Throughout the past year, IAALS has been at the forefront of advancing justice by broadening access to legal assistance, rethinking regulation, and redefining legal licensure. As we step into 2024, we remain dedicated to bringing about transformative change within the justice system.

Oregon has introduced a licensing system for legal professionals known as Licensed Paralegals to tackle the access to justice crisis. The Committee of Paralegal Assessors will review applications to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements for admission to the Oregon State Bar.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently adopted a code of ethics to enhance transparency and trust. However, critics note its reliance on self-enforcement, vagueness, and similarity to existing practices, raising concerns about its impact on justices' behavior and public confidence.

To say that Sandra Day O’Connor fundamentally changed the legal landscape for good is really only a beginning, not a summation, of the contributions she made. To my mind, her deepest value came in the simple doing of things and doing them in an authentic and straightforward way that forged a new path forward.

We at IAALS are among the many saddened by the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. We are honored that Justice O’Connor chose to partner with us to continue her work on judicial selection through IAALS, and we strive to carry on her legacy.

IAALS's JPE 2.0 project, launched in 2021, seeks to modernize judicial performance evaluation programs and improve public trust. A survey of 658 judges and subsequent discussions in convenings revealed a holistic view of what is working—and what is not—regarding JPE.

For states looking to implement or improve an allied legal professional program, IAALS' new report provides best practices regarding considerations like fee sharing, regulatory requirements, and program costs.

As the legal profession undergoes a renaissance, proactive data collection is crucial. Here, we provide a strategic approach—defining objectives, ensuring data quality, and fostering a culture of learning—to enhance evidence-based decision-making, promote accountability, and achieve program success.

Several groundbreaking legal technology companies, including Rasa Legal and ZAF, were recently highlighted at the American Legal Technology Awards. Their work would not have been possible without the establishment of Utah’s regulatory sandbox.

Oregon has pioneered a new lawyer licensing approach, allowing law school graduates to become licensed to practice law without taking the traditional bar exam. This innovative pathway to licensure was developed with insights from IAALS’ research.

In October, IAALS convened leaders from various regulatory innovation initiatives to discuss sandbox and alternative business structure efforts and research, improve stakeholder engagement, and emphasize the importance of community relations.

Data from current ALP programs suggests that concerns about consumer protection are largely unfounded. Expanding these programs can deliver competent legal help to countless individuals who lack access to traditional legal services.