Category Archives: Technology

Claudia Johnson Suggests Incentive Awards ATJ Innovation

Posted on May 26, 2016 by richardzorza

These observations are from Claudia Johnson. Thanks, Claudia, as always. Let’s create a Competition to solve the Access to Justice Problem! At the recent SRLN, the keynote speaker, Judge Burke from Minneapolis, gave took us back to basics and went … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Incnetives, Technology | 1 Comment

Lisa Foster’s ATJ Commissions Meeting Speech Focuses on Big Changes

Posted on May 15, 2016 by richardzorza

Lisa Foster’s speech at the ATJ’s Commission focus not on the usual self-congratulation, but on the encourages big changes in focus and vision.  While I did not travel to Chicago for the Conference this year, just the text alone conveys … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Generally, Budget Issues, Chasm with Communities, Dept. of Justice, LAIR, Legal Aid, Litigant Voice, Media, Mediation, Medical System Comparision, Poverty, Reentry, Self-Help Services, Simplification, SRLN, Systematic Change, Technology, video, White House | Comments Off on Lisa Foster’s ATJ Commissions Meeting Speech Focuses on Big Changes

My Video on Five Ways to Incentivize Bar, Courts, Legal Tech and Nonprofits to Get Us to Access for All

Posted on May 12, 2016 by richardzorza

Here is my second short video, made initially for the SRLN day at the Equal Justice Conference.  This one lays out five ways to use the power and threat of regulation/deregulation, and other incentives such as the tax code, to … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, ABA, Access to Justice Boards, Bar Associations, Budget Issues, De-Regulation, Funding, Incnetives, Legal Aid, LSC, Middle Income, Mixed Model, Non-Lawyer Practice, Planning, Self-Help Services, Simplification, Software Developers, SRLN, Systematic Change, Tax Policy, Technology, video | 1 Comment

Get a Webinar Preview of the Resource Guide on Remote Services for Self-Represented

Posted on April 6, 2016 by richardzorza

On April 27, 1-2pm EST, under the auspices of SRLN, John Greacen and others will be presenting a webinar on the new Guide to Remote Services for the Self-Represented. Given the new focus on strategic planning, for 100%, as called … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Court Management, Self-Help Services, Technology | Comments Off on Get a Webinar Preview of the Resource Guide on Remote Services for Self-Represented

The Key to Making “Uber for Lawyers” Work

Posted on April 2, 2016 by richardzorza

A recent blog post by a professor at Albany Law School explores whether an “Uber for Lawyers” would work.  (Longer paper, which includes triage and continuum of services, here). His argument: By offering technology-enabled legal services through an internet- or … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Access to Justice Boards, Funding, Technology, Triage | 2 Comments

Towards a “Long Term Impact” Component for Triage Systems

Posted on March 31, 2016 by richardzorza

We have long recognized that triage systems designed for access maximization may have different algorithms for what to do with a case than those designed for poverty minimization, as those deployed by community-based advocacy organizations might choose to develop. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, Transparency, Triage | 1 Comment

ABA Commission Paper on Legal Check-Ups Could Offer Opportunity to Integrate Private Providers Into ATJ Triage Movement

Posted on March 25, 2016 by richardzorza

A few days ago, the ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services, fresh from a major step forward in getting House of Delegates approval for their Model Regulatory Objectives, issued for comment a draft Issues Paper Concerning Legal Checkups. … Continue reading →

Posted in ABA, Access to Counsel, Attorney-Client, Bar Associations, De-Regulation, Incnetives, Non-Lawyer Practice, Technology, Triage | 2 Comments

Moving to 100% Access Strategic Plans – The LSC TIG Program as Opportunity and Harbinger

Posted on January 30, 2016 by richardzorza

The 2016 Legal Services Corporation Technology grant solicitation,due Feb 29, suggests one of the ways that the Chefs 100% Resolution can move towards true implementation. It creates as its first listed specific area of interest, “Achieving 100% Access,” which it … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% Access Strategy and Campaign, Access to Justice Boards, Access to Justice Generally, Funding, IOLTA, Legal Aid, LSC, Outcome Measures, Systematic Change, Technology | Comments Off on Moving to 100% Access Strategic Plans – The LSC TIG Program as Opportunity and Harbinger

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

Guest Blogger Jim Burdick Blogs on Nieghborhood Legal Centers, Medical Partnering and Beyond

Posted on December 21, 2015 by richardzorza

The recently described Neighborhood Legal Information Centers in New York (Posted on December 4, 2015 by Richard Zorza) represent a major step forward in helping the disadvantaged. Proximity of help from advocates for common legal problems offers a big advantage. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chasm with Communities, Medical System Comparision, Self-Help Services, Technology | Comments Off on Guest Blogger Jim Burdick Blogs on Nieghborhood Legal Centers, Medical Partnering and Beyond

Some Thoughts Triggered by the Maryland Law Help Mobile Apps

Posted on December 18, 2015 by richardzorza

Maryland is helping set the pace on mobile apps for access to justice.  The press release lists the impressive list of tools and resources included: Access to the legal help pages maintained by the Maryland Judiciary with detailed information about … Continue reading →

Posted in Mobile Technology, Technology | Comments Off on Some Thoughts Triggered by the Maryland Law Help Mobile Apps

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

A Review of Possible Elements of Deregulation of Law, Gleaned From Current Conversations

Posted on December 9, 2015 by richardzorza

As the legal profession discusses the possibility of deregulation, it might be useful to think about the regulatory areas that are most frequently cited as barriers to increasing accesses.  Such a listing may help us decide if the kinds of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bar Associations, Judicial Ethics, Rules Reform, Systematic Change, Technology | 2 Comments

John Naughton In the Guardian Calls for Code of Ethics For Those Who Write Algorithms

Posted on December 7, 2015 by richardzorza

A fascinating article in the Guardian is of relevance to anyone who builds or uses technology in the justice system. After highlighting the range of decisions made by algorithms today, and their potential consequences, the writer, John Naughton, moves to … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Court Management, Metrics, Outcome Measures, Research and Evalation, Software Developers, Technology, Transparency, Triage | Comments Off on John Naughton In the Guardian Calls for Code of Ethics For Those Who Write Algorithms