Category Archives: Technology

Wayne Moore’s Comments to the ABA on the Future of Legal Services for Moderate Income People

Posted on December 29, 2014 by richardzorza

As you know, the ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services recently requested comments to use in its work.  While there are many worthwhile comments posted, I thought it useful to share this one in both longer (attached-linked) and shorter … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle Income, Systematic Change, Technology, Unbundling | 2 Comments

Illinois LegalAidOnline Shows Gives Wonderful Example of Online Fundraising

Posted on December 18, 2014 by richardzorza

Like all of us, I get many online fundraising pitches.  And I get occasional requests to use this blog for fundraising.  I almost never do.  But this graphic, from Illinois LegalAidOnline is so wonderful as a model that I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Self-Help Services, Technology | 1 Comment

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

Proven Value of Timely Texting of Tips Might Extent to the Justice World

Posted on November 16, 2014 by richardzorza

A recent report in the New York Times descried a study that showed that low income children’s reading skills improved very significantly when parents were texted timely reminders about how to help their kids learn: A new study shows that … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Management, Technology | 3 Comments

Part II of “Assessing Innovations” — A Rights Oriented Analysis

Posted on October 31, 2014 by richardzorza

A recent post discussed how to analyze the value of different approaches to access to justice in cost benefit terms.  This follow-up post takes a different approach, looking at the same issue — of how to decided whether to implement … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Budget Issues, Legal Aid, Non-Lawyer Practice, Systematic Change, Technology, Triage, Unbundling | 1 Comment

Roger Smith on Contrast Between British Columbia and UK Legal Aid Cuts Has Valuable Lessons

Posted on October 16, 2014 by richardzorza

I want to draw your attention to a blog post by the UK’s wonderful Roger Smith contrasting the BC and UK approach to cutting, and response to cuts in, legal aid budgets.  His essential point is that the BC cuts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Budget Issues, International Models, Legal Aid, LSC, Technology | 1 Comment

LSC Announces Pro Bono Innovation Grants

Posted on September 9, 2014 by richardzorza

LSC has just announced its first pro bono innovation awards, funded by a special line in the LSC appropriation.  These grants follow the TIG model, they are discretionary and competitive, and intended to be innovative. This years grants cover the … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, LSC, Pro Bono, Technology | Comments Off on LSC Announces Pro Bono Innovation Grants

DC Court Offers Chat Informational Serices — Thoughts on Expansion

Posted on August 4, 2014 by richardzorza

As reported in the Washington Post, the SC Superior Court is now offering chat informational services. D.C. Superior Court officials on Tuesday announced a new online Web chat feature where court users can ask questions of court employees about their … Continue reading →

Posted in Self-Help Services, Technology | Comments Off on DC Court Offers Chat Informational Serices — Thoughts on Expansion

A Cautionary Tale — Cartoon Points Out the Downsides of Automated Courts

Posted on May 18, 2014 by richardzorza

The LA Times has a great cartoon on court automation that might give folks a kick. Accompanying a (presumably humorous) piece on the potential of court automation, the cartoon has four panels.  In one a person tries to fill in … Continue reading →

Posted in Systematic Change, Technology, Transparency | 2 Comments

Communications Research Underlines Need for Coordinated Marketing and Enhancement of Online Tools for All

Posted on May 9, 2014 by richardzorza

One of the clearest messages from the communications research is that the best — perhaps the only — way to get public support for increased resources for court and community based legal aid above the needed 50% threshold is to … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, IOLTA, LSC, Technology | 1 Comment

Glenn Rawdon’s Visionary White House Speech is About 100% Access, And More, Not Just About Technology

Posted on April 13, 2014 by richardzorza

Glenn Rawdon’s speech titled Everyone, Anytime, Anywhere at the April 8 White House Forum on Increasing Access to Justice was about far more than technology.  After describing how Bill gates talked in 1999 about technology convergence, the history of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Communications Strategy, Document Assembly, Mobile Technology, Systematic Change, Technology | 4 Comments

Planning for the Professional, Client, Technology Triangle

Posted on January 18, 2014 by richardzorza

Two recent different news stories point out our need to think more about what we can do to optimize the triage between professional, client and technology.  As technology enters the medical consulting room and the legal advocates interview room, there … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, Transparency | 2 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

Access to Justice Technology Gets Recognition — a Springboard for the Future

Posted on January 3, 2014 by richardzorza

Robert Ambrogi publishes an award winning blog that tracks inriguing law sites for the legal profession.  On Monday he posted his listing of the The 10 Most Important Legal Technology Developments of 2013. Guess what?  One of those listed is … Continue reading →

Posted in LSC, Technology | 1 Comment

Some Thoughts on the LSC Technology Summit Report

Posted on January 2, 2014 by richardzorza

LSC has now formally released its Technology Summit Report.  While I have previously blogged on the careful and inclusive process here, and here and here and here and here, I thought it would be most useful to make general comments … Continue reading →

Posted in LSC, Systematic Change, Technology | 2 Comments