Access to Justice

ABA president, other leaders will volunteer for Free Legal Answers

ABA President Patricia Lee Refo will join other leaders from the ABA in volunteering for ABA Free Legal Answers, a virtual legal advice clinic that allows income-eligible users to ask volunteer attorneys civil legal questions.

Apr 12, 2021 10:06 AM CDT

New PBS documentary shows how one man’s legacy changed the trajectory of American race relations

Individuals and companies reach out to me regularly regarding their new law-related TV projects. Recently, I received an email regarding the new PBS documentary The Blinding of Isaac Woodard, which first aired March 30. I was sent a link to a press preview that gave access to the production prior to its release.

Apr 8, 2021 9:06 AM CDT

Increasing revenue while cutting down on billable hours? ‘AI for Lawyers’ says it’s possible

As the founders of a company that provides AI-powered contract analysis software, Kira Systems' Noah Waisberg and Alexander Hudek are used to facing skepticism, fear and doubt from attorneys. Will AI steal their jobs? Would using it violate ethics rules? How can it be good for a business model that relies on the billable hour to cut down on the amount of time that it takes to review a contract?

Apr 7, 2021 9:17 AM CDT

Artificial intelligence has made great inroads, but hasn’t yet increased access to civil justice

With AI using data to improve customer experience in other industries—from banking and retail to consumer electronics and transportation—can it enhance access to justice in civil court?

Apr 1, 2021 1:40 AM CDT

Several states consider lowering cut scores on bar exam, making it easier to pass

Rhode Island has followed California’s lead in lowering the bar exam cut score to make the test easier to pass, a step that several other states are also considering.

Mar 29, 2021 11:37 AM CDT

Falling behind on rent could mean jail time in one state, but that could change

Only Arkansas permits criminal consequences for nonpayment of rent—and it has enforced the law during the pandemic. Now, after ProPublica investigated the practice, some legislators want to revoke the statute.

Mar 29, 2021 9:50 AM CDT

First law firm owned entirely by nonlawyers opens in Utah

Law on Call—touted as the first entirely nonlawyer owned law firm in the United States—is open for business in Utah. Law on Call is operating as a result of legal reforms approved by the Utah Supreme Court in August 2020.

Mar 17, 2021 10:50 AM CDT

Permitting alternative business structures could spur tech innovation, Arizona justice says

Arizona is hopeful that its decision to permit alternative business structures in the law will produce greater technological innovation within the legal industry, said Arizona Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer during the ABA Techshow 2021 on Monday.

Mar 8, 2021 5:20 PM CST

ABA becomes plaintiff in lawsuit over treatment of children affected by remain-in-Mexico program

The ABA’s immigration project in Texas has joined a lawsuit alleging that unaccompanied children affected by the Trump administration’s remain-in-Mexico program are being denied basic legal rights.

Feb 16, 2021 12:18 PM CST

Alternative legal service providers continue to increase their market share, survey finds

Alternative legal service providers continue to make significant inroads in the legal industry, growing their global market share to $13.9 billion by the end of 2019, according to a new study released Wednesday.

Feb 11, 2021 11:41 AM CST

Judge admits she presided in court while ineligible to practice law

A part-time municipal judge in New Jersey has acknowledged that she presided in trials and represented clients while ineligible to practice law.

Feb 9, 2021 2:41 PM CST

New York may license social workers to handle some legal tasks

The New York state courts’ Working Group on Regulatory Innovation has unanimously recommended the state create a program to train and license social workers to provide limited legal services for clients.

Feb 8, 2021 12:36 PM CST

Annual ABE grant program supports 15 ‘boots-on-the-ground’ projects

Survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking. Residents at risk of losing their homes. Immigrants and asylum-seekers who rely on legal representation. All three of these groups are among those supported by the American Bar Endowment’s Opportunity Grant Program, which announced Monday that it will provide more than $275,000 to 15 “new, innovative, boots-on-the-ground" projects that address the urgent legal needs of underserved communities.

Feb 2, 2021 11:45 AM CST

Courts attempt to balance innovation with access in remote proceedings

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the judiciary was slow to innovate and resistant to virtual proceedings. Now courts are using every tool at their disposal, balancing safety with the need to keep the wheels of justice spinning.

Feb 1, 2021 3:30 AM CST

Justice for All

The American Bar Association has a long-held and deep commitment to the principle of “equal justice under law.” One of the association’s core goals is to advance the rule of law, which includes ensuring meaningful access to justice for all persons. A century ago, in 1920, the ABA established the…

Feb 1, 2021 2:30 AM CST