Author Archives: richardzorza

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About richardzorza

I am deeply involved in access to justice and the patient voice movement.

Former NY Chief Judge Judith Kaye, Who Just Died, Not Only Changed What it Means to be a Chief Judge, But Was a Profoundly Authentic Human Being

Posted on January 7, 2016 by richardzorza

The New York Times is reporting the sad death of former Chief Judge Judith Kaye.  It’s a great loss, and the Times obituary accurately recounts her enormous contributions to New York Law and its courts. I feel compelled to add … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciations | 2 Comments

Five Transformative Bar Reform Ideas To Get to 100% to Justice — Paper Abstract

Posted on January 5, 2016 by richardzorza

A few months ago, the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics invited me to submit a paper on the relationship between access to justice, commercialization of the legal practice, and judicial ethics.  The paper will be published in the summer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Attorney-Client, Bar Associations, Funding, Legal Aid, LSC, Middle Income, Mixed Model, Non-Lawyer Practice, Outcome Measures, Political Support, Systematic Change, Tax Policy, Technology, Triage, Unbundling | 2 Comments

Asking About the Role of Pro Bono in Responding to the Challenge of the Chiefs’ 100% Resolution Could Help Pro Bono Regain Momentum

Posted on January 1, 2016 by richardzorza

There has been some good news on pro bono in the last couple of years: the LSC Pro Bono Grant Program has been launched and LSC has revised its PAI 12.5% set-aside rules.  However, beyond this, it has been a … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Generally, Pro Bono, Systematic Change, Triage, Unbundling | Comments Off on Asking About the Role of Pro Bono in Responding to the Challenge of the Chiefs’ 100% Resolution Could Help Pro Bono Regain Momentum

The Need for Economic and Regulatory Incentives for Access to Justice

Posted on January 1, 2016 by richardzorza

I find it remarkable that there so few regulatory and economic incentives towards access to justice built into our system. It is now true that you have to do a certain number of pro bono hours to get to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Court Management, Outcome Measures, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change | 4 Comments

Two Resources on Innovation and a Chance to Vote

Posted on December 23, 2015 by richardzorza

The ABA Delivery Committee makes annual awards for innovation.  Now one of the awards is voted on by the general public.  Obviously, I encourage everyone to take a look and vote for the one you think is best.  But, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Funding, ILAG | Comments Off on Two Resources on Innovation and a Chance to Vote

Add Access to Justice As A Criteria for “Just Companies” An Idea Urged By Paul Tudor Jones II, hedge-fund billionaire

Posted on December 21, 2015 by richardzorza

Under the wonderful headline, A Plan to Rank ‘Just’ Companies Aims to Close the Wealth Gap, Alexandra Stanley has a great article in today’s New York Times. Like all the best ideas, this one is simple: Paul Tudor Jones II, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Consumer Rights, Federal Courts, Rules Reform, Supreme Court, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

Guest Blogger Jim Burdick Blogs on Nieghborhood Legal Centers, Medical Partnering and Beyond

Posted on December 21, 2015 by richardzorza

The recently described Neighborhood Legal Information Centers in New York (Posted on December 4, 2015 by Richard Zorza) represent a major step forward in helping the disadvantaged. Proximity of help from advocates for common legal problems offers a big advantage. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chasm with Communities, Medical System Comparision, Self-Help Services, Technology | Comments Off on Guest Blogger Jim Burdick Blogs on Nieghborhood Legal Centers, Medical Partnering and Beyond

Some Thoughts Triggered by the Maryland Law Help Mobile Apps

Posted on December 18, 2015 by richardzorza

Maryland is helping set the pace on mobile apps for access to justice.  The press release lists the impressive list of tools and resources included: Access to the legal help pages maintained by the Maryland Judiciary with detailed information about … Continue reading →

Posted in Mobile Technology, Technology | Comments Off on Some Thoughts Triggered by the Maryland Law Help Mobile Apps

Utah Moves Limited License Legal Technician to Mainstream

Posted on December 17, 2015 by richardzorza

It seems only yesterday that limited license legal technicians were a weird outlier, subject of much suspicion and even hostility. The Utah Supreme Court has just changed that by accepting a Report from its Task Force urging that the Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | Comments Off on Utah Moves Limited License Legal Technician to Mainstream

UK Court Divorce Software Made Obvious Math Errors, Not Noticed For Almost 20 Months, Till Nonlawyer Caught it

Posted on December 17, 2015 by richardzorza

The Guardian has a story that should cause terror to those who design legal software without properly testing it, as well as those who say we have to limit practice to fully trained lawyers. As the Guardian reports, the online … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Law, Forms, Non-Lawyer Practice, Simplification, Technology | 4 Comments

Important Case on Failure to Recognize Existence of Discretion to Provide Information to Self-Represented Litigant

Posted on December 16, 2015 by richardzorza

The California Court of Appeals has just entered a procedurally complex, but very important case on how a judge should deal with an uninformed self-represented litigant. The bottom line is that an incarcerated self-represented landlord repeatedly tried to win a … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Self-Help Services | 2 Comments

NCSC Study Finds Public Support for Technology and Self-Represented Accessibility, Implications for 100% Goal

Posted on December 16, 2015 by richardzorza

The National Center for State Courts recently conducted a public opinion survey about the courts. Probably the most important findings: Public demand for more self-sufficiency highlights a path forward. Our last survey found a clear demand for greater use of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Communications Strategy, Funding, Self-Help Services | 1 Comment

Who Will Be the Last Person Executed in the US?

Posted on December 16, 2015 by richardzorza

Testifying against the Vietnam war in 1971, John Kerry famously asked “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?” Now its getting to be time to ask who will be the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Death Penalty | Comments Off on Who Will Be the Last Person Executed in the US?

A Review of Possible Elements of Deregulation of Law, Gleaned From Current Conversations

Posted on December 9, 2015 by richardzorza

As the legal profession discusses the possibility of deregulation, it might be useful to think about the regulatory areas that are most frequently cited as barriers to increasing accesses.  Such a listing may help us decide if the kinds of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bar Associations, Judicial Ethics, Rules Reform, Systematic Change, Technology | 2 Comments

John Naughton In the Guardian Calls for Code of Ethics For Those Who Write Algorithms

Posted on December 7, 2015 by richardzorza

A fascinating article in the Guardian is of relevance to anyone who builds or uses technology in the justice system. After highlighting the range of decisions made by algorithms today, and their potential consequences, the writer, John Naughton, moves to … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Court Management, Metrics, Outcome Measures, Research and Evalation, Software Developers, Technology, Transparency, Triage | Comments Off on John Naughton In the Guardian Calls for Code of Ethics For Those Who Write Algorithms