News & Updates

Robert Southers discusses what drives his passion for access to justice, building trust with the community, and what it means to receive the Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award.

Sam Walker, Executive in Residence at the Office of the Colorado Attorney General, will be IAALS' inaugural Founders Award recipient. This honor is reserved for individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to IAALS and its mission to unlock innovations that make our civil justice system more just.

As we begin 2025, IAALS is poised to make our biggest gains to date as we work to bring better access to our justice system for everyone. We have laid the groundwork for innovations across many states and sectors of our system—due in large part to people like you, our partners and colleagues.

Robert Southers, a transformative force in Ohio’s legal community, will receive IAALS' fifth annual Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award in April 2025. In just seven years since graduating from law school, Southers has made remarkable strides in improving access to justice.

In November, IAALS brought together 23 experts to discuss regulating AI in the delivery of consumer-facing legal services, its fourth in a series of convenings designed to align industry leaders around strategies to unlock legal regulation.

Lifetime tenure has been the source of controversy in recent years, and fixed, 18-year terms have become the most frequently proposed alternative.

Following Utah's example, several other states and Canadian provinces are exploring regulatory sandboxes to address the access to justice crisis and create innovative services for people's unmet legal needs.

The program recognizes that entrepreneurial lawyers and nonlawyers alike should be empowered to pilot a range of differing business forms that would otherwise be prohibited, but could ultimately improve access to justice and legal services for the public.

There is a clear groundswell that we must do more than just laud democracy and the rule of law. While there is great importance in speaking to the value of these American institutions, there is a great necessity to do much more to uphold them.

Judges hold a uniquely powerful position within the justice system, making their leadership crucial for meaningful reform. To drive lasting change, we need leaders who not only address current challenges but also proactively design a system that anticipates and meets future needs.

IAALS has released a new report with results and recommendations on how legal regulation innovation can address the continued and urgent legal services gap faced by the majority of Americans today.

IAALS has launched a new project to understand and incorporate public perspectives on regulatory reform in the legal profession. This initiative provides states with essential tools and resources to engage the public—those most affected by legal reform—in these complex discussions.

Eduardo Gonzalez discusses what drives his passion for access to justice, overcoming systemic challenges in our civil justice system, and what it means to receive the Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award.

Justice Alito's recusal controversy highlights the urgent need for clear judicial recusal procedures. IAALS' recommendations strive to boost transparency, efficiency, and trust in our judiciary.

Around a third of American households live just above the poverty line, facing financial struggles yet ineligible for many social services such as free legal aid. Initiatives like the Above the Line Network aim to improve access to affordable legal assistance for these underserved communities.

Last week, IAALS gathered with partners and friends for our 16th Annual Rebuilding Justice Award Dinner, celebrating the year’s awardees and everyone who works with us to jumpstart the groundbreaking and achievable solutions that will clear a path to justice for everyone.

As we celebrate Law Day 2024, themed "Voices of Democracy," we recognize the vital importance of open, honest, and civil discourse in addressing the challenges we face together. At IAALS, we engage in purposeful collaboration, listening, and research—jumpstarting the groundbreaking and achievable solutions that will clear a path to justice for everyone.

The world at large is constantly evolving, and so must our civil justice system. In on 2023 Annual Report, read how our work centers the people and how our solutions cascade from IAALS to the millions who benefit nationwide.

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.