Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System
Justice we can believe in.
What We Do
In collaboration with the best minds in the country—from lawyers and judges to everyday citizens—we work to advance access to justice for all.
Why We Do It
The American legal system is in crisis, and a trusted and trustworthy system is essential to our democracy, our economy, and our freedom.
Focus Areas
In our work, IAALS considers the following questions:How do we ensure that the delivery of justice is accessible, efficient, and accountable?
We develop and implement solutions in the areas of civil justice reform, family justice reform, and the judiciary with the goal of transforming justice for the 21st Century.
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How do we ensure that the delivery of legal services meets the needs of legal consumers?
We develop and implement solutions in the areas of legal education and the legal profession with the goal of transforming our legal system to meet the needs of all who need it.
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15
years improving access to justice
400+
partners around the country
1
vision of a trusted legal system
Featured Content
2020 revealed that most of us are swimming naked when it comes to our ability to meaningfully access our justice system. 2020 certainly exacerbated issues, but its true effect and power was revealing our society’s not-so-secret dirty secrets: systemic racism, growing income inequality, the failing U.S. healthcare system,...Read more
On the whole, 2020 was a quiet time for state judicial elections, at least in comparison to recent years. Fewer sitting judges were directly targeted for removal, and most of the efforts to oust judges failed at the ballot box. But even quiet years have standout moments, and the recent election cycle brought several...Read more
IAALS has released a new report which showcases the innovation occurring in courts, self-help centers, legal aid centers, and law/public libraries throughout the country to address the needs of self-represented litigants in the midst of a global pandemic.Read more
In a groundbreaking report, IAALS, in partnership with Professor Deborah Merritt at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, has defined the minimum competence that new lawyers need to be qualified to practice law—and provides recommendations for how legal licensing processes like the bar exam must change to be...Read more
