Access to Justice

How generative artificial intelligence is affecting demand for legal services and need for ‘AI fluency’

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Subroto Mukerji, the CEO of Integreon, an alternative legal and global managed services provider.

Jul 29, 2025 9:06 AM CDT

After attorney work stoppage, some criminal defendants released over lack of representation in this state

Some criminal defendants awaiting trial in Massachusetts have been released following a work stoppage by court-appointed lawyers in the state.

Jul 8, 2025 10:23 AM CDT

New legal tech service helps renters recover security deposits in New York

A new legal service designed to help New York City renters recover their security deposits launched Friday.

Jul 7, 2025 11:11 AM CDT

Legal aid is a lifeline for families and communities

Each year, our organization, Community Legal Services, provides legal assistance to thousands of individuals who otherwise could not afford counsel. Our work, and that of the volunteer attorneys who support us, is essential in helping people navigate matters as simple as signing a lease or as complex as obtaining an injunction against an abusive spouse.

Jun 30, 2025 2:33 PM CDT

Nonlawyers can partly own law firms in Puerto Rico under revised ethics rules

Puerto Rico has enacted new lawyer ethics rules that allow nonlawyers to have an ownership interest in law firms, a departure from Model Rule 5.4 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct on professional independence.

Jun 25, 2025 2:59 PM CDT

Do CLE requirements affect bar size? New working paper explores

When a state requires lawyers to take continuing legal education classes, is access to justice affected? A new paper claims that the number of lawyers with active licenses declines in states with CLE requirements.

Jun 24, 2025 12:04 PM CDT

New York man pleads guilty to posing as lawyer, stealing over $290K from more than 100 clients

A New York man who posed as a lawyer has admitted to stealing more than $290,000 from more than 100 clients who came to him for legal services.

Jun 17, 2025 9:55 AM CDT

Founder of NYC public defender office indicted on fraud charges

The founder of one of New York City’s public defender offices is facing fraud charges for allegedly taking money from the organization for luxury vacations, a penthouse apartment and designer clothes.

Jun 16, 2025 10:15 AM CDT

Crisis looming in Massachusetts as court-appointed attorneys refuse to take on more cases

Massachusetts is experiencing a “full-blown constitutional breakdown” as bar advocates refuse to take on more court-appointed cases, according to the leader of the state’s association of criminal defense attorneys.

Jun 16, 2025 9:14 AM CDT

How ethics reforms in Arizona led to LegalZoom’s law firm

The notion of nonlawyer ownership for law firms has long been a third rail, often resulting in bitter conflict between its proponents and its opponents. LegalZoom is certainly no stranger to this battle.

Jun 11, 2025 9:51 AM CDT

Budget proposal for ‘orderly closeout’ of Legal Services Corp. is ‘devastation,’ says legal aid leader

The Legal Services Corp. has requested $2.1 billion in funding for fiscal year 2026, a far cry from the administration’s $21 million request to enable an “orderly closeout” of the program, according to a Bloomberg Law story.

Jun 9, 2025 2:09 PM CDT

Coco Su helps expand access to justice throughout California

Coco Su has worked with the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s lawyer referral service, SmartLaw, for more than a decade and is now its director. She has been the driving force behind many of its efforts to increase access to justice for underserved communities and low-to-moderate income consumers.

Jun 9, 2025 9:12 AM CDT

Immigration attorneys are turning to AI to help with an abundance of cases

Artificial intelligence has come to the rescue of immigration attorneys who have been slammed with an onslaught of extra work.

Jun 1, 2025 2:30 AM CDT

Book detailing 5 fights for democracy is among 2025 Silver Gavel Award winners

A new book about assaults on democracy by past American presidents is among the recipients of this year’s Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts. The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It, written by Brown University professor Corey Brettschneider, took home the top prize in the books category.

May 14, 2025 11:00 AM CDT

These attorneys defend clients in need; their pay is being frozen for months

A number of attorneys representing clients who cannot afford legal representation in federal cases are set to have their pay halted for more than two months because of budget shortfalls in the congressional spending bill passed this year, court officials say, alarming lawyers and judges.

May 14, 2025 9:05 AM CDT