Author Archives: richardzorza

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About richardzorza

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

Migration Policy Institute Data on Foreign Born as Planning Tool

Posted on April 1, 2011 by richardzorza

The Migration Policy Institute has a nice tool to get quick data (2009 ACS data) on foreign-born in the US, state by state. You click on a state, and then get basic information, together with links on topics such as … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, LEP, Tools | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Reflective Response on Thinking About Client’s Feelings — Suggestions for Progrms and Funders to Address Issues

Posted on March 31, 2011 by richardzorza

I am posting a response (with permission to do so without attribution) to the recent blog about thinking about litigants’ emotions. Thanks for raising this. I think that a lot of a lawyer’s inability to deal with emotions starts in … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Law Schools, Legal Aid, Medical System Comparision, Self-Help Services | Comments Off on Reflective Response on Thinking About Client’s Feelings — Suggestions for Progrms and Funders to Address Issues

Document Assembly Resource: New York Courts Best Practices Guide

Posted on March 30, 2011 by richardzorza

A great resource from the NY courts:  A best practices guide, focused on the users of the A2J tools, but of high relevance to everyone. Sample from the Table of Contents: INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS. The Court’s Role. Costs Choosing Technology Hosting … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, Forms | Comments Off on Document Assembly Resource: New York Courts Best Practices Guide

Beautiful NYT article by Doctor on Thinking About Patient Experience — Lessons for Lawyers, Court Staff and Judges

Posted on March 29, 2011 by richardzorza

Peter Bach, MD, in the NYT today, writes about how, as a cancer doctor married to a woman who gets breast cancer, he sits next to her as her doctor does just what he has done so many times before, … Continue reading →

Posted in Judicial Ethics, Medical System Comparision, Self-Help Services | 1 Comment

Keeping Open to Research Regardless of Perceived Risk By Minimizing Error in Use of Access Research

Posted on March 29, 2011 by richardzorza

This is a modified version of my post yesterday, Avoiding the Shut Down Effect  From Uncertain Research Results in the online Symposium conducted by the Concurring Opinions blog. That blog is about some research, previously highlighted on this blog, into … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Law Schools, Legal Aid, Research and Evalation | 1 Comment

Online Symposium on the Greiner/Pattanayak Paper on Impact of Offers of Representation

Posted on March 28, 2011 by richardzorza

Many of you will recall the intense interest that the recent pre-publication attention to the Greiner/Pattanayak Paper on Impact of Offers of Representation has triggered.  Here is an interview with Jim Gereiner on this blog.  The paper will be in … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Research and Evalation, Triage | Comments Off on Online Symposium on the Greiner/Pattanayak Paper on Impact of Offers of Representation

Texas Supreme Court Establishes Forms Process

Posted on March 28, 2011 by richardzorza

Texas takes a step that other states without standardized forms might well consider. The Supreme Court has, by Order online here, established a Task Force to work on “forms for statewide use.” The stated reason: The Court is concerned about … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Forms | Tagged | Comments Off on Texas Supreme Court Establishes Forms Process

Impact on Outcomes of Participation by Interns/Residents in Surgery — Thinking About Students in Access Services

Posted on March 25, 2011 by richardzorza

Fascinating NYT piece about research into whether having doctors in training — interns or residents — participate in surgery impacts outcomes.  This is a big study and the results paint just the kind of complicated picture that gets you thinking. … Continue reading →

Posted in Law Schools, Medical System Comparision, Pro Bono, Research and Evalation | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mathematical Modeling — The Lessons of Politics

Posted on March 24, 2011 by richardzorza

Nate Silver, who is beyond brilliant, blogs for the New York Times, mainly on statistical prediction in politics and sport.  (He made his money in sport predictions and moved into politics.  He has what looks like a liberal bent from … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | 1 Comment

Supreme Court Argument in Civil Gideon/Civil Contempt Case – Sufficiency of SRL Procedures Addressed in SC for First Time

Posted on March 23, 2011 by richardzorza

This may become very important. You can read the full transcript of today’s (March 23, 2011) oral argument on whether there is a right to counsel for those facing contempt incarceration for nonpayment of child support. It is fascinating, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Judicial Ethics, Self-Help Services, Supreme Court, Systematic Change | Tagged , | 1 Comment

California AOC Head Bill Vickrey to Retire — Major Facilitator of Access Transformation

Posted on March 23, 2011 by richardzorza

Bill Vickrey, head of the California AOC has announced his retirement.  This is a moment that can not go unnoticed in the national access to justice community. The impact of Bill’s quiet work for access, conducted in close partnership with … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Legal Aid | Tagged | Comments Off on California AOC Head Bill Vickrey to Retire — Major Facilitator of Access Transformation

Can We Keep Law One Profession?

Posted on March 22, 2011 by richardzorza

Steve Pearlstein in Sundays Washington Post has a great piece on how the DC law firm now called Howrey collapsed. Bottom line, while the firm was highly innovative, for example replacing the traditional second year summer associate wine, sports, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Law Schools, Systematic Change | Tagged , | Comments Off on Can We Keep Law One Profession?

Sue Talia Comments on Montana’s New Unbundling Rules as National Model

Posted on March 21, 2011 by richardzorza

As many of you know, Sue Talia  is one of the country’s leading experts on unbundling, and a frequent speaker on the topic.  We are proud to share her analysis of the significance of the  new Montana unbundling rules. MONTANA’S … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Ethics, Unbundling | Tagged , | Comments Off on Sue Talia Comments on Montana’s New Unbundling Rules as National Model

Wayne Moore’s Unbundling Test

Posted on March 21, 2011 by richardzorza

I was at a symposium at Georegtown last week, and heard, among other things, Wayne Moore’s simple test for whether unbundling was appropriate. The test (below) is to intrigue you with Wayne’s systematic analytic approach, which is much in evidence … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | Comments Off on Wayne Moore’s Unbundling Test

Americorps and Justice Corps

Posted on March 20, 2011 by richardzorza

Some of you may have noticed that Americorps is one of the programs being targeted in the House budget (NYT).  You may not be aware that Justice Corps is funded through the Americorps budget. Justice Corps is one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Technology | Comments Off on Americorps and Justice Corps