ABA Journal

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Parental Penalties: Collateral consequences reverberate through families long after sentences are served

Parents, like all those returning from prison, face more than 40,000 statutes and regulations nationwide that make reentry into their communities a challenge. Many consequences are imposed indefinitely, impacting the family for the rest of the parent’s life, no matter how long they have been home or how well they reintegrate into society.



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Rights Work: UChicago constitutional law course brings together incarcerated youths, law students

The eight-week class is designed to give incarcerated youths an opportunity to consider their rights while exposing the law students to the younger students’ worldview through in-class discussions on topics that include freedom of speech, due process and reproductive freedom, along with weekly mentoring sessions.



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Law school clinics tackle challenging issue of heirs’ property rights

Heirs’ property is a name given to a home or land left to family members without an effective deed or will. With no clear title proving ownership, it can be difficult for descendants to sell or lease their property, build equity, or take advantage of homeowner assistance funds or disaster relief.



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Supreme Court decision in wetlands case will impair flood control, affect water quality, Kavanaugh warns

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday in its bid to classify an Idaho property as protected wetlands.



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SCOTUS rules for grandmother in tax foreclosure takings fight; Jackson again pairs with Gorsuch

Updated: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a 94-year-old woman could pursue a claim that a tax foreclosure sale violated her rights under the Fifth Amendment’s takings clause.



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Planned structure of new practice skills questions shared by National Conference of Bar Examiners

Updated: In-depth questions aimed at allowing candidates to demonstrate knowledge and skill of attorney functions, in addition to multiple-choice questions and essays, are expected to be part of the NextGen bar exam, according to a May 24 news release from the National Conference of Bar Examiners.



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Thomson Reuters partners with Microsoft for generative AI push

Thomson Reuters said Tuesday it had partnered with Microsoft to create a contract drafting plug-in for Word powered by artificial intelligence and plans to roll out generative AI integration for its suite of legal products, including Westlaw Precision, later this year.



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Trump's post-trial sexual assault denials are relevant in separate defamation suit, lawyer for accuser says

A lawyer for the woman who accused former President Donald Trump of sexual assault told a federal judge Monday that Trump’s post-trial comments denying the incident are relevant in a separate pending lawsuit against Trump.



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ABA Military Pro Bono Project has been connecting volunteer attorneys to servicemembers in need for 15 years

It hardly makes sense to ask military members to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country—and then deprive them of access to legal services, says Pamela Stevenson, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel.



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How can lawyers be better allies? ABA presidents share their advice

“You’re not trying to kick anybody out,” says Paulette Brown, who was the first Black woman to become ABA president. “You’re trying to have people understand that everyone has not been given the same basic tools that others have been given.”



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