Category Archives: Legal Aid

Chuck Greenfield NewsMaker Interview

Posted on November 17, 2011 by richardzorza

This blog is happy to welcome Chuck Greenfield, newly appointed Chief Counsel for Civil Programs at NLADA for a NewsMaker Interview. Zorza:  So, first of all, congratulations.  You obviously come well prepared with your long background at LSC and in … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, LSC, Newsmaker Interview, Research and Evalation, Technology | 1 Comment

Some Interesting TIG Grants, and the Upcoming TIG Conference

Posted on November 14, 2011 by richardzorza

With the announcement of the 2012 TIG Conference to be held in January in Albuquerque (draft Agenda here), it occurs to me that we have not paid enough attention to the wide range of grants LSC has awarded to enhance … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Legal Aid, LSC, Meetings, Technology | Comments Off on Some Interesting TIG Grants, and the Upcoming TIG Conference

A Revolutionary Idea — Calculating Legal Aid Grants Based on Customer Satisfaction

Posted on November 9, 2011 by richardzorza

The NY Times has a fascinating article about how Medicare reimbursement for hospitals is going to be in part calculated on patient satisfaction.  As explained in this government factsheet, this is part of a broader initiative to incentivize a range … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, Medical System Comparision | Tagged | Comments Off on A Revolutionary Idea — Calculating Legal Aid Grants Based on Customer Satisfaction

NewsMaker Interview: Prof. Jim Greiner on the Latest Offer-Outcomes Research and its Implications

Posted on November 7, 2011 by richardzorza

This blog is proud to be interviewing Professor Jim Greiner of Harvard about his latest research, conducted with Cassandra Wolos Pattanayak and Jonathan Hennessey, into the impact of offers of representation on outcomes.  The research is summarized in a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Legal Aid, Research and Evalation, Triage, Unbundling | 3 Comments

More Greiner et al Offers of Counsel Studies – The Debate Continues – Newsmaker Interview Planned

Posted on October 24, 2011 by richardzorza

In a major development for access to justice, the next round of studies into the impact of offers of counsel, this one conducted by Jim Greiner, Cassandra Wolos Pattanayak, and Jonathan Hennessey, is now available.  They are likely to once … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, Research and Evalation | Tagged | Comments Off on More Greiner et al Offers of Counsel Studies – The Debate Continues – Newsmaker Interview Planned

Finally Some Real National Access Data — ABF Releases Mapping Study

Posted on October 24, 2011 by richardzorza

This is a big step in understanding our system.  The American Bar Foundation has released its ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA: FIRST REPORT OF THE CIVIL JUSTICE INFRASTRUCTURE MAPPING PROJECT.  Executive Summary here.  Full text here. The study maps, for all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Legal Aid, Research and Evalation, Self-Help Services, SRL Statistics, Transparency, Unbundling | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Enhancing Legal Aid Board Capacity

Posted on October 14, 2011 by richardzorza

My personal view is that one of the very highest priorities in re-invigorating the legal aid movement is a major strategy to strengthen boards and dramatically increase the leadership role that they play.  To be direct, it is my feeling … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid | Tagged | 1 Comment

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

After Turner: A Proposed “Attorney Diagnosis” Approach to Triage for Access to Justice

Posted on September 6, 2011 by richardzorza

After Turner, emphasizing due process requirements for cases involving the self-represented, there is an urgent need to think of better ways to decide who needs what services in order to get access to justice, and not just in the civil … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Legal Aid, Triage, Unbundling | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Brilliant Idea — Sonoma County Court Strategic Plan Highlights Litigant Assistance Network and Triage

Posted on August 31, 2011 by richardzorza

With funding from SJI, Sonoma Court, California has completed an excellent Strategic Planning Document. While it includes many valuable ideas, and is focused at least initially somewhat on the huge challenges of providing culturally competent services, I particularly want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Boards, Funding, Legal Aid, LEP, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change, Triage | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

LSC Releases 2010 Annual Report — Emphasises New Leadership and Collaborations

Posted on July 25, 2011 by richardzorza

The new LSC report for 2010 is here. Note the following: From Jim Sandman’s President’s message, the emphasis on innovation and collaboration (page 3) My goals as LSC President are to increase funding for civil legal services; to maximize the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, LSC, Technology | Tagged | Comments Off on LSC Releases 2010 Annual Report — Emphasises New Leadership and Collaborations

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

Last Blast on Turner

Posted on June 28, 2011 by richardzorza

I am sorry if I have seemed to be suffering from Turner-obsession this last ten days.  But it really is an important decision, and has taken a lot of my time because I believe it has the potential to transform … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Forms, Judicial Ethics, Legal Aid | 1 Comment

Turner v. Rogers is Released — Due Process Requires Reversal Despite Lack of Categorical Right to Counsel — Symposium Launched on ComcurringOpinions

Posted on June 20, 2011 by richardzorza

The Supreme Court has decided Turner v. Rogers. Opinion by Justice Breyer (5-4), with Justice Kennedy joining the majority. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/10-10.pdf. AP Story, via NYT David Udell and I have launched our Symposium on ConcurrngOpinions. The post below is a copy … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Dept. of Justice, Document Assembly, Forms, Judicial Ethics, Legal Aid, Self-Help Services, Supreme Court, Triage | Comments Off on Turner v. Rogers is Released — Due Process Requires Reversal Despite Lack of Categorical Right to Counsel — Symposium Launched on ComcurringOpinions

UK Court Criticizes Govt for Sectetly Trying to Block UK Legal Aid Funding for Anti-Torure Cases: Court Overturns Standing Regulations

Posted on May 12, 2011 by richardzorza

US readers may find that wrapping our minds around this one takes a bit of effort. In a recent case, a British court has criticized the government for secretly trying to block legal aid funding for cases that challenged torture, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, International Models, Legal Aid | Tagged , , | Comments Off on UK Court Criticizes Govt for Sectetly Trying to Block UK Legal Aid Funding for Anti-Torure Cases: Court Overturns Standing Regulations