It’s been another extraordinary year as the world continues to adapt amidst the pandemic. As 2021 draws to a close, we at IAALS look back at all we have accomplished this year, including:
Convening experts and the public on the future of regulatory reform and achieving justice for all
Empowering educators and employers to train, hire, and retain better lawyers
Hosting hundreds at a virtual conference on supporting and implementing unbundled legal services
Uncovering the justice needs of America’s diverse populations through the first nationwide survey of its size
We couldn’t do any of this without the tireless support of our partners and friends. From all of us at IAALS, we hope you all have a restful holiday season, and look forward to working with you in the new year.
David Yellen, CEO December 2021
To Close the Justice Gap, We Must Look Beyond Lawyers: Under many states’ current regulatory framework, a lawyer is the only option when it comes to addressing legal issues. Fortunately, however, a number of states are looking beyond lawyers—to limited licensed paraprofessionals, lay advocates, court navigators, and other types of allied legal professionals—in order to close the justice gap. And that number is growing.
IAALS’ Comment to the Michigan Supreme Court on Virtual Proceedings and Lessons Learned from the Pandemic: IAALS submitted this comment to the Michigan Supreme Court and the Lessons Learned Committee in response to the state’s preliminary report, Michigan Trial Courts: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic of 2020-21, Preliminary Findings, Best Practices, and Recommendations, which highlights the common experiences that shaped the state's justice system throughout the pandemic.
In the Wake of Rising Divorce Rates, Technology Can Offer a Hand: As America continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, some lawyers are noting an increase in divorce cases. Courts should be prepared to deal with these cases as quickly and efficiently as possible—and something that could aid their efforts is technology.
IAALS' Comment In Support of the Proposed Oregon Legal Paraprofessional Licensing Program: IAALS submitted this comment to the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors in support of the Proposed Oregon Legal Paraprofessional Licensing Program. The program would authorize paraprofessionals to provide limited legal services—without attorney supervision—in family law and landlord-tenant matters.
Be sure to read all of the news from IAALS on our blog.
Launch IAALS into the new year by making a donation today. Our Countdown to the New Year campaign has a goal of $50,000, and your generosity will empower us to continue our work to close the access-to-justice gap faced by millions of Americans—a problem that urgently needs your support, now more than ever.
