Legal Delivery

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

Is my law firm preparing me for success in the next decade?

Every lawyer, from the solo practitioner to lawyers in large international firms, should ask themselves this question, says lawyer Thomas Aertgeerts. For young lawyers and law students, this is even more important.

Apr 16, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

ABA Young Lawyers Division establishes national hotline for pandemic-related legal services

Updated: The ABA Young Lawyers Division has created a national hotline to connect those needing legal services during the COVID-19 pandemic through its Disaster Legal Services Program.

Apr 8, 2020 10:08 AM CDT

Legal aid programs likely to be hard hit by drop in IOLTA funds, group warns

The National Association of IOLTA Programs is sounding the alarm about an expected drop in funds from Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts and other sources that support legal aid programs.

Apr 3, 2020 9:41 AM CDT

Legal reform supporters will keep advocating for California sandbox proposal

Advocates for legal regulatory reform say they are dismayed by the State Bar of California’s recent decision to postpone action on a proposed regulatory sandbox, but they have not given up the fight to convince the bar’s board of trustees to support further exploring the concept.

Mar 31, 2020 10:55 AM CDT

ABA commission points out legal ed and licensure issues that built access-to-justice barriers

The costs of legal education and licensure should not act as a barrier for the quality and availability of legal services, and legal education should not be one size fits all, according to commentary released Wednesday by the ABA's Commission on the Future of Legal Education.

Mar 18, 2020 3:32 PM CDT

President of the Legal Services Corp. reflects on his tenure

Asked to reflect on his nine-year tenure as president of the Legal Services Corp., Jim Sandman says he is proud of many things that he and his team accomplished. In this new Legal Rebels Podcast episode, he speaks with the ABA Journal’s Victor Li.

Mar 18, 2020 9:32 AM CDT

New report outlines how legal services can prepare for and respond to disasters

A new report from the Legal Services Corp.'s Disaster Task Force counts 537 presidential disaster-related declarations, including 288 major disaster declarations, from January 2014 to July 2019.

Mar 5, 2020 10:17 AM CST

Video teleconference program for immigrant children ‘is contrary to the American pursuit of justice,’ ABA says

ABA President Judy Perry Martinez joined leaders from Kids in Need of Defense on Wednesday in condemning a new pilot program at the Houston Immigration Court that requires all cases involving unaccompanied immigrant children to be heard via video teleconference.

Mar 5, 2020 9:41 AM CST

New ABA Center for Innovation chair believes center can be catalyst for needed legal industry reform

The new chair of the ABA Center for Innovation’s governing council says the center can play a key role in providing information and support to the various states examining changes to how they regulate the practice of law and utilize legal technology.

Feb 20, 2020 4:00 PM CST

‘The personal attacks on our judges and prosecutors must cease,’ says ABA president

ABA President Judy Perry Martinez reminded the House of Delegates at the 2020 ABA Midyear Meeting in Austin, Texas, on Monday that Americans of all different backgrounds are paying more attention to issues of justice.

Feb 17, 2020 1:28 PM CST

The 2020 ABA Midyear Meeting kicks off in Texas

The 2020 ABA Midyear Meeting opens in the Lone Star State this week, providing ABA members the opportunity to attend hundreds of legal programs and events; hear from recognized law experts; and meet with colleagues in their sections, divisions, committees and councils.

Feb 12, 2020 1:04 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: 2-time SCOTUS litigant gets settlement; at-large judge elections upheld in voting rights case

Florida man wins $875K settlement after two trips to the Supreme Court A Florida man who won twice in the U.S. Supreme Court will get an $875,000 settlement for his troubles from the city of Riviera Beach. Litigant Fane Lozman said the money covers his legal fees but “it doesn’t…

Feb 6, 2020 4:11 PM CST

Nothing is off-limits for this California bar task force

The group, which laid the groundwork for what could become the largest modern reform to the state’s professional rules potentially set a road map for others around the country.

Feb 1, 2020 3:00 AM CST

An LSC grant program is trying to increase access to justice through tech

The Technology Initiative Grant Program awards regional LSC offices money for creating technology plans that help low-income people with their legal needs.

Feb 1, 2020 2:40 AM CST