Access to Justice

Above the Line Network launches for lawyers who work with middle-class clients

The mission of the new Above the Line Network is to bring together incubators, socially conscious law firms, nonprofit law firms and legal aid organizations to transform the delivery of legal services for the underserved middle class.

Feb 22, 2024 8:47 AM CST

How could generative AI radically transform the legal industry?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Until now—possibly. That was the main theme of the opening plenary session of the ABA Techshow 2024.

Feb 15, 2024 11:21 AM CST

NAACP-trained nonlawyers may provide limited advice to tenants facing eviction, top state court says

The South Carolina Supreme Court is allowing the NAACP’s state conference to train nonlawyer volunteers to advise tenants as part of a three-year pilot program.

Feb 14, 2024 9:47 AM CST

Court-appointed lawyers are victims of stolen check schemes, prosecutors say; 6 people charged

Six people have been charged with depositing stolen checks intended to pay court-appointed lawyers representing indigent defendants in federal cases in New York.

Feb 8, 2024 12:28 PM CST

Amber Alert system is not working for missing Native Americans, but there may be fixes

At the ABA Midyear Meeting, the House of Delegates acknowledged the disproportionate risks of abduction and violence experienced by members of Alaska Native and Native American communities.

Feb 5, 2024 1:40 PM CST

Why should you resolve to support civil legal aid in 2024?

Legal Aid

Feb 1, 2024 9:29 AM CST

Bridging the Gap: Lawyers trying to increase access to justice see promise in generative AI

For lawyers working to close the justice gap, generative artificial intelligence could be a real game changer.

Feb 1, 2024 12:02 AM CST

Could generative AI help break down language barriers plaguing the Indian justice system?

Updated: To overcome the language barriers in a region where the official language the courts use is English, Kishore Kommi, a police officer and a former data scientist, is making use of Jugalbandi, an open-source multilingual chatbot using generative artificial intelligence.

Jan 22, 2024 8:34 AM CST

Access to justice can be achieved, says ‘Law Democratized’ author—but not without change

In 2013, the ABA Journal named Renee Knake Jefferson a Legal Rebel for her work rethinking how legal services could be delivered to consumers. In 2024, she’s looking back at a decade of successes and failures aimed at improving access to justice.

Jan 10, 2024 8:22 AM CST

Paralegals’ suit claims First Amendment right to offer legal advice on court forms

Two paralegals and the North Carolina Justice for All Project say in a federal lawsuit they have a First Amendment right to give some kinds of legal advice.

Jan 9, 2024 2:21 PM CST

Who made the National Judicial College’s list of ‘60 Courageous Judges’?

The National Judicial College marked its 60th anniversary this week by releasing a list of 60 judges from around the United States and the world who have demonstrated courage, upheld the rule of law and provided justice for all.

Dec 21, 2023 9:00 AM CST

Proposal for licensed paraprofessionals in Texas gains steam with commission support

The Texas Access to Justice Commission is supporting a proposal to license paraprofessionals to provide legal services to low-income residents.

Dec 20, 2023 12:30 PM CST

2023 was a record year for Disaster Legal Services program

It’s been a busy 12 months for the ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Disaster Legal Services program. According to Amanda Brown, the director of the program, Disaster Legal Services helped survivors navigate the aftermath of a record 23 federally declared natural disasters in 2023.

Dec 18, 2023 8:28 AM CST

How do virtual hearings affect people on the wrong side of the digital divide?

The COVID-19 shutdown in 2020 marked a technological awakening in many state and federal courts when the national emergency temporarily forced everybody to move online. More than three years later, more state courts are making videoconferencing platforms for civil and criminal matters part of their long-term game plans.

Dec 14, 2023 12:55 PM CST

Gone-fishing lawyer told ethics investigators ‘it’s a matter of priorities and you are not one of them’

Updated: A Connecticut lawyer accused of two overdrafts to his attorney trust account, leaving a negative balance of more than $1,000, allegedly told ethics officials that he was too busy on his fishing trip to respond to their inquiries.

Dec 12, 2023 2:34 PM CST