Access to Justice

Federal judiciary wrongly used PACER fees for unrelated projects, Federal Circuit rules

The federal judiciary wrongly used PACER fees for unrelated projects such as courtroom technology, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Thursday.

Aug 6, 2020 11:03 AM CDT

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

Legal reform advocates need to more actively engage the public

Supporters of broad reforms to how the legal profession is regulated must do a better job involving the public, says the former longtime executive director of the Washington State Bar.

Jul 15, 2020 8:00 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

ABA commission gets behind movement to open homeless courts across the country

When asked about the importance of homeless courts, Jeff Yungman’s thoughts go to a sick man who was living in the woods and panhandling on the streets. He received several citations for blocking the sidewalk, which came with fines and fees he would never be able to pay. “Having people like him, we can see why the homeless court is needed and why he probably still would be in the woods if there hadn’t been some intervention for him,” Yungman says.

Jun 16, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

Federal judiciary wrongly used PACER fees for unrelated projects, Federal Circuit rules

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

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

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

Legal reform advocates need to more actively engage the public

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

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

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

Do police union contracts inhibit reform?

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

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

ABA commission gets behind movement to open homeless courts across the country

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

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

Washington Supreme Court sunsets limited license program for nonlawyers

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