Last week, I had the privilege of attending the World Justice Forum 2022: Building More Just Communities, held in The Hague. The forum “tackled the root causes of our global rule of law crisis through three days of agenda setting, learning, and action focused on three intersecting themes—access to justice, anti-corruption and open government, and equal rights and nondiscrimination.” Participants…
Continue Reading World Justice Forum Reinforces Global Commitment to Access to Justice

With great sadness, IAALS mourns the passing of John E. Moye, one of our founders. John was a visionary in the practice of law and an innovator within our legal system. His passion for justice and the betterment of society were at the forefront throughout his life and career, and he was recognized as a “Lawyer of the Decade,”…
Continue Reading Remembering IAALS Co-Founder John Moye

This week, IAALS Interim CEO Brittany Kauffman and Director of Research Logan Cornett will attend the World Justice Forum, discussing US Justice Needs and the importance of people-centered data when creating and implementing justice reforms. The World Justice Forum is an international event that convenes hundreds from around the world, both in The Hague and online, for three days of…
Continue Reading IAALS at the 2022 World Justice Forum

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, today announced that its CEO, David Yellen, has accepted the role of dean of the law school at the University of Miami.  “I have deeply appreciated the opportunity DU gave me to lead IAALS,” said Yellen. “IAALS’ talented team does truly important work. I…
Continue Reading IAALS Announces David Yellen to Step into Law Dean Position, Launches Strategic Assessment for Next Phase

Last week, IAALS gathered with our partners and friends for our 14th Annual Rebuilding Justice Award Dinner. We were thrilled to welcome people back in person after three years to celebrate this year’s Rebuilding Justice Award and Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award honorees, as well as recognize our collective efforts to build a more accessible, fair, and efficient civil…
Continue Reading IAALS Celebrates with Partners and Friends at 2022 Rebuilding Justice Award Dinner

A federal statute, 36 U.S. Code § 113, designates May 1 as Law Day, and is intended to “celebrate the ideals of equality and justice under law” and to help cultivate “respect for law that is so vital to the democratic way of life.” In addition, each year the American Bar Associations identifies a suggested theme for Law Day events…
Continue Reading Law Day 2022: Uneven but Relentless Progress

On February 24, IAALS co-hosted the fifth session of the Redesigning Legal Speaker Series, which explored the role of state bars in regulatory reform. “Redesigning Legal: Unified Bars and the Art of the Long View” featured a panel including:

• John M. Stewart, former president of the Florida Bar
• Hon. Ann A. Scott Timmer, vice chief justice of the Arizona

…
Continue Reading IAALS Panel Encourages State Bars and State Supreme Courts to Work Together on Regulatory Reform

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, announced today that it is launching Allied Legal Professionals. With generous support from the Sturm Family Foundation, this project seeks to help standardize a new tier of legal professionals nationally—to increase the options for accessible and affordable legal help for the public.  Up…
Continue Reading IAALS Launches Allied Legal Professionals in an Effort to Increase Access to Quality Legal Services and Help Reduce Barriers to Representation

Real, disruptive change is frequently discussed and predicted, but only rarely seen. Yet, we have certainly seen disruptive change over the past two years, in our country and the world at large—and in our justice system in particular. This momentum for meaningful change throughout our justice system must be maintained and effectively channeled.

IAALS is committed to ensuring that court…
Continue Reading Justice in a Changing World: Read the 2021 IAALS Annual Report

IAALS is thrilled to announce that Dan Rodriguez, former dean and current Howard Washington Professor of Law of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, will join the organization as our scholar-in-residence for two weeks this April, with ongoing collaboration on our projects. “I got to know Dan when we were both law school deans in Chicago, and I’ve seen firsthand the…
Continue Reading Dan Rodriguez Joins IAALS as Scholar-in-Residence

In March 2021, Minnesota joined Washington, Utah, and Arizona by implementing a legal paraprofessional program in an effort to provide effective access to justice for a broader range of low- and modest-income individuals. Following in Utah’s and Arizona’s footsteps, Minnesota is extending the scope of work legal paraprofessionals can provide beyond just family law to include landlord-tenant issues as well.
Continue Reading Minnesota’s Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project Shows Early Successes

Last fall, IAALS launched the Paths to Justice Summit Series, a series of virtual convenings and webinars focused on the most pressing issues currently faced by our civil justice system, including the opportunities and challenges of the pandemic, access to justice, and inequities in our civil justice system and related public trust and confidence. The first four convenings and…
Continue Reading The Paths to Racial Justice: Our Civil System Must Acknowledge Shortcomings and Take Concrete Action

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, announced today that it is awarding Rohan Pavuluri, CEO and co-founder of Upsolve, the second annual Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award. The award is designed to encourage and showcase innovators, risk takers, visionaries, and emerging leaders who bring a different perspective and a reform-minded approach to the improvement…
Continue Reading Upsolve's Rohan Pavuluri Named 2022 Recipient of IAALS' Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award