As the new executive director, I am excited and honored by the opportunity to serve IAALS and the University of Denver. IAALS plays a unique role in working to improve our legal system—in terms of both its approach and its impact. Combining research with a collaborative, user-focused process, IAALS has helped identify practical legal system improvements at both the state and federal level. I saw the benefits of IAALS' work firsthand while serving on Arizona's Supreme Court, where we worked with IAALS on projects related to court processes, judicial selection and performance review, and the delivery of legal services. As this newsletter reflects, IAALS is now engaged in impactful initiatives affecting many aspects of our legal system—all connected to the ideal of achieving "justice we can believe in." I look forward to working with you and IAALS' many other supporters in building on the remarkable legacy of our founding director Becky Kourlis so that IAALS achieves an even greater impact in the coming years.
Scott Bales Executive Director, October 2019
Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System: The Way Forward: In her final post as Executive Director, Rebecca Love Kourlis discusses the public's low trust and confidence in the American legal system. IAALS will be rolling out the results of its research in this area over the next few months, and begins with three papers, which together kick off a part of the conversation IAALS calls "Are We at a Boiling Point?"
Legal Regulation in the Age of Disruption: The legal profession is facing an unprecedented crisis in serving the needs of people with legal problems. If ever we needed an era of regulatory reform, now, during the age of technological disruption, is the time. California, Arizona, and Utah are all taking bold action—and IAALS is in the thick of it.
First National Study of its Kind to Assess Justice Needs Across the U.S.: In the first-ever, broad-based research of its kind, IAALS is partnering with HiiL to assess the justice needs of people and businesses in the United States. The issue of access to justice is broader and deeper in our society than has historically been recognized. What we learn will provide the insight we need to reform the American legal system and tailor services to meet the needs of all users.
2019 Trends in State Courts Highlights Access Needs and User Perspectives: NCSC's 2019 Trends in State Courts explores various ways to make state court processes both more user-friendly and relevant, from newly developed apps providing people with access to legal advice to remote technology options providing better access to justice for self-represented litigants.
New York State Court System Embraces ADR: Alternative dispute resolution is becoming increasingly more prevalent in New York state civil courts, and New York recently announced a renewed commitment to ADR. Legal professionals believe ADR, and in particular mediation, could have a dramatic improvement in some areas of family law, including expediting divorce proceedings and—perhaps most significantly—decreasing the emotional havoc that divorce can wreak on both parties and their children.
Since founding IAALS in 2006, Becky Kourlis has worked tirelessly for a legal system that works for all people by being accessible, fair, reliable, efficient, and accountable. Honor her legacy by making a gift today.
IAALS is a national, independent research center dedicated to facilitating continuous improvement and advancing excellence in the American legal system. Our mission is to forge innovative and practical solutions to problems within the American legal system.
