Category Archives: Access to Justice Generally

“Making Justice Accessible” At the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Posted on November 19, 2015 by richardzorza

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in 1790, so they can hardly be called a fad.  So it is surely of some meaning when they decide it is worth spending a couple of days paying attention to … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | Comments Off on “Making Justice Accessible” At the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Could We Get to 100% Access Without As Many New Resources As We Now Assume, a Very Rough Analysis?

Posted on November 13, 2015 by richardzorza

It’s a truism and an article of faith in the access to justice community that the only way to get to 100% access to justice is a massive infusion of money. It might well be true, but try this mental … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Court Management, Legal Aid, Research and Evalation, Rules Reform, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Systematic Change | 5 Comments

Today Really is “Love Your Lawyer” Day

Posted on November 6, 2015 by richardzorza

It may seem hard to believe, but the “movement” to celebrate today, and other “first Fridays” as “Love your Lawyer Day,” really is gaining momentum, with the Law Practice Division of the ABA passing a Resolution in support. Why does … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | 2 Comments

Making a Mockery of Indigents’ Right Of Court Access, and a Former Chief Justice shows Leadership

Posted on October 26, 2015 by richardzorza

A clerk in Texas has been making a mockery of the right of access to justice of indigents.  As explained in the Texas Tribune: In 2012, six plaintiffs from Tarrant County sued the local district court clerk for charging them … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Court Fees and Costs, Court Management | 1 Comment

ABA Commission Recomending Model Regulatory Objectives Can Lay Groundwork for Innovation and For Integration with CCJ/COSCA 100% Access Resolution Process

Posted on October 18, 2015 by richardzorza

The ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services, is seeking comments on proposed ABA Model Regulatory Objectives.  The proposed Objectives are as follows: A. Protection of the public B. Advancement of the administration of justice and the rule of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Bar Associations | Comments Off on ABA Commission Recomending Model Regulatory Objectives Can Lay Groundwork for Innovation and For Integration with CCJ/COSCA 100% Access Resolution Process

Deregulation of Nonprofit Legal Practice — An ATJ Breakthrough?

Posted on October 13, 2015 by richardzorza

Here is an idea that might be a breakthrough for access to justice, while enhancing the role and reputation of community based nonprofit legal aid programs. How about almost complete deregulation of nonprofit legal practice.  True nonprofits (defined not only … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Attorney-Client, Incubators, Legal Aid, Legal Ethics, Non-Lawyer Practice, Systematic Change, Technology | 3 Comments

We Never Think of the Tax Code As a Tool for Access to Justice – It Could be Huge

Posted on September 30, 2015 by richardzorza

I am working on a paper for the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics 2016 Symposium issue on the relationship between access to justice, legal ethics and commercialization.  It as been a great opportunity to think about creating ways of transcending … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | 1 Comment

Presidential Memorandum on Access to Justice and Legal Aid Interagency Roundtale is Major Milestone in Creating the National ATJ Mosaic

Posted on September 24, 2015 by richardzorza

A big deal.  The President has put in place a Presidential Memorandum on access to justice and the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (LAIR).  This joins the Conference of Chiefs/COSCA 100% Resolution as the second huge piece in the national Mosaic … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Discrimination, Funding, International Cooperation, Outcome Measures, Research and Evalation, Tools, White House | 6 Comments

Meeting on ATJ and UN Development Goals in NY on Sept 24 Offers Opportunity to Engage Important Subject

Posted on September 19, 2015 by richardzorza

As David Udell has been urging, it is long past time for US access to justice advocates to engage with the UN on Goal 16 of its Development Goals, dealing with access to justice, and with its potential implications.  As … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, International Cooperation, International Models | 1 Comment

We Need a National Campaign for Access to Justice — Why the CCJ/COSCA Resolution Makes it So Much Easier and What Might It Start to Look Like?

Posted on September 18, 2015 by richardzorza

There are lots of reasons why we really do not have in place anything like a national campaign for 100% access     (Although we have certainly become much better at talking about the need).  One of the reasons for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Bar Associations, Budget Issues, Communications Strategy, Legal Aid, LEP, LSC, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Triage, Unbundling | 1 Comment

The Risks of a Narrow Definition of Access to Justice

Posted on September 8, 2015 by richardzorza

There is up at the ABA.com “Rebel Lawyers” an article titled “Lawyers need to move beyond ‘access to justice’ to close the legal services gap.”  It is by Dan Lear, currently director of industry relations for Avvo. What it actually … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Document Assembly, Forms, Legal Aid, Middle Income, Mixed Model, Systematic Change, Technology, Unbundling | 1 Comment

LSC’s Jim Sandman Interview Shows Pace of Change in Access to Justice

Posted on September 7, 2015 by richardzorza

A recent interview that LSC’s Jim Sandman gave to Bloomberg/BDA underlines how fast things are changing in access to justice.  Among the nuggets: Among the reasons Jim gives for the access crisis is  “A regulatory system that stultifies innovation and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Legal Aid, LSC, Non-Lawyer Practice, Simplification, Systematic Change, Technology | Comments Off on LSC’s Jim Sandman Interview Shows Pace of Change in Access to Justice

Reflections on Two Comments on 100% Access to Justice Definition

Posted on September 6, 2015 by richardzorza

The proposed definition of 100% access to justice has received near record comments — and hopefully there will be more.  I want to comment on two here, although all are worth consideration and debate. Jim Greiner points out that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Administative Proecdure, Bar Associations, Budget Issues, Commentators, Consumer Rights, Court Management, Guest Bloggers, Research and Evalation, Simplification, Systematic Change, Triage | Comments Off on Reflections on Two Comments on 100% Access to Justice Definition

New CCJ/COSCA Resolution on 100% Access, and How to Get There, Is a Tipping Point

Posted on August 11, 2015 by richardzorza

The week before last, the Conference of (state) Chief Justices, and the Conference of State Court Administrators jointly passed two Resolutions that together predict a tipping pint forward in moving to justice.  One sets an aspirational goal of 100% access … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Bar Associations, Communications Strategy, Court Management, Forms, Legal Aid, Mobile Technology, Outcome Measures, Political Support, Research and Evalation, Rules Reform, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Systematic Change, Technology, Triage, Unbundling | 3 Comments

Announcing the Access to Justice Blog Board of Commentators

Posted on July 13, 2015 by richardzorza

I am pleased and proud to announce that fifteen thoughtful and distinguished friends of access to justice have agreed to become members of this blog’s Board of Commentators.  I am particularly pleased that not all are lawyers, since we have … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, This Blog | Comments Off on Announcing the Access to Justice Blog Board of Commentators