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As 2020 has kicked into full gear, so too have all of us here at IAALS with projects, publications, and conference visits. Over the next month, keep a look out for several impactful publications in our civil justice realm, reflecting extensive work and collaboration with stakeholders, decisionmakers, and, of course, individuals whose lives are directly touched by the legal system.
And please mark your calendars for several upcoming IAALS events. For the first time, this spring, IAALS and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law will co-host a speaker series which will address changes in the delivery and regulation of legal services. I'm excited by the opportunity to work more closely with our neighbors at Sturm and others on campus, as well as to bring together diverse voices—the legal profession, academia, and state supreme courts—to speak on these pressing issues. We also look forward to our 13th Annual Rebuilding Justice Award Dinner on April 16. Please consider joining us.
Scott Bales, Executive Director
February 2020
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| IAALS Announces Spring Speaker Series on the Future of Legal Services: This spring, IAALS and the Sturm College of Law will host a three-part speaker series, bringing together perspectives from the legal profession, academia, and state supreme courts. How people access legal services not only profoundly affects justice, but also has important implications for those who study, teach, or practice law. Join us in this stimulating series of talks about changes that can help us move towards the goal of justice for all. |
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| Michigan Revises Civil Discovery Court Rules: On January 1, 2020, Michigan implemented its first major overhaul of its civil discovery rules in nearly forty years. A State Bar Association Committee was formed in 2017 to evaluate the current rules and recommend amendments that could help increase access to the courts; as a foundation to its work, the Committee looked to the 2015 federal civil rule amendments, the discovery innovations in other states, IAALS’ research and recommendations, and the Conference of Chief Justices’ national recommendations for state reform. |
The Story So Far: California Regulatory Reform: As a member of the California State Bar Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services, I’m often asked how things are going with ATILS and what is coming next. Considering the recent increase in news coverage of our efforts, the critical feedback received to date, and with the Task Force recently being named to the 2020 American Bar Association’s list of Legal Rebels, I thought it was the right time to put together this quick blog post to provide everyone with an update from the Golden State.
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Some State Judicial Elections May Take a Populist Turn in 2020: In Ohio, state judges are currently chosen in nonpartisan general elections; but House Bill 460 would allow judicial candidates to place their party affiliations directly on the general election ballot. Additionally, in Pennsylvania—a state that already selects its judges through partisan races—House Bill 196 would divide the state into seven geographic districts, with equal numbers of judges being elected from each. |
Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan Courts Using Technology to Bring their Services to the People: More and more courts are working to address backlogged cases and court users' dissatisfaction. In just the last few months, several Midwestern courts have taken steps to introduce more technology into their courts, removing barriers that many litigants face, especially those who represent themselves.
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| Be sure to read all of the news from IAALS on our blog. |
| Visit our Knowledge Center to track what's happening around the country and the world when it comes to legal regulation, as well as submit information and sign up for notifications. |
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January 27: "Justice, Plain and Simple: A Report of the 2019 Siben & Siben Conference on Plain Language and Simplification" in Family Court Review
January 16: "ROSS Founder on Why Law Needs to be 'Re-regulated'" in The American Lawyer
January 8: "A better bar exam? Law profs weigh in on whether test accurately measures skills required for law practice" in ABA Journal
January 7: "Meet Scott Bales, New Executive Director at IAALS" shared in the University of Denver's The Bridge and Crimson & Gold newsletters
January 2: "Can Entrepreneurial Principles Make You a Better Lawyer?" in The Colorado Lawyer
January 2: "2020: The Year of Regulatory Reform in Legal
Services?" in PrawfsBlawg |
| Noteworthy |
IAALS' Unlocking Legal Regulation project is listed on the ABA Resolution 115 - Encouraging Regulatory Innovation page under "Media and Background Information."
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February 26: Spring Speaker Series: Patricia Refo
March 19: Spring Speaker Series: William Henderson
April 16: 13th Annual Rebuilding Justice Award Dinner
April 29: Spring Speaker Series: Justices Hart, Himonas, and Timmer
November 11–13: Justice 2020 Summit
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