Pandemic “Pilot Projects” and the Next Steps for Court Innovation

News and Updates
Pilot projects have long been used when implementing reforms—they provide a smaller-scale testing ground to administer the changes, they create an opportunity to gain broader support for innovation, and they allow for evaluation and improvement… MORE

Better Lawyer Licensing, Part 1: The First Three Building Blocks of Minimum Competence

News and Updates
Last October, IAALS published the groundbreaking report Building a Better Bar: The Twelve Building Blocks of Minimum Competence, containing clear, evidence-based recommendations and guideposts for improving the bar exam and lawyer licensing. At the… MORE

Education, Training & Testing: The Steps to Becoming an Allied Legal Professional

News and Updates
In 2012, Washington became the first state to implement an allied legal professional (ALP) program, which allows people other than attorneys—who Washington calls Limited License Legal Technicians (LLLTs)—to provide limited scope legal representation… MORE

So You Want to Implement an Allied Legal Professional Program, Part 1

News and Updates
This summer, IAALS published Allied Legal Professionals: A National Framework for Program Growth. This report summarizes discussions from last November’s convening, including best practices, discrepancies between programs, and lessons learned from… MORE

Better Lawyer Licensing, Part 3: The Third Three Building Blocks of Minimum Competence

News and Updates
IAALS’ report, Building a Better Bar: The Twelve Building Blocks of Minimum Competence, provides the first-ever empirically grounded definition of the minimum competence required to practice law. Our comprehensive study found that minimum competence… MORE

ABA Urges Holistic Approach to Hiring, Echoing Goals of IAALS’ Foundations for Practice

News and Updates
Earlier this month, the American Bar Association proposed a resolution encouraging law firms to broaden their evaluation criteria when recruiting law students. The resolution suggests considering factors such as legal research and writing skills,… MORE

A Code of Ethics for the Supreme Court? Transparency and Bias in the Judiciary

News and Updates
Last month, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation that would establish stronger ethics standards for the U.S. Supreme Court. It would mandate a new “code of conduct” for the highest court and a process for adjudicating violations… MORE

Familiarity Breeds Comfort: Judges and Self-Represented Litigants

News and Updates
In a recent informal poll of judges conducted by the National Judicial College, a large majority expressed they felt comfortable dealing with self-represented litigants. Out of 567 judges who responded, around 86% expressed some level of comfort—39… MORE

IAALS Announces Six Renowned Leaders Joining the Board of Advisors

News and Updates
IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, is excited to announce the appointment of six new members to its esteemed Board of Advisors. Their diversity of perspectives and expertise will… MORE

The Goals of Justice Must be Won Anew

News and Updates
September 17th is Constitution Day, which commemorates the day over two hundred years ago when members of the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution. Each year on this day, we take a moment to reflect on the establishment of… MORE