We hope you're staying healthy and safe during this
difficult time. At IAALS, our staff continues to work remotely, and together we
keep working toward justice we can believe in—for everyone. Our mission is
critical, now more than ever. The challenges faced by our legal system will be
compounded by COVID-19, and we must ensure that states, courts, and the legal
profession can adapt and respond to the
needs of the people.
And, we can’t do it alone. We rely on a tremendous group of
partners who help guide our work, and we are pleased to announce two new members of our Board of Advisors who join us at this
critical time:
James Sandman, President
Emeritus of the Legal Services Corporation and Chair of the ABA’s Task
Force on Legal Needs Arising Out of the 2020 Pandemic
Kathryn Reilly, Partner
at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell and incoming Chair of our Law Firm Counsel
In addition, Joey Orduna Hastings, Chief Executive Officer
of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, has joined our
Family Justice Advisory Committee.
We are excited to count these new advisors among us as we
look to the future of our legal system.
Scott Bales, Executive Director May 2020
New Report Highlighting States' Civil Justice Reform Efforts Provides Guidance for Change Management:IAALS and the NCSC have finalized a three-year project with the release of our new report highlighting the experiences of four states—Idaho, Maine, Missouri, and Texas—as they worked to implement change in their courts. The recommendations can provide critical support to courts facing unprecedented need for change during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Civility and Cooperation in the Time of Coronavirus: Courts, judges, and lawyers have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to a remote and technology-driven version of our justice system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes have fundamentally altered the way the system operates and call for a renewed commitment to civility and collegiality across the legal profession.
On Law Day, IAALS Looks Back on Women's Equality and to the Future: To commemorate this year's Law Day, themed "Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100,” Director of Special Projects Natalie Knowlton and Senior Legal Assistant Janet Drobinske share thoughts on the rocky road to women's suffrage, the inequality that persists in our justice system, and the way forward.
Legal Education, Profession Persist Amidst COVID-19: Justice in the time of coronavirus has been challenging. Yet in these guest blogs, Dona Playton demonstrates how our community is rising to the occasion, from the implementation of remote technology in rural courts to clinical law students' adaptability in unprecedented circumstances.
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.
April 7: "Pandemic V: Lawyer formation rescued" on Law21's blog
April 5: "Unsafe at Home: Virus Stirs Domestic Violence Fears" in Law360