorney. The platform provides automated tools to help Californians prepare and file public legal forms for self-representation.
Media Contact
Ravid Yoeun, ClerkHero, 1 7145847529 (text preferred), [email protected], https://clerkhero.com
SOURCE ClerkHero
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