Principles for Family Justice Reform

Publication
As state courts around the country began developing plans to implement the broader civil justice reform recommendations developed by the Conference of Chief Justices in 2016, IAALS, National Center for State Courts, and National Council of Juvenile… MORE

David G. Campbell

Profile
Judge Campbell has been a United States District Judge for the District of Arizona since 2003. He currently chairs the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Federal Courts, which oversees the work of the five Advisory Committees… MORE

Divorcing Together

Publication
Every year, millions of married couples decide to divorce. The legal system provides a means for sorting out financial issues, dividing assets, dissolving the legal relationship, and setting arrangements for the children; however, it is well … MORE

A Model Process for Family Justice Initiative Pathways

Publication
This publication is a supplemental guide to the Family Justice Initiative's Principles for Family Justice Reform and sets forth best practices to triaging domestic relations cases that match parties and cases to resources and services… MORE

Think Like a Client

Publication
Understanding what clients want and expect from their lawyers is imperative for the provision of high-quality legal services, as well as for lawyers’ success in the legal profession. While we have anecdotal evidence that presents glimpses of answers… MORE

Guidance on Developing Problem-Solving Approaches for Families in Court

Publication
Family courts operate within a larger court structure that generally reflects the traditional, adversarial approach, which can exacerbate existing tensions between partners or spouses, and, in cases involving children, can leave children caught in… MORE

Guidelines for Creating Effective Self-Help Information

Publication
Self-represented litigants face a variety of challenges navigating the process without legal help. There are widespread efforts by courts around the country to assist self-represented parties, including the development of self-help materials. Not… MORE

Ensuring the Right to Be Heard

Publication
Once a case is filed in court, it becomes the court’s responsibility to manage the case toward a just and timely resolution. This inherently entails an obligation for every aspect of the court, and of all of its staff, to provide guidance to self-… MORE

Redesigning Divorce

Publication
Through our Court Compass project, IAALS has been rethinking legal processes by listening to and engaging the people who actually use the system. In four states across the country, we brought self-represented litigants and other legal… MORE

Preventing Whack-a-Mole Management of Consumer Debt Cases

Publication
Americans are drowning in debt, with an estimated $4 trillion or roughly $13,000 for every man, woman, and child in the United States—large numbers of whom struggle to repay their debts, especially debts incurred to cover routine living expenses,… MORE