Author Archives: richardzorza

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About richardzorza

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

Innovation Ideas Based on SJI Priority Investment Areas

Posted on December 9, 2011 by richardzorza

A few days ago I blogged on the excellent new State Justice Institute Priority Investment Areas, which now guides much of SJI’s grantmaking. Today I am going to make some suggestions for innovative possible projects in each of those areas, … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Document Assembly, Funding, Judicial Ethics, Law Schools, LEP, Self-Help Services | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Innovation Ideas Based on SJI Priority Investment Areas

Very Important and Promising Leaderhip Appointment at Open Society Foundations

Posted on December 7, 2011 by richardzorza

The Open Society Foundations has announced its new head: Chris Stone.  While OSF and Chris will surely have an agenda that goes way beyond access to justice, it is promising that the Institute, vast in its international reach, will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Funding, International Models, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change | Tagged | Comments Off on Very Important and Promising Leaderhip Appointment at Open Society Foundations

Good news on LSC Technology and Access to Justice Summit

Posted on December 6, 2011 by richardzorza

I have just heard that the LSC Technology and Access to Justice Summit is going forward.  LSC has contracted with John Greacen to manage it.  I understand that the hope is to be able to have the Summit in April … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, LSC, Technology | 1 Comment

Article on Justice Index in National Law Journal

Posted on December 6, 2011 by richardzorza

David Udell and Cara Anna of the National Center for Access to Justice have an article in the National Law Journal on their proposed National Justice Index.  The core idea: Which states’ courts are in the worst condition? Which, despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Court Management, Metrics, Research and Evalation, SRL Statistics | 1 Comment

Claudia Johnson Blogs on Cost Saving LEP Ideas

Posted on December 5, 2011 by richardzorza

In the latest MIE Journal, Jesus Salas, Monica Buckley, and Facundo Bouzat from ABLE, Ohio, publish an excellent article sharing how ABLE is developing the capacity to serve LEP clients and the methods and tools it uses to do so. … Continue reading →

Posted in LEP, Technology | Comments Off on Claudia Johnson Blogs on Cost Saving LEP Ideas

A shift in Empahsis About Access Demonstrated by Retired Chief Justice Marshall of Massachusetts

Posted on December 5, 2011 by richardzorza

The retired Massachusetts Chief, in a Boston Globe op-ed, urging contributions to legal aid programs, shows an interesting shift in emphasis in terms of how we think about the access system.  It’s caught in these two paras: While judges and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Funding, Legal Aid, Legal Ethics, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change | Comments Off on A shift in Empahsis About Access Demonstrated by Retired Chief Justice Marshall of Massachusetts

Guest Blogger Claudia Johnston Reflecting on Public Interest Lawyers, Technology and Change

Posted on December 4, 2011 by richardzorza

We are living in revolutionary times. It is the first time, since 1968, when I was just a babe learning to talk by listening to the Beattles in El Salvador, that we see such amount of change and restructuring and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Document Assembly, Meetings, Mobile Technology, Technology | 3 Comments

Honoring Mike Genz and Remembering His Foundational Work

Posted on December 4, 2011 by richardzorza

Mike Genz has retired from LSC (although I understand he hopes to continue to do some consulting work).  Those who know him will not be surprised that this event passed without fanfare.  Mike is not the kind of person who … Continue reading →

Posted in LSC, Systematic Change, Technology, Tools | Comments Off on Honoring Mike Genz and Remembering His Foundational Work

Non-Lawyer Assistance in the Courtroom — the UK Model

Posted on December 2, 2011 by richardzorza

Most of us in the US are unaware of a fascinating approach that the UK (and indeed most Commonwealth countries) use to assist in access to justice for those without lawyers.  It is an approach that permits non-lawyers to sit … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Judicial Ethics, Self-Help Services | Tagged | 5 Comments

Wayne Moore Makes Suggestions for Legal Aid on “How to Cut Costs Without Cutting Services”

Posted on December 2, 2011 by richardzorza

Wayne Moore has responded to the legal aid budget crisis with this insightful and intensely practical memo on how legal aid programs can protect service delivery in a tough time.  I urge all, including those who have been somewhat critical … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Document Assembly, Legal Aid, LSC, Pro Bono, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change, Technology, Unbundling | Comments Off on Wayne Moore Makes Suggestions for Legal Aid on “How to Cut Costs Without Cutting Services”

This Blog Named by ABA Journal as One of Top 100 Blogs — Opportunity to Vote for Best Blog in Twelve Caegories.

Posted on December 1, 2011 by richardzorza

I am more touched by this than I expected, particularly because of the nomination by Allison McDermot of Pro Bono Net.  Here is the description of the blog at the ABA Journal listing of the top 100 blogs: Richard Zorza’s … Continue reading →

Posted in This Blog | Tagged | 3 Comments

SJI Announces Priority Areas

Posted on December 1, 2011 by richardzorza

Important news for innovation.  SJI has just (yesterday) announced their new priority areas.  I think most us will be both pleased and impressed.  Here is the list, now on their website, as well as in E-SJINews. Priority Investment Areas On … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LEP, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

I Love This: Law School Incubator Project Goes International

Posted on December 1, 2011 by richardzorza

Globalization cuts both ways! I have just heard that the Law School Incubator, being pioneered by CUNY among others, is being adopted in India. Here is the news from the Sakai Times, about the Symbiosis Law School in Pune. PUNE: … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, International Models, Law Schools, Middle Income | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Written Versus Oral Reporting — Implications for Forms Programs

Posted on December 1, 2011 by richardzorza

Question for readers of this post. It is getting a lot of hits. Does anyone know what is listing/referring/using it?  My analytics are not telling me anything.  Please tell me by sending me an e-mail, richard(at)zorza.net. Thanks: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Richard Moorhead … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, Forms, Research and Evalation, Technology | 3 Comments

Maximizing the Impact of Turner v. Rogers — Judges’ Journal Article on Courtroom Best Practices

Posted on November 30, 2011 by richardzorza

My article A NEW DAY FOR JUDGES AND THE SELF-REPRESENTED The Implications of Turner v. Rogers, has just been published in the Judges’ Journal. I very much hope that it will be helpful in freeing judges to take engaged and neutral … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Self-Help Services, Supreme Court | 1 Comment