News & Updates

Governor Chris Christie submitted nominees for two New Jersey supreme court vacancies to the senate. One of the nominees is a sitting superior court judge and, if confirmed, would be the first Asian American justice on the court; the other nominee is the director of the board of public utilities.

This is a survey of deans and associate deans conducted at the 2011 Conference on the Future of the Law School Curriculum by Franklin A. Gevurtz, of the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Click here to read the survey results

Consumer demand and innovations in the legal marketplace, especially technological advances, are leading the charge for changes in the legal profession. Many legal educators, lawyers, court administrators, and judges are embracing the evolution, but others are still reluctant to disrupt the status quo.

Elizabeth Phillips, a third year law student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, knew she wanted to go to law school, but she also knew that selecting the right school that could equip her with the tools needed to actually practice law was essential. Having done her research, "it became clear to [her] that DU’s practical education was paying off" for new grads in the area and could afford her the best opportunities upon graduation.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has named eight judges as new committee chairs and extended the service of three existing chairs for the Judicial Conference of the United States. The committees make policy recommendations to the Conference. Click…

Aspen has been the home of things of great value for a long time… beginning with silver. Today, one of the treasures in Aspen is the Aspen Institute. It was founded in 1950 to promote the “appreciation of open minded ideas and values, open dialogue and enlightened leadership.” One aspect of the Institute is the Justice and Society program, which focuses on issues related to the meaning of justice and how a just society ought to balance fundamental rights with public policy.

Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and has a longstanding commitment to legal education along the lines proposed in the Carnegie Report. This dedication to professionalism and practical skills training makes Mercer an ideal partner within the Educating Tomorrow's Lawyers Consortium.

Some schools, including American University Washington College of Law, are using technology—specifically, video conferencing technology—to facilitate simulated negotiations in experiential law classes.

In a society where only 26 percent of adults can name all three branches of the federal government and a third cannot even name one, Colorado's judicial branch has sought to improve its citizens’ civics knowledge through Our Courts Colorado. The nonpartisan program provides civics education presentations in both English and Spanish for adults in their communities across the state, many given by state and federal judges.

The divorce rate among baby boomers has reached an all-time high of 25 percent, with many more newly single 50-somethings experiencing difficulties planning and saving for retirement. USA Today reports that it will cost "at least 50% more to retire for boomers who divorce," as there is much less time to make up any economic losses before retirement.

The supreme court nominating commission sent three names to Governor Hickenlooper for the vacancy created by Justice Martinez’ resignation. The nominees include a Democrat, a Republican, and an unaffiliated voter, but none of whom consider themselves to be politically active. (The governor must make the appointment within 15 days of receiving the commission’s list.)

We are proud to present you with IAALS' 2017 Annual Report, showcasing our efforts to help create a legal system that works for everyone. The theme this year is “Action to Justice.” Throughout the report, you will see images that are straight out of the comics. But despite the whimsical tone, the real message is that we live in times that pose great challenges to our system of justice, and superheroes must answer the call to act.

A study from the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law & Ethics shows "law students who found ways to exercise their top strengths in daily life were less likely to report depression and more likely to report satisfaction." With this understanding, Golden Gate University School of Law, an Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyers Consortium school, has published an article suggesting that experiential learning, such as through legal clinics, may increase law student happiness.

Bypassing the intermediate appellate court, the supreme court agreed to review a trial court decision invalidating an increase in judges’ contributions to their health insurance and pensions. Governor Christie characterized this as a “manipulation of the judicial process” and referred to the justices as "unelected, unresponsive public servants" and "the exalted elite."

Last year, we were in a bind. Our Foundations for Practice project was speeding along but we needed to develop a set of learning outcomes from our survey’s results. To do that, we needed to hire a consultant who really understood learning outcomes. Elizabeth has brought a level of expertise and thoughtfulness that gives us and our partners great confidence in the work we are doing.

Judge Kevin Burke, a Minnesota trial judge and member of the IAALS Board of Advisors, seconded Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor's call for selection reform in her state. According to Judge Burke, selection reform in Ohio is needed for three reasons: judicial elections may negatively impact public perceptions of judges and courts, not enough voters participate in judicial elections, and more can be done to educate judicial voters.

Paul Lippe, the CEO of Legal OnRamp, weighs in on the ongoing conversation about legal education reform: But I see the issue differently. It is not that law school is incomplete in training lawyers—which by any definition it must be—but that it lacks engagement.

This week IAALS is cohosting the first in a series of webinars with NCSC focused on providing practical information and guidance on implementing civil justice reform. The webinars are part of our three-year Civil Justice Initiative implementation project focused on providing support for on-the-ground reform.

This summer, the Brooklyn Family Court Child Support Study hopes to improve the quality of legal assistance to self-represented litigants in child custody proceedings. Observers will track whether magistrates explain to self-represented litigants the reason for the hearings, explain the courtroom proceedings, and/or exhibit irritation with the litigants. Then, the observers will follow up with the litigants in a brief interview to discern whether the litigants found the proceeding to be fair and whether they understood what took place in the courtroom.

Diversity may be a factor in filling the vacancy. Indiana is one of only three states with no women justices, and only one justice of color currently serves on the court.