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As 2019 draws to a close, all of us here at IAALS are hard at work wrapping up a few last projects before we end the year. Our Corporate Convening, held last month in Colorado Springs, brought together a small group of general counsel, corporate legal executives, and other experts in the area of corporate litigation to discuss the unique challenges and needs that businesses face in the American civil justice system today—all with the goal of informing IAALS’ development of a series of corporate surveys for our US Justice Needs project. We also recently released three guides related to our work on the Civil Justice Initiative and the Family Justice Initiative, which we hope will be put to good use by state courts everywhere to improve processes for the ever-growing number of self-represented litigants.
One thing to watch for this month is Redesigning Divorce, the final report resulting from our Court Compass project. This publication is based on user-centered design sprints that we held across the country in 2018; by bringing together self-represented litigants and other legal system stakeholders, we identified potential solutions to problems that many litigants experience during the separation and divorce process.
All of us here at IAALS hope that our partners, colleagues, and friends have a wonderful and restful holiday season. We’ll see you in the new year for more projects, publications, and ways to make the justice system one that we all can believe in.
Scott Bales
Executive Director, December 2019 |
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| Reregulation, Not Deregulation: IAALS Board member Andrew Arruda weighs in on the urgent need for regulatory reform within the American legal profession, which has been regulated so tightly that it has led to a world where only a fraction of the citizens who require legal services can access them. Unlocking legal regulation is the answer and stands at the heart of the worthy efforts underway in states across the country. |
IAALS Remembers Chief Justice Mark Cady, Champion of Judicial Independence and Family Justice Reform: We at IAALS are among the many saddened by the untimely passing last week of Mark Cady, Iowa's Chief Justice. He had served as a judge for some 33 years, during which time he defended the importance of judicial independence and civic education as well as worked tirelessly to improve our nation's state family courts. |
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| Oregon Task Force Creates New Procedures for Consumer Debt Collection Cases: The Oregon Supreme Court's Civil Justice Improvements Task Force has supplied dozens of recommendations for improving civil justice. In August, Oregon implemented new procedures for tracking consumer debt collection cases and directing consumer debt defendants to the Oregon Courts website for questions and support for their case. |
How Reregulation Could Benefit Lawyers: Jayne Reardon addresses the concern from some lawyers that changes to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct will allow new players into the field, potentially reducing their income and/or taking their jobs. On the contrary, however, allowing new players in the business of legal services may make it possible for lawyers to scale their practices and enlarge the legal services pie for all. |
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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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 | November 25: "The Legal Profession Isn't Overregulated It's Just Badly Regulated" in Above the Law
November 14: "When the Rules Stagnate Innovation, Change the Rules" in Law Practice Today
November 14: "Self-regulation: the end of an era? Lawyer discipline and the role of law societies" in Canadian Lawyer
November 13: "IAALS Report Studies Client Expectations" in Law Week Colorado
November 11: "Lawyers with the best client reviews reach out early and often" in Law Times
November 4: "Nonlawyer Law Firms Inch Closer to Reality" in Above the Law
November 1: "Utah to Test Initiative for Allowing Nonlawer Legal Services" in Big Law Business
October 30: "Supreme Court Names Koch to Innovation Initiative" in WBIW |
|  | IAALS is seeking a Senior Director to help lead its programmatic work, particularly in the areas of legal education and the delivery of legal services. In addition to this programmatic work, the Senior Director will serve on IAALS’ senior leadership team, help identify and implement strategic plans for IAALS and its programmatic areas, identify and maintain partnerships, participate in development opportunities, develop and lead projects, manage and develop staff to support IAALS objectives, and represent IAALS in public settings.
The Senior Director position is integral to IAALS’ continued success. We are seeking a highly-engaged professional—with the relevant background, experience, and skillset—to join our team. At IAALS, you will enjoy colleagues who are experts in their fields; people who are mission-driven, aligned, and working toward a common goal; and a tight-knit community within the larger community of the University of Denver.
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 |  | Thank you to everyone who gave to us last week as part of #GivingTuesday! If you haven't given to IAALS, there is still time to be a part of our mission. Every gift—at any level—makes a difference. For example, gifts in the identified amounts could: $50—Fund a staff interview with a self-represented litigant to garner feedback about their court experience and thus help improve court administration. $250—Help support the completion of a research-based guide on how federal and state courts can more efficiently resolve case-dispositive motions, thus saving time and expense for litigants. $1000+—Spur the partnership with the Hague Institute for Innovation in Law (HiiL) in conducting a landmark survey of justice needs in the United States, so that we can make research-informed progress on closing the justice gaps in our society. IAALS depends on philanthropy and succeeds because people like you believe in investing in our country and our democracy. Please consider donating to IAALS before the end of the year. | |
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|  | 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.
Engage—Connect—Invest in the Future of the American Legal System |
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