Legal Delivery

Should there be an Aspen Dental equivalent for lawyers? Task force backs rule changes

"Antiquated" legal ethics rules are interfering with access to justice and a more sustainable legal profession, according to a bar association task force.

Jul 23, 2020 11:39 AM CDT

The civil justice system: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—but is it broke?

Is the civil justice system broken? Given the extra time many of us have on our hands these days, compliments of COVID-19, lawyer Marcel Strigberger has come across some articles commenting on the problems of access to justice.

Jul 23, 2020 9:00 AM CDT

San Diego lawyers create new pro bono program amid COVID-19 crisis

While courthouses were closed because of COVID-19, members of San Diego’s legal community developed a new program designed to help parties tackle their civil disputes for free outside the court system.

Jul 20, 2020 11:23 AM CDT

BigLaw firms and legal clinics join ACLU in initiative to stop racism in policing

Large law firms and legal clinics are partnering with the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana in its campaign "to dismantle racially discriminatory policing practices."

Jul 10, 2020 3:31 PM CDT

Another state cancels its July and September bar exams because of COVID-19 concerns

In light of COVID-19 concerns, Kentucky canceled on Thursday its July and September bar exams, which would have been in-person tests. The state now plans to use the National Conference of Bar Examiners remote test, which is scheduled for early October.

Jul 9, 2020 2:04 PM CDT

How the Washington Supreme Court’s LLLT program met its demise

The state supreme court’s Limited License Legal Technicians initiative won over the state bar’s board of governors, as the panel unanimously approved a resolution indicating its strong endorsement of the rule. But in a stark 180-degree turn, the limited license program rapidly lost the support of the bar’s board and the court as the makeup of both bodies changed.

Jul 9, 2020 1:46 PM CDT

Do police union contracts inhibit reform?

Few, if any, unions have as much power in bargaining for discipline, internal investigation stipulations and conditions of employment as police do, say labor lawyers interviewed by the ABA Journal. And although complaints about police union contracts are not new, the criticisms have amplified since May, following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Jul 1, 2020 9:38 AM CDT

Small businesses have COVID-19 questions, and the legal profession is working to answer them

Small businesses are struggling. It’s been more than three months since the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to shut down, send their employees home and get by on little-to-no income. “I think a lot of people, even as many big law firms and others put out webinars, still have questions that are personal to their organization and their business,” says Lana Kleiman.

Jun 29, 2020 12:40 PM CDT

New York court system’s admin board lifts ban on law firm trade names

The New York court system’s administrative board has lifted the ban on law firms advertising their services under trade or domain names.

Jun 19, 2020 12:45 PM CDT

Defense lawyer who didn’t probe death-row client’s bad childhood was deficient, SCOTUS says

A defense lawyer who failed to investigate his capital client’s tumultuous childhood provided ineffective assistance of counsel, the U.S. Supreme Court held Monday.

Jun 15, 2020 3:55 PM CDT

State chief justice urges courts to ‘provide equal justice for all’ and join ‘a battle for the nation’s soul’

The first black Connecticut Supreme Court chief justice sent a letter to employees of the state’s judicial system Tuesday, urging them to “double and even triple our efforts to provide equal justice for all those that we serve.”

Jun 11, 2020 10:48 AM CDT

Washington Supreme Court sunsets limited license program for nonlawyers

The Washington Supreme Court will "sunset” the state’s Limited License Legal Technicians program that has permitted nonlawyers to perform some legal tasks within family law.

Jun 8, 2020 3:35 PM CDT

California bar gives approval to broad sandbox proposal

The State Bar of California’s board of trustees approved the most ambitious of three regulatory sandbox proposals to test new and innovative ways of delivering legal services it considered during its meeting Thursday.

May 15, 2020 10:33 AM CDT

Could Zoom jury trials become the norm during the coronavirus pandemic?

Just weeks ago, the idea might have seemed inconceivable. Now, as remote meetings using videoconferencing tools such as Zoom become a regular fixture in courts, some are concerned that virtual trials would deprive defendants of the constitutional right to confront witnesses, an impartial jury, due process of law and effective counsel.

May 11, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Law firms are seeing major slowdown in business because of COVID-19, data shows

The shock to the global economy stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic has produced a 40% drop in the number of new legal matters being opened each week in the U.S. compared to late February, according to cloud-based company Clio’s recent analysis of data from its practice management software.

May 4, 2020 9:00 AM CDT