Category Archives: Access to Justice Generally

Important Law School Symposium in Denver Nov 4-5 on Right of Access to Justice

Posted on October 18, 2011 by richardzorza

This could be an important intellectual moment.  On Friday Nov 4 and Saturday Nov 5, the University of Colorado Law School is hosting a Symposium on TOWARD THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE: IMPLICATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION.  Remember this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Meetings, Supreme Court | 3 Comments

Out of the Ballpark Again — Illinois Pro Bono Mobile App

Posted on October 12, 2011 by richardzorza

Illinois LegalAid Online does it again. This time it is their Pro Bono Mobile App, now available for the iPhone, and soon for other platforms.  (See also prior post on their Self-Help App) This new app offers primers on Illinois … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | 3 Comments

White House Champions of Change Event October 13 — Video Now Available

Posted on October 7, 2011 by richardzorza

Update: the video of the event is now on the White House site.  Expect blog entries there on law school follow up. _____________________________________________________________ I understand that the White House is planning a “Champions of Change” event, celebrating leaders in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Dept. of Justice, Law Schools, Pro Bono | Tagged | Comments Off on White House Champions of Change Event October 13 — Video Now Available

Philippine Small Claims Video and Thoughts on Languages

Posted on October 4, 2011 by richardzorza

Here is a small claims video for the Philippines, pointed out by Martin Gramatikov’s Access to Justice Blog. One of the interesting things is that you get to see a call center operator being polite to English speaking folks.  Another … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally | Comments Off on Philippine Small Claims Video and Thoughts on Languages

Economist Magazine Joins the Chorus on Court Funding

Posted on September 29, 2011 by richardzorza

The Economist magazine is highly respected in the business and conservative intellectual communities.  So it is perhaps an important milestone when it joins the chorus on the damage that underfunding of courts is doing to the social and economic fabric. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Funding | 1 Comment

New York Continues Hearing Process for Access Funding — Lessons for Us All

Posted on September 28, 2011 by richardzorza

As you know, this blog has previously drawn attention to the unusual  success of New York Chief Justice Jonathan Lippman in increasing access to civil legal services.  His approach, described in detail in our NewsMaker Interview, is to have groups … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Funding | 1 Comment

Judge Kevin Burke, New President of American Judges Association, Now Blogging

Posted on September 21, 2011 by richardzorza

Many of you have heard Judge Burke (Wikipedia entry) speak forcefully and movingly about the need for access to justice and the role of courts in making sure it is provided.  Judge Burke was one of the first judges in … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Judicial Ethics, This Blog | Tagged , | 1 Comment

California Courts Seek Comment on Draft Principles on Technology and Access to Justice

Posted on September 20, 2011 by richardzorza

In an important development for the interaction of technology and access to justice, the California Court system is developing a document titled: Advancing Access to Justice Through Technology: Principles for Judicial Branch Initiatives.  It is intended for ultimate approval by … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change, Technology | Comments Off on California Courts Seek Comment on Draft Principles on Technology and Access to Justice

Questions and Answers About the Attorney Diagnosis Proposal

Posted on September 12, 2011 by richardzorza

Recently, I blogged about what I called the “Attorney Diagnosis” approach to Triage for Access to Justice.  I believe that Turner may require not necessarily this, but at least some system that decides who needs what in terms of services … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Legal Aid, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change | Tagged , | Comments Off on Questions and Answers About the Attorney Diagnosis Proposal

Deregulation Versus De-monopolizing — A Complex Debate Just Begining

Posted on August 30, 2011 by richardzorza

There has been substantially more attention in the blogsphere to the deregulation of the legal profession.  See, e.g. the Wall St. Journal, law librarian blog, elawyering blog. All are worth reading.  But I would urge attention to the difference between … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Systematic Change | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Deregulation Versus De-monopolizing — A Complex Debate Just Begining

Making Sure Investments In Courts Are Counter-Cyclical

Posted on August 29, 2011 by richardzorza

As a general matter, its an article of faith among mainstream economists that government spending is counter-cyclical, that is to say by investing more in government (actually anything) during downturns you cause the money to be re-spent, and re-spent again, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Poverty | Comments Off on Making Sure Investments In Courts Are Counter-Cyclical

Lawyers Hiring Capital, or Capital Hiring Lawyers — The Failure of the Profession to Innovate Creates a Gap

Posted on August 23, 2011 by richardzorza

The California Lawyer has an interesting story, Investors at the Gates on the Jacoby and Meyers firm suing in three states to knock out rules preventing non lawyer participation in ownership of law firms — i.e. equity capital. On May … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Systematic Change | Tagged | 1 Comment

An Overview of Systemic Barriers to Access to Justice

Posted on August 22, 2011 by richardzorza

Maybe its time to take a 22,000 mile overview of the access to justice problem.  One way to do so it look at at the interacting parts of the system and how together they produce an inaccessible system. 1.     A … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Supreme Court, Systematic Change | 4 Comments

Language Services — Medical Model — Example and General Approach

Posted on August 16, 2011 by richardzorza

While the legal system seems to be having difficulty moving forward with language access, here is a nice Oakland Tribune article that talks about creative use of video technology to ensure translation in a hospital. The medical center uses video … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, LEP, Medical System Comparision | Comments Off on Language Services — Medical Model — Example and General Approach

Great New Jane Austen “Quote” in Article on Vermont Access Coalition Activities

Posted on July 19, 2011 by richardzorza

Justice Denise Johnson sits on the Vermont Supreme Court and Chairs the state Access to Justice Coalition. She has written a fine article in the Vermont Bar Journal, about that Coalition’s admirable and comprehensive activities.  Well worth a read for … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Legal Aid, Pro Bono, Self-Help Services, Triage | Tagged | Comments Off on Great New Jane Austen “Quote” in Article on Vermont Access Coalition Activities