IAALS Launches Groundbreaking Project to Engage Public on Regulatory Reform Efforts in the Legal Profession

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, is proud to announce the launch of People-Centered Legal Regulation: Grassroots Engagement with the Public, a pathbreaking project aimed at understanding and incorporating public perspectives on regulatory reform in the legal profession. This work addresses the critical need for states to have effective tools and resources for engaging the public—those who are ultimately most affected by the results of legal reform efforts—in these complex, nuanced discussions.

In recent years, over a dozen states across the country have embarked on efforts to expand the ecosystem of business models and providers by changing the rules that dictate who is allowed to provide legal services and how, with the goal of increasing public access to affordable, high-quality legal services. However, many have struggled to create avenues for meaningful public engagement. This project seeks to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive, empirically based model for gathering and incorporating public input in regulatory reform efforts.  

"Engaging members of the public in discussions about legal regulatory reform is crucial," said Logan Cornett, director of research at IAALS. "These reforms have the potential to significantly impact the lives of everyday citizens, and it is therefore essential that the public is able to play a participatory role in the development of these new approaches.”

This project will first collect invaluable data from the public through a nationally representative survey aimed at defining the contours of public receptiveness to legal regulatory reforms and understanding how to communicate with the public about them. We will build on the knowledge gained from the survey by conducting in-depth focus groups with members of the public, lawyers, and law-adjacent professionals like social workers and healthcare providers. IAALS will then use this body of data to develop useful, usable tools that states can tailor and implement according to their needs.  

"States want to communicate with and educate the public on regulatory reform issues in the legal profession, but they need robust tools and resources to do so," said Jessica Bednarz, director of legal services and the profession at IAALS. "This project is designed to provide those resources, ensuring that the public is not only informed but actively engaged in shaping the future of how legal services are delivered to people."

Data collection is set to begin in August 2024, with publication of the toolkit and final report expected in Summer 2025.

IAALS has been at the forefront of regulatory reform efforts in the legal profession across the United States, working with states to develop regulatory policies, create models for new frameworks, and collect empirical data to assess the impact and effectiveness of these reforms. With its extensive expertise, proven methodologies, and mission to unlock innovations that make the civil justice system more just, IAALS is uniquely positioned to lead this innovative project.

For more information about the project and to stay updated on its progress, please visit iaals.du.edu/projects/people-centered-legal-regulation.