Author Archives: richardzorza

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About richardzorza

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

Rebecca Sandefur Makes the Case for Research in LSC Strategic Plan Comment

Posted on July 10, 2012 by richardzorza

Here is Professor Sandefur’s comment letter to LSC on the Draft Strategic Plan.   Professor Sandefur heads up the access to justice empirical research initiative at the American Bar Foundation (ABF).  I share the letter, with permission, because it makes the case … Continue reading →

Posted in LSC, Research and Evalation | Comments Off on Rebecca Sandefur Makes the Case for Research in LSC Strategic Plan Comment

Wed July 11 is Deadline for Comments on LSC’s Draft Strategic Plan

Posted on July 10, 2012 by richardzorza

Tomorrow, Wed July 11, is the last day to comment on LSC’s excellent Draft Strategic Plan. Any such document is bound to be somewhat controversial, and the draft represents a very major potential strengthening of LSC and its role in … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LSC, Systematic Change | 3 Comments

Making Technology Transform Government — the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Fellowship Program

Posted on July 9, 2012 by richardzorza

I love this from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau: If you’re a talented developer or designer, you’re getting a lot of offers. But you need a serious challenge. And we’re pretty sure you won’t find anything as serious as this. … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer Rights, Foreclosure, Software Developers, Technology | Comments Off on Making Technology Transform Government — the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Fellowship Program

Language Flash Cards for First Responders

Posted on July 5, 2012 by richardzorza

Here, from KnoxNews.com, via the Huffington Post, is a nice example of creative solutions in practice.  As reported in KnoxNews.com. “Instead of trying to teach 300 firefighters elementary Spanish so they can follow a conversation, we use these,” [Senior Firefighter] … Continue reading →

Posted in LEP, Technology | Comments Off on Language Flash Cards for First Responders

Important News About Access to Justice Commission Expansion Support Grants

Posted on July 5, 2012 by richardzorza

The ABA Access to Justice Expansion Project has announced the availability of its mini-grants.  Due August 17 are applications for the first round of grants that are to be focused on staring new Commissions or jump starting stalled Commission processes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Funding | Comments Off on Important News About Access to Justice Commission Expansion Support Grants

Dissent on Pro Bono and Access Comission Ideas — From an Unlikely Source

Posted on July 4, 2012 by richardzorza

Expansion of pro bono always stirs complex emotions, as shown by the recent NY controversy.  I for one am convinced that the pro bono system could be made far more efficient and productive by restructuring its relationship to the overall … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Pro Bono | Tagged | Comments Off on Dissent on Pro Bono and Access Comission Ideas — From an Unlikely Source

Impact on Funding of Planning Participation

Posted on July 2, 2012 by richardzorza

I recently blogged about changes in the Byrne Grant Program, and the potential from changes in the strategic planning language. Now, here’s some evidence that participation in the strategic planning process might impact funding outcomes. As the GAO reports on … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Defender Programs, Funding | Comments Off on Impact on Funding of Planning Participation

SJI Technical Assistance Grants focus on Self-Represented and Re-Engineering

Posted on June 29, 2012 by richardzorza

Here is the way SJI described its latest technical assistance grants: Nine (9) Technical Assistance (TA) Grants were approved, including: development of appellate court time standards by National Center for State Courts (NCSC) in close coordination with the Conference of … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Self-Help Services | Tagged | Comments Off on SJI Technical Assistance Grants focus on Self-Represented and Re-Engineering

Changes in Byrne Grant Program Create New Openings for Defenders and Courts

Posted on June 29, 2012 by richardzorza

The 2012 solicitation time for Byrne Grants is over (link here.) But I think it is important to highlight some very significant changes, which, given the inertia built into government systems, are likely to stay in place, and to provide … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Defender Programs, Dept. of Justice, Funding | 2 Comments

Office of Child Support Enforcement Highlights ATJ Innovations

Posted on June 25, 2012 by richardzorza

This is big.  At the DOJ/HHS Turner anniversary Symposium last week, The Office of Child Support Enforcement unveiled four Fact Sheets, an Information Memorandum, and an Action Transmittal. One Fact Sheet, is titled Access to Justice Innovations (yes, you read … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Support, Funding, Self-Help Services | 3 Comments

LSC Access to Justice Technology Summit — Inspiring Launch of A Process

Posted on June 23, 2012 by richardzorza

The first part of the LSC Summit on Technology and Access to Justice took place last week.  I think it is appropriate for me to pass on to the community some very personal and impressionistic non-specific highlights. First, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Dept. of Justice, LSC, Systematic Change, Technology | 5 Comments

Teaching Doctors Empahty — Some Lessons and Questions for the Legal System

Posted on June 23, 2012 by richardzorza

The Economix blog in the New York Times has a great post on new research that shows that doctors can be taught empathy. In the experiment: Dr. Helen Riess, director of the Empathy and Relational Science Program in the department … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Medical System Comparision, Research and Evalation, Science | Comments Off on Teaching Doctors Empahty — Some Lessons and Questions for the Legal System

Did You Know Court Forms are a Funny Topic?

Posted on June 21, 2012 by richardzorza

I read, and got permission to post, this hysterical article from the Austin Lawyer. Entre Nous  —  Family Form Foes Fight Fiercely By Claude Ducloux, Hill, Ducloux, Carnes & de la Garza As a board-certified bar groupie who, by virtue … Continue reading →

Posted in Forms, Simplification | 1 Comment

Draft LSC Strategic Plan Available — Comments Requested By July 11

Posted on June 19, 2012 by richardzorza

LSC has made public its draft Strategic Plan, and is requesting comments, which are due July 11.  Its an impressive and encouraging document, that should help focus the work of the Corporation, and indeed the access to justice community, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LSC | 2 Comments

Important Step Forward with Washington State Legal Technician Rule

Posted on June 19, 2012 by richardzorza

Lots of us have been watching this long-standing but very important saga. The Washington State Supreme Court has now by Order approved a Rule generally permitting non-lawyer legal technicians.  The Order does not itself authorize specific areas of legal technician … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Ethics, Simplification, Systematic Change | 9 Comments