Author Archives: richardzorza

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About richardzorza

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

A Simple Idea for Standardizing Language Locations in LEP-Friendly ATJ Websites

Posted on January 15, 2011 by richardzorza

This idea came up at the LSC TIG Conference. Right now, websites that have information in multiple languages, may show available languages anywhere — at the top, at the bottom, along the right or left, or in a box somewhere.  … Continue reading →

Posted in LEP, Technology | Comments Off on A Simple Idea for Standardizing Language Locations in LEP-Friendly ATJ Websites

Our First NewsMaker Interview — Harvard’s Jim Greiner on Study of Impact of Offers of Representation by Students at Unemployment Hearings

Posted on January 14, 2011 by richardzorza

Note: This our first “NewsMaker Interview,” designed to go under the surface of important developments in access to justice.  Readers of this blog are encouraged to suggest future interviewees and topics. Jim Greiner and Cassandra Wolos Pattanayak’s draft article, What … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Law Schools, Newsmaker Interview, Research and Evalation | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Montana Planning Mobile Version of LawHelp Site

Posted on January 13, 2011 by richardzorza

I keep pushing that we move faster in mobile technology — the data is that poor populations often find smartphone access cheaper than traditional web access. So it is great news that Montana legal aid and Pro Bono Net, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Mobile Technology, Technology | 3 Comments

Public Library Access to Justice News: Masachusetts Bookmarks

Posted on January 13, 2011 by richardzorza

Nice Report from Massachusetts on how they spent their tiny ($975) minigrant awarded after the Conference on Public Libraries and Access to Justice. “[Massachusetts] spent the  mini-grant on printing posters and bookmarks.  We distributed the bookmarks and posters to every … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Self-Help Services | Tagged , | Comments Off on Public Library Access to Justice News: Masachusetts Bookmarks

Celebrating the Access to Justice Technology Community — Thoughts for Next year TIG Grants and Direction

Posted on January 12, 2011 by richardzorza

I am here at the LSC TIG (Technology Initiative Grants) program conference in New Mexico, and want to take the opportunity to celebrate that community and suggest how we should build on its achievements. Lets start the conversation about how … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Technology | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

NYT — Judges Berate Bank Lawyers in Foreclosures — Thoughts on Burden of Pleading, Proof, and on Investigation

Posted on January 11, 2011 by richardzorza

Today’s NYT has an article on increasingly judges holding lawyers accountable for the defective foreclosures. Key para (as well as listing of abuses) “More broadly, the courts in New York State, along with Florida, have begun requiring that lawyers in … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreclosure, Judicial Ethics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Law School Debt and Employment Conundrum — Non-Standard Responses

Posted on January 9, 2011 by richardzorza

Lots of people (if you know any non-lawyers who read the New York Times) are going to be asking you about the Times article today, Is Law School A Losing Game?. The main points in the article are the high … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Law Schools, Middle Income | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Learning Financial Literacy In College — What About the Non-College Bound? A TIG Idea?

Posted on January 8, 2011 by richardzorza

Nice article in the NYT about college in Vermont teaching financial literacy. Since it is so needed today, what can we do to ensure that the most vulnerable get this kind of education too? Is there a role for courts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | 3 Comments

Important State Supreme Court (Mass) Decision on Pooled Mortgage Foreclosures — Reflections on the Long Term Impact of Failures in the Access to Justice System

Posted on January 7, 2011 by richardzorza

Bloomberg, the Washington Post, and others, are reporting an important State Supreme Court case on foreclosures by financial institutions that claim to own interests in pooled mortgages.  The Financial Times has a good explanation and backgrounder. Here is the decision. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Foreclosure | Tagged | Comments Off on Important State Supreme Court (Mass) Decision on Pooled Mortgage Foreclosures — Reflections on the Long Term Impact of Failures in the Access to Justice System

An Arguably Off-Point Post on the Implications of Studies of the Impact of Female Tears on Men.

Posted on January 7, 2011 by richardzorza

There has been a lot of media attention in the last day to research about the impact of women crying upon men’s arousal.  The study (NPR write-up here) measured men’s reporting of arousal, testosterone levels, and activity level in brain … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Violence, Science | Comments Off on An Arguably Off-Point Post on the Implications of Studies of the Impact of Female Tears on Men.

National Center for State Courts Solitics Suggestions for Sessions for Court Technology Confernce

Posted on January 7, 2011 by richardzorza

As you probably know, the NCSC’s Court Technology Conference, held every two years, is a major even of great utility to those interested in the interaction of access to justice and technology.  The next one, is called CTC 2011 will … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Meetings, Technology | Tagged , | Comments Off on National Center for State Courts Solitics Suggestions for Sessions for Court Technology Confernce

U. S. Census Releases Alternative Measures of Poverty With Tools to Generate Your Own Tables

Posted on January 6, 2011 by richardzorza

In  a move that might have major long term consequences, the US Census Department has released alternative measures of poverty.  As most of you probably know, the current measures date to the 60s, and fail to reflect changes in government … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Poverty, Research and Evalation | Tagged | Comments Off on U. S. Census Releases Alternative Measures of Poverty With Tools to Generate Your Own Tables

Important Research on Impact of Legal Assistance Now Available in Draft

Posted on January 5, 2011 by richardzorza

Jim Greiner at Harvard Law School is deeply committed to what he calls “gold standard” research on access to justice.  By this term he means truly randomized studies in which it is possible to compare two otherwise equal groups, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Research and Evalation | Tagged | 2 Comments

An Idea: Standardizing Evaluation Surveys on Innovations

Posted on January 4, 2011 by richardzorza

Here is a thought:  Should we be moving towards using a standard set of questions when we survey users about innovations?  Should we standardize the ways we break down demographic and other user data (age groups, etc)? While I would … Continue reading →

Posted in Research and Evalation, Technology | Tagged , | 3 Comments

James Sandman Voted New LSC President

Posted on January 3, 2011 by richardzorza

The LSC Board voted today to offer (with acceptance anticipated) the LSC presidency to James Sandman, formerly Arnold and Porter Managing Attorney, and currently General Counsel to the DC Public Schools.  He plans to be at the next Board meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | Comments Off on James Sandman Voted New LSC President