News & Updates

Leaders in the regulatory innovation movement encounter two persistent misconceptions: that the access to justice crisis solely impacts low-income individuals and that new legal market models pose risks to consumers. Despite evidence refuting these beliefs, they persist, underscoring the need for clarification and advocacy efforts.

The Above the Line Network aims to tackle challenges in middle-class legal access by fostering collaboration and advocating for systemic changes. Spanning efforts across North America and beyond, ATLN is dedicated to delivering quality, affordable legal services while amplifying the voices of the often-overlooked middle class.

Throughout the past year, IAALS has been at the forefront of advancing justice by broadening access to legal assistance, rethinking regulation, and redefining legal licensure. As we step into 2024, we remain dedicated to bringing about transformative change within the justice system.

Oregon has introduced a licensing system for legal professionals known as Licensed Paralegals to tackle the access to justice crisis. The Committee of Paralegal Assessors will review applications to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements for admission to the Oregon State Bar. 

For states looking to implement or improve an allied legal professional program, IAALS' new report provides best practices regarding considerations like fee sharing, regulatory requirements, and program costs.

As the legal profession undergoes a renaissance, proactive data collection is crucial. Here, we provide a strategic approach—defining objectives, ensuring data quality, and fostering a culture of learning—to enhance evidence-based decision-making, promote accountability, and achieve program success.

Several groundbreaking legal technology companies, including Rasa Legal and ZAF, were recently highlighted at the American Legal Technology Awards. Their work would not have been possible without the establishment of Utah’s regulatory sandbox.

Oregon has pioneered a new lawyer licensing approach, allowing law school graduates to become licensed to practice law without taking the traditional bar exam. This innovative pathway to licensure was developed with insights from IAALS’ research.

In October, IAALS convened leaders from various regulatory innovation initiatives to discuss sandbox and alternative business structure efforts and research, improve stakeholder engagement, and emphasize the importance of community relations.

Data from current ALP programs suggests that concerns about consumer protection are largely unfounded. Expanding these programs can deliver competent legal help to countless individuals who lack access to traditional legal services.

The Utah Bar Admissions Working Group has proposed an inventive attorney licensure path rooted in IAALS' Building a Better Bar research. It addresses traditional bar exam shortcomings by prioritizing competence, diversity, and access to justice through five requirements for admission and continuous assessment.

As more states reimagine how legal services can be delivered, it's crucial to emphasize that successful implementation hinges on robust data collection and evaluation. The more data we gather and analyze, the more robust our foundation becomes for advancing regulatory innovation.

In 2020, IAALS published its groundbreaking report on the 12 building blocks of minimum competence to be a lawyer, our 5 insights for assessment, and our 10 recommendations for better legal licensing. Here, we cover the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth building blocks of minimum competence.

For states looking to implement or improve an allied legal professional program, IAALS' new report provides best practices regarding considerations like in-court representation; eligibility, education, and practical training; and testing.

In 2020, IAALS published its groundbreaking report on the 12 building blocks of minimum competence to be a lawyer, our 5 insights for assessment, and our 10 recommendations for better legal licensing. Here, we cover the seventh, eighth, and ninth building blocks of minimum competence.

The ABA has proposed a resolution encouraging law firms to take a more comprehensive approach when recruiting law students, considering foundational skills alongside more traditional factors—echoing the research and recommendations in IAALS' Foundations for Practice project.

For states looking to implement or improve an allied legal professional program, IAALS' new report provides best practices regarding considerations like titles, practice areas, roles and responsibilities, and attorney supervision.

Each state with an allied legal professional program has its own unique qualifications to become licensed, but one thing all programs share is that the requirements are robust. Data shows ALPs competently handle legal tasks and prioritize consumer protection, ultimately increasing access to justice.

IAALS has published a new report summarizing discussions held at our groundbreaking convening and proposing next steps for regulatory innovation. It serves as a call to action for exploring and implementing innovative ways of delivering legal services nationwide.

The Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action ruling will undoubtedly impact law school admissions and legal hiring. Now, more than ever, efforts to improve equity and inclusion are crucial for creating a more diverse legal profession.