Author Archives: richardzorza

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About richardzorza

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

How State-Wide Groups Might Help Deal With The “Ferguson Chasm”

Posted on May 29, 2015 by richardzorza

Here are some suggestions for how ATJ Commissions and other statewide groups (or those just advocating) might move forward on addressing the “Ferguson Chasm” — the gap between communities and the entire legal system, epitomized by Ferguson using the court … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Chasm with Communities, Child Support, Court Fees and Costs, Policing, Self-Help Services, Simplification | Comments Off on How State-Wide Groups Might Help Deal With The “Ferguson Chasm”

The Needed Components for National ATJ Initiative Taking

Posted on May 26, 2015 by richardzorza

A couple of years ago, I blogged about what a state capacity for access to justice might look like.  Folks might find this post useful to start to talk about evaluation of the progress of their state’s ATJ Commission (or … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Bar Associations, Communications Strategy, Dept. of Justice, Funding | Comments Off on The Needed Components for National ATJ Initiative Taking

The Broader Lessons of Ferguson and Baltimore Are Much More Challenging — Opportunities to Be Part of the Solution

Posted on May 25, 2015 by richardzorza

Some of us have begun calling it the Chasm — it’s the chasm between the legal system and the poor.  When the cops yell “stop”, young men do not make subtle legal distinctions between the civil and criminal justice systems.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Bankruptcy, Child Support, Court Fees and Costs, Court Management, Dept. of Justice, expungement | 2 Comments

Interdisciplinary Education Comes to Medicine — What About Law?

Posted on May 14, 2015 by richardzorza

A recent NYT blog highlights how medical education trains its varied professionals, doctors, nurses, physicians assistants, in totally isolated silos, even though today they almost always actually practice in integrated teams. But, there are now some changes described in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Law Schools, Medical System Comparision, Public Defender, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

While Study On Greater Happiness of Nonprofit Lawyers Raises Methodological Questions, It Still Has Useful Lessons

Posted on May 13, 2015 by richardzorza

Its hard for some of us not to feel smug and self-satisfied when we see the following blog headline in the New York Times: Lawyers With Lowest Pay Report More Happiness. And its hard not to come to the conclusion … Continue reading →

Posted in Law Schools, Legal Aid, Research and Evalation, Vocation | Comments Off on While Study On Greater Happiness of Nonprofit Lawyers Raises Methodological Questions, It Still Has Useful Lessons

DOJ ATJ Initiative Director Lisa Foster Keynotes at Equal Justice Conference

Posted on May 8, 2015 by richardzorza

As Department of Justice Access to to Justice Director Foster pointed out at her keynote at the Equal Justice Conference, yesterday (see below for full text), there have been sixteen of these Conferences.  What she did not point out was … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Fees and Costs, Criminal Law, Dept. of Justice, Funding, Research and Evalation, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change | Comments Off on DOJ ATJ Initiative Director Lisa Foster Keynotes at Equal Justice Conference

Ohio Supreme Court Task Force Recommends “Access to Justice Impact Statement” Requirement

Posted on April 30, 2015 by richardzorza

The Ohio Supreme Court Task Force on Access to Justice has included among other great proposals, a new and exciting idea in its Recommendations, which would be to require an “Access to Justice Impact Statement” before any changes in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Court Management, LEP | Comments Off on Ohio Supreme Court Task Force Recommends “Access to Justice Impact Statement” Requirement

Univ of DC Law School Encourages Student Engagement with Baltimore Protests and “Legal Observer and Other Assistance” / “Legal Support”

Posted on April 29, 2015 by richardzorza

Here, as reported by the Washington Post, is the letter from the Dean to the student body.  For those who worry about how this is organized, I bold the relevant paragraph and some other text, which includes the carefully limited … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Law Schools | Comments Off on Univ of DC Law School Encourages Student Engagement with Baltimore Protests and “Legal Observer and Other Assistance” / “Legal Support”

Broader Lessons From NYT Highlighted Brennan Center Book Featuring Presidential Candidates (and others) on Criminal Justice Reform

Posted on April 28, 2015 by richardzorza

The Times rightly highlights the astonishing fact of how many of the presidential candidates, regardless of party, agree on the need for often similar reforms of the criminal justice system, in this new book released today by the Brennan Center.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Criminal Law, Funding | Comments Off on Broader Lessons From NYT Highlighted Brennan Center Book Featuring Presidential Candidates (and others) on Criminal Justice Reform

Illinois “Safe Habor” Policy for SRL assistance Moves the Ball Foward

Posted on April 25, 2015 by richardzorza

There has long been debate about whether listing what self-represented litigant assistance policies are permitted when performed by court staff is useful or harmful.  The argument for listing them is that it makes it much easier for staff to perform … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Self-Help Services | 1 Comment

Joking About Clients — Understandable and Maybe Helpful — But There’s a Test About When It’s OK

Posted on April 18, 2015 by richardzorza

There is a provocative, but also disturbing article in the Washington Post that all who serve others, including lawyers and court and self-help staff, might want to think about.  It is titled, Nurses make fun of their dying patients. That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Ethics, Medical System Comparision, Self-Help Services | Comments Off on Joking About Clients — Understandable and Maybe Helpful — But There’s a Test About When It’s OK

Hearing Lisa’ Foster’s Keynote at the Equal Justice Conference Should Be An Important Moment

Posted on April 9, 2015 by richardzorza

We have just heard that Lisa Foster, the head of the DOJ Access to Justice Initiative, will be keynoting the Equal Justice Conference next month. The chance to hear what she has to say from her perch as one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Dept. of Justice | Comments Off on Hearing Lisa’ Foster’s Keynote at the Equal Justice Conference Should Be An Important Moment

The Risks Bars Face Unless They Approach Strategic Planning From a Public Interest Perspective

Posted on April 5, 2015 by richardzorza

After recently being part of a focus group for a Bar, part of a strategic planning process, I have some thoughts that might be helpful for bars entering into this process. Since the US Supreme Court case of North Carolina … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Trust, Bar Associations, Non-Lawyer Practice | 1 Comment

Steps in New York Underline Speed of Acceptance of “Roles Beyond Lawyers”

Posted on March 31, 2015 by richardzorza

Two very exciting steps forward in the movement to allow non-lawywers to do more to help with access to justice.  First, I can now post the promised OCA proposal which is in the process of being formally submitted to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-Lawyer Practice | 1 Comment

Guest Post From Sherna Deamer on Making Justice Truly Blind — Where it Should Be

Posted on March 30, 2015 by richardzorza

This blog loves to share provocative “out of the box” ideas that can get conversation going.  Here is one on how to remove some of the unconscious cultural and ethnic bias in our legal system.  It comes from Sherna Deamer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Judicial Ethics, LEP, Research and Evalation | 2 Comments