Category Archives: Legal Aid

Suggestions for an Expansive and Popular Definition of “Civil Legal Aid”

Posted on April 7, 2014 by richardzorza

Given that on Tuesday April the 8th there is an invitational event at the White House described as “White House Forum on Increasing Access to Justice,” it seems a good time for reflections on how best and most effectively to … Continue reading →

Posted in Communications Strategy, Forms, Legal Aid, Self-Help Services | 5 Comments

Critically Important Speech by NY CJ Lippman on “The Judiciary as the Leader of the Access to Justice Revolution”

Posted on March 12, 2014 by richardzorza

On Tuesday, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman delivered a very important speech.  While the whole speech is very valuable, two particular aspects stand out for me. The first is the the very strong language, and examples, reflecting the speech title The … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Funding, Judicial Ethics, Legal Aid, Non-Lawyer Practice, Pro Bono | 1 Comment

A Big Day — The Justice Index is Launched

Posted on February 26, 2014 by richardzorza

The Justice Index, the pioneering state by state index of access to justice measures, developed by a partnership led by the National Center for Access to Justice at Cardozo Law School, is up, and its very well worth the wait. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Legal Aid, LEP, Research and Evalation, Self-Help Services | 4 Comments

Poor Suffer From Bad Websites — What Is To Be Done?

Posted on January 7, 2014 by richardzorza

One good side effect of the health care web site story is that it is bringing attention to the broader and longer term problem of the costs inflicted on the less fortunate by bad government technology.  The New York Times … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Administative Proecdure, IOLTA, Legal Aid, LSC, Software Developers, Technology | 1 Comment

Claudia Johnson on NLADA

Posted on December 3, 2013 by richardzorza

I (Claudia) went to my 13th or 14th NLADA this year, excited to go to Los Angeles. Yelp—showed many local places of interest-and top of my list was visiting the LA public library after workshop hours (of course!)—they are open … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, LEP, Meetings, Technology | 3 Comments

Very Important Communications Research Released

Posted on November 21, 2013 by richardzorza

This is one of the most important posts I have ever written.  I am honored to be authorized to post the communications research conducted by Lake Research Partners and the Torrance Group on civil legal aid and access to justice … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Generally, Forms, Funding, Legal Aid, LSC, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Systematic Change | Tagged | 15 Comments

Guest Post From World Bank’s Paul Prettitore on Legal Aid in Jordan

Posted on October 10, 2013 by richardzorza

Here is a fascinating guest post from Paul Prettitore of the World Bank on knowlege of, and access to, legal aid in Jordan.  Readers will find many resonances, and also many differences.  I think we have a lot to learn … Continue reading →

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

Professor in Nederlands On Strategies for Access Change

Posted on June 17, 2013 by richardzorza

I am just back from the International Legal Aid Group meeting in the Nederlands.  While I plan to share several ideas from the meeting, I want to start with some overall strategic thoughts from Prof. Maurits Barendrecht of HiiL/Tilburg University. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Funding, Legal Aid, Simplification, Systematic Change | 2 Comments

Briefing Paper on Natural Alliance Between Legal Aid and Philanthropy

Posted on May 7, 2013 by richardzorza

The Public Welfare Foundation and the Kresge Foundation have released an excellent and useful briefing paper on the relationship between legal aid and philanthropy. The core argument is simple: Ultimately, civil legal aid is a powerful tool that can increase … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Funding, Legal Aid | Comments Off on Briefing Paper on Natural Alliance Between Legal Aid and Philanthropy

Thoughts on the LSC TIG Solicitation

Posted on February 21, 2013 by richardzorza

The LSC Technology Grants solicitation is out, with short letters of intent due March 18.  While applications must be made by existing LSC grantees, there is great openness to cooperative grants in which access to justice partners, including courts, are … Continue reading →

Posted in Document Assembly, Forms, Law Schools, Legal Aid, LSC, Metrics, Pro Bono, Software Developers, Technology, Triage | 1 Comment

Maryland ATJ Commission Uses Useful Techniques to Report on Economic Benefits of Legal Aid Advocacy

Posted on January 12, 2013 by richardzorza

The Maryland Access to Justice Commission has just released a Report detailing economic benefits to the state of legal aid. As detailed in the press release, the benefits are as follows: Brought $9.9 million in federal dollars into Maryland to … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget Issues, Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Legal Aid, Outcome Measures | 1 Comment

What Might a State Level Access Leadership Structure Look Like — and How We Might Move in That Direction

Posted on December 30, 2012 by richardzorza

As states assume a larger role in the long term strategy for a national access to justice infrastructure, it might be a good time to start a discussion about what a comprehensive state level access leadership structure might looks like.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Legal Aid | 2 Comments

NLADA Launches Legal Research Website

Posted on December 2, 2012 by richardzorza

This is the week that the NSF-supported session on an access to justice agenda takes place in Chicago, so it is particularly appropriate that NLADA is now launching its Research Site.  They describe their goal as follows: NLADA is deeply … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, Research and Evalation | Comments Off on NLADA Launches Legal Research Website

After the Elections — Institutional Implications

Posted on November 27, 2012 by richardzorza

I promised some discussion of post-election access to justice institutional implications.  Here, somewhat later than I had hoped, it is. Institutional Stability The first point is obvious.  The LSC and SJI Boards stay the same, as a practical matter for … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Funding, Legal Aid | Comments Off on After the Elections — Institutional Implications

ABA Sets Up Juvenile Collateral Consequences Site

Posted on October 1, 2012 by richardzorza

This site is  nice clean example of using technology to alert people to problems that they might otherwise ignore.  It is designed to let juveniles think about the possible consequences of juvenile pleas that go beyond the obvious. I also … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, Public Defender | Comments Off on ABA Sets Up Juvenile Collateral Consequences Site