This November, thousands of judges across 38 states find themselves on the ballot. Some are engaged in partisan races to secure their seats, while others face nonpartisan races or uncontested retention elections. And while judicial elections are often characterized as low-salience, “sleepy” affairs, there is reason to believe that this year judicial races will capture more voter attention than usual.One…
Continue Reading In 2022, Judges Are On, Around, and Behind the Ballot

On October 6, 2022, IAALS co-hosted the eighth session of the Redesigning Legal Speaker Series, which dove into the innovative and creative changes judges have applied to make courts more accessible. “Redesigning Legal: Improving Access to Courts and Judges” featured a panel including Judge Jeanne Robison, Salt Lake City Justice Court, Utah; and Judge Scott Schlegel, 24th Judicial District,…
Continue Reading IAALS Panel Discusses Bridging the Gap between Courts and People

Utah and Arizona are pioneers in the regulatory reform space. In Utah, the state supreme court and the Utah Bar Association worked together to launch the first legal regulatory sandbox, where authorized entities can offer products and services that would not have been permitted under the traditional rules of professional conduct. The Arizona Supreme Court took a different approach to…
Continue Reading A Tale of Two States: First-of-its-Kind Data-Driven Analysis of Legal Regulatory Reforms

Resources for consumers, lawyers, and courts included in one of the most robust information databases on limited scope legal representation.IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, released Unbundled Legal Services in the New Normal—a new report highlighting key takeaways from the national 2021 conference—in partnership with The Chicago Bar…
Continue Reading IAALS Launches New Report and Online Resource Center for Unbundled Legal Services, Offering New Tools that Lead to Access to Justice

On July 28, IAALS co-hosted the seventh session of the Redesigning Legal Speaker Series. This panel’s discussions delved into alternative lawyer licensing programs, how they differ from the current bar exam, what some jurisdictions are already testing, and how these alternatives might impact the profession. “Redesigning Legal: Redesigning How We License New Lawyers” featured a panel including:

• Logan Cornett,

…
Continue Reading IAALS Panel Explores Alternative Paths to Legal Licensure

IAALS has opened the nomination window for the 2023 Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award, which recognizes innovators who have made significant impacts early in their legal careers toward making the American legal system work better for everyone. Nominations will be accepted through December 1, and the award will be presented in April 2023.The award is designed to encourage and…
Continue Reading Nomination Window Opens to Award the 2023 Legal Visionary

Over two hundred years ago, on September 17, 1787, members of the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution. Each year on this day, we celebrate Constitution Day and the establishment of our government and the guarantee of our rights. The preamble to the Constitution begins with the important first words: “We the people of the United States, in order to…
Continue Reading Constitution Day 2022: From Establishing Justice to Realizing it for All

The comment below was submitted by IAALS to the Colorado Supreme Court on September 14, 2021, in support of the Colorado Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals Program.On behalf of IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, we wish to commend the Colorado Supreme Court, the Advisory Committee on the Practice of Law, and the Providers of Alternative Legal…
Continue Reading IAALS’ Comment in Support of the Colorado Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals Program

The State Bar of California’s foray into legal regulatory innovation has a relatively long history.To start, the State Bar Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services (ATILS) worked for years to explore three focus areas: 

• Rethinking non-lawyer ownership or investment; 
• Reimagining marketing, advertising, partnerships, and fee-splitting rules; and 
• Establishing a definition of unauthorized practice of law. 

Following…
Continue Reading Will Governor Newsom Kill California State Bar Efforts to Explore Regulatory Innovation?

Strategic Review Process Charts a Strong Future for IAALS and its Next LeaderIAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, announced today that it has named Brittany Kauffman as its new chief executive officer, effective immediately. Kauffman has been serving as interim CEO since May 2022, and previously served as a…
Continue Reading IAALS Announces Brittany Kauffman as Next CEO, Paves Way for New Growth and National Impacts

In January, the Innovation for Justice (i4j) Program at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law published its Report to Arizona and Utah Supreme Courts: Expanding Arizona’s LP and Utah’s LLP Program to Advance Housing Stability. The report proposes expanding existing legal paraprofessional programs in Arizona and Utah to include a housing training certificate for Housing…
Continue Reading New Proposal for Legal Advocates Could Help with Housing Instability in Arizona and Utah

Today, the American Bar Association Center for Innovation released the inaugural issue of the Innovation Trends Report, which explores innovation within the ABA, in legal technology, and in legal regulatory reform. Innovation within the ABA

Within the ABA, sections are working on new, innovative projects with an eye toward shaping and advancing the U.S. justice system, utilizing data and new…
Continue Reading ABA Center for Innovation Trends Report Details Strides in Legal Innovation

Last week, the Oregon Supreme Court approved a program that will license individuals who aren’t lawyers to provide limited legal services in family law and landlord/tenant issues, two areas with the greatest unmet need for legal assistance in the state. This makes Oregon the fifth state in the country to enlist a new tier of legal professionals in the effort…
Continue Reading Oregon Joins Growing List of States Empowering Legal Professionals to Help More People