IAALS Report Spurs Action for Regulatory Innovation
IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, has released its report Community & Cooperation: Action Steps toward Unlocking Legal Regulation. This report is the culmination of IAALS’ ongoing efforts to foster regulatory innovation and facilitate the implementation of risk-based regulatory systems for legal services across the United States.
The two-day “Unlocking Legal Regulation: Community & Cooperation” convening, held in June 2022, brought together key figures from across the country to further the momentum building behind new types of legal services. Leaders from various states, contemplating or already implementing regulatory innovations, came together to engage in insightful discussions about models of collaboration. The newly released report distills the essential insights and key themes that emerged during this landmark convening, and presents steps for action moving forward.
“We believe that the recommendations presented in this report are a call to action for members of the regulatory reform community, and we extend a warm invitation for new voices to join the conversation,” said Jessica Bednarz, IAALS Director of Legal Services and the Profession. “As a growing number of states introduce new types of legal service providers, IAALS is committed to fostering synergies and cooperation between these efforts. The report aims to provide action steps for bolstering existing regulatory innovation initiatives and catalyzing new ones. It’s also an opportunity to involve a diverse range of individuals and perspectives in this effort.”
Community & Cooperation dives into several key themes, including engaging new perspectives within and outside the legal community and how current efforts across the country should be prioritized. It also contains next steps with respect to regulatory innovation, providing concrete, actionable ways for lawyers, bar associations, justices, and others to start implementing meaningful change.
“Last June’s convening was a key step toward sustaining regulatory reform in Utah. Hearing from so many perspectives on regulatory approaches and learning what’s already been made possible here in Utah and in Arizona was inspiring,” said Noella Sudbury, Founder and CEO of Rasa Public Benefit Corporation. “This event opened my eyes to the potential for collaboration and creativity in reshaping the future of legal services.”
This report should serve as a jumping-off point for further discussions and collaboration on regulatory reform, as well as a guide for convenings on similar topics. The action steps as outlined in Community & Cooperation will bolster existing regulatory innovation efforts and kick start new ones—creating opportunities to engage new people and perspectives in the movement.
With this report, IAALS hopes to underscore the importance of collaboration, its commitment to research, and its dedication to advancing the American legal system through visionary regulatory reform. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, IAALS remains steadfast in its mission to support, facilitate, and inspire groundbreaking initiatives that will shape the future of legal services in the United States.
