IAALS Brings Research and AI Leadership to International Access to Justice Forum
On September 26-27, the Fordham University School of Law and New York University School of Law hosted the International Access to Justice Forum 2025 in New York City. The forum gathered experts from across the globe to share their research and developments in the advancement of civil justice—and IAALS led discussions with presentations from Director of Research Logan Cornett and Program Associate Ericka Byram.
Cornett presented strategies to expand community participation in research and access to justice alongside Stacy Rupprecht Jane, Director of Innovation for Justice, and Diana Imbert-Hodges, Co-Founder of Defying Legal Gravity. Cornett focused on how to involve the community you are gathering data from in the research process, including how to shape research questions, how to share findings for reflection with the community, and the challenges that may arise when implementing these democratized practices. The presentation gave attendees a framework to use in their own research to gather data in a more equitable way and create sustainable, transformative solutions for communities.
Byram’s presentation focused on how AI could potentially provide legal services to the public and help close the access to justice gap. Built off IAALS’ Unlocking Legal Regulation: Regulating AI in the Delivery of Consumer-Facing Legal Services publication and recommendations, her presentation explored how a phased approach to regulation can unlock AI’s potential to innovate in the delivery of legal services to consumers. After the presentation, Byram spoke with many attendees and stakeholders interested in learning more about regulatory responses to AI, and how IAALS could serve as a resource in that process.
Cornett and Byram connected with multiple attendees who were referencing and using IAALS’ research to further their own work, demonstrating the leadership and reach IAALS has across the country. They also had the chance to connect with and learn from passionate experts working towards the same goals as IAALS. These opportunities for collaboration are vital to national reform efforts, and IAALS came away from the conference energized and inspired.
