IAALS Report: Minimum Competence Study Results, Expert Opinions on Tackling the Justice Crisis, and More

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, we at IAALS find ourselves grateful for so much, especially during a year that has brought so many challenges. Supporters like you—our broad and varied network of partners and friends—keep us moving as we continue to build momentum for reform across our civil justice system and across the legal profession. We continually reassess how IAALS’ work can best address these uncertain and unprecedented times, and our work has picked up speed as we’ve adapted to our new realities and launched new efforts to address them.

We are also thankful for seeing our democracy in action this past week and everyone exercising their right to vote. This year has illuminated both how far we have come and how far we have left to go. There are many challenges before us, but together we are rebuilding justice. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our mission.

Sam Walker, Interim Executive Director
November 2020

IAALS Study Reveals the Building Blocks of Minimum Competence, Recommends Changes to Bar Exam and Lawyer Licensing: In a groundbreaking report, IAALS, in partnership with Professor Deborah Merritt at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, has defined the minimum competence that new lawyers need to be qualified to practice law—and provides recommendations for how legal licensing processes like the bar exam must change to be more fair to bar applicants and to better protect the public.

Expert Opinion: In the Face of a Justice Crisis, There Is Strength in Numbers: Courts around the country are focused on staying open to ensure access to justice is available; however, with so many doing so much, we need to ensure cross-pollination of these varied ideas by sharing knowledge and combining our collective intellectual capacity across the various silos within our system.

Expert Opinion: State Courts, You’ve Had the Framework to Adapt to COVID-19 All Along: Courts currently face a backlog of civil cases that have been placed on hold since mid-March, as well as a predicted wave of case filings stemming from the pandemic. Courts need a framework to adapt to their new reality—and they already have that framework and tools to make meaningful and mandatory changes.

Unprecedented Situations, Innovative Solutions: The Rhode Island Superior Court’s Plan to Save Businesses: In response to the aftermath caused by COVID-19 to businesses throughout the state of Rhode Island, the state’s Superior Court implemented a Business Recovery Plan with the goal of preserving businesses as they climb through recovery and stabilize their operations and accounts.

IAALS Panel Discusses Legal Regulatory Frameworks around the World: On October 27, IAALS and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law co-hosted a virtual discussion featuring Crispin Passmore, Will Morrison, and Abigail Moy—moderated by David Lat—who addressed how legal regulations in other countries have allowed for greater accessibility to the justice system and increased innovation among service providers.

Be sure to read all of the news from IAALS on our blog.

Visit our Knowledge Center to track what's happening around the country and the world when it comes to legal regulation, as well as submit information and sign up for notifications.

November 13 and November 20: COVID, the Court, and the Future of the Jury Trial virtual summit (hosted by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the Online Courtroom Project)

IAALS is excited to partner with this free virtual summit, which is designed to provide practical recommendations on procedures, resources, and skills for both courts and attorneys who are looking to conduct jury trials in this challenging time. Share your experiences with litigation in the COVID-19 landscape by taking this survey.

October 29: “UniCourt Influencer Q&A with Natalie Anne Knowlton of IAALS” on UniCourt blog

October 29: “New study suggests cutting bar exam multiple choice questions or making them open book” in ABA Journal

October 8: “Denver’s 2020 ballot: How to pick all those judges” in Denverite

October 6: “‘Serious Reexamination’ of Bar Exam Looms as Grads Sit for Test” in Bloomberg Law

October 4: “Why lawyers can’t jump: the innovation crisis in law” in Legal Evolution

October 1: “Bold National Guidelines Outlined to Strengthen Family Courts” in Nevada Business

Noteworthy

IAALS’ Redefining Case Management publication cited in Ohio Supreme Court’s Pathway Approach for Civil Cases

IAALS' Foundations for Practice project mentioned in a professional development presentation from the Practising Law Institute


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