Category Archives: Non-Lawyer Practice

Important Paper On Impact of Technology On Need For Lawyers May Answer One Question, But Ask Bigger Ones

Posted on January 8, 2016 by richardzorza

A recent New York Times article reports on a just drafted study on the potential impact on legal employment markets of the spread of technology. As explained in the Times: . . . [T]here are many human activities that cannot … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Attorney-Client, Bar Associations, Document Assembly, Metrics, Non-Lawyer Practice, Research and Evalation, Rules Reform, Simplification, Technology | Comments Off on Important Paper On Impact of Technology On Need For Lawyers May Answer One Question, But Ask Bigger Ones

Five Transformative Bar Reform Ideas To Get to 100% to Justice — Paper Abstract

Posted on January 5, 2016 by richardzorza

A few months ago, the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics invited me to submit a paper on the relationship between access to justice, commercialization of the legal practice, and judicial ethics.  The paper will be published in the summer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Attorney-Client, Bar Associations, Funding, Legal Aid, LSC, Middle Income, Mixed Model, Non-Lawyer Practice, Outcome Measures, Political Support, Systematic Change, Tax Policy, Technology, Triage, Unbundling | 2 Comments

UK Court Divorce Software Made Obvious Math Errors, Not Noticed For Almost 20 Months, Till Nonlawyer Caught it

Posted on December 17, 2015 by richardzorza

The Guardian has a story that should cause terror to those who design legal software without properly testing it, as well as those who say we have to limit practice to fully trained lawyers. As the Guardian reports, the online … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Law, Forms, Non-Lawyer Practice, Simplification, Technology | 4 Comments

CJ Lippman Announces Neighborhood Legal Information Centers — Implications and Possibilities

Posted on December 4, 2015 by richardzorza

This ground-breaking news, once again from the New York Courts.  As the press release puts it: [The] Network of Walk-in Storefronts Will Be First of Its Kind in New York and the Nation to Bring Basic Legal Information, Assistance and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Chasm with Communities, Court Management, Legal Aid, Non-Lawyer Practice, Self-Help Services, Technology, Triage | 1 Comment

Law School Loan Incentives Reconsidered

Posted on October 26, 2015 by richardzorza

The New York Times has an excellent article on the wasted money going into encouraging law school loans for people who will never get bar cads, or pay back their loans.  The law schools get cash, and everyone else gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Incubators, Law Schools, Non-Lawyer Practice | 1 Comment

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

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

The Risks Bars Face Unless They Approach Strategic Planning From a Public Interest Perspective

Posted on April 5, 2015 by richardzorza

After recently being part of a focus group for a Bar, part of a strategic planning process, I have some thoughts that might be helpful for bars entering into this process. Since the US Supreme Court case of North Carolina … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Trust, Bar Associations, Non-Lawyer Practice | 1 Comment

Steps in New York Underline Speed of Acceptance of “Roles Beyond Lawyers”

Posted on March 31, 2015 by richardzorza

Two very exciting steps forward in the movement to allow non-lawywers to do more to help with access to justice.  First, I can now post the promised OCA proposal which is in the process of being formally submitted to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-Lawyer Practice | 1 Comment

Please Help Mitigate Downside of Headline of Excellent Washington Post Article on NonLawyers

Posted on March 15, 2015 by richardzorza

Robert Ambrogi has an excellent article in today’s Washington (DC) Post on the Washington State Limited License Legal Technicians initiative.  Anyone interested should read and share. Nothing in this post should be read to undercut the conclusion that this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-Lawyer Practice | Comments Off on Please Help Mitigate Downside of Headline of Excellent Washington Post Article on NonLawyers

Supreme Court Decision on Teeth Whitening Regulation Has Interesting Implications for Bar Monopoly

Posted on February 26, 2015 by richardzorza

Yesterday the US Supreme Court ruled in North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission.  SCOTUS Analysis here.  Opinion here.  NYT here. The Times story: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a state dental board controlled by … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Trust, Non-Lawyer Practice, Supreme Court | 1 Comment

Steps Forward in Nonlawyer Innovations in New York CJ’s Speech

Posted on February 20, 2015 by richardzorza

Good news on nonlawyer innovations (which I like to call Beyond Lawyer Roles) from Chief Justice Jonathan Lippman’s recent State of the Judiciary Speech. In our fight to close the jstice gap in New York State, non-lawyers have been an … Continue reading →

Posted in Non-Lawyer Practice, State of Judiciary Speeches | 1 Comment

The Power of the Pen and Phone — Exploring Opportunities for Access to Justice in the Next Two Years

Posted on January 16, 2015 by richardzorza

Recent executive actions in immigration, and now asset forfeiture underline just how great is the President’s “power of the pen and phone.” — his ability by regulation or other executive action to make very significant changes in the way government … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Administative Proecdure, Budget Issues, Dept. of Justice, Document Assembly, E-filing, Funding, Law Schools, Non-Lawyer Practice, Veterans, White House | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Power of the Pen and Phone — Exploring Opportunities for Access to Justice in the Next Two Years

NYT “Fixes” Column Highlights “Downshift Jobs” as Problem Solver — Consider Legal System Implications

Posted on December 12, 2014 by richardzorza

Those who are worried about the emerging trend to use more non-lawyers in the legal system, including perhaps in the courtroom, might be somewhat reassured by the evidence that this approach is being used in other professions.  Indeed, a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Non-Lawyer Practice, Research and Evalation, Systematic Change, Technology | Comments Off on NYT “Fixes” Column Highlights “Downshift Jobs” as Problem Solver — Consider Legal System Implications

NYT Publishes First Article on Comprehensive Changes in Legal Aid (Broadly Defined)

Posted on November 24, 2014 by richardzorza

Showing the huge value and potential of a coherent communications strategy for the legal aid world (broadly defined to include both community-based and court-based legal aid) the New York Times on Saturday published its first real comprehensive article on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Communications Strategy, Legal Aid, LSC, Non-Lawyer Practice, Political Support, Self-Help Services, Systematic Change, Triage | Comments Off on NYT Publishes First Article on Comprehensive Changes in Legal Aid (Broadly Defined)