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| Message from our CEO |
One of my all-time favorite commercials is a tribute to mothers of Olympic athletes. The commercial features mothers lifting up and caring for their children, again and again and again, as they learn to skate, ski, and swim.
I mention it today because we are rolling into the end of a very long year, and I know people are tired. Yet, from our own team to our incredible partners, I see people working tirelessly in the critical work we do. The work continues by judges, legal aid attorneys, community advocates, navigators in our courts, and everyone that people in crisis turn to for help and justice. Even though they are tired, they are helping lift people up to navigate and resolve their life problems.
I am grateful for all with whom we partner to innovate the justice system and make it work every day for people. I also want to give a shoutout to those who are working on the ground to clear the path to justice, in small and big ways. To our justice system workers, helpers, caregivers, and counselors, we celebrate you and thank you.
Brittany Kauffman, CEO
December 2024 |
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| Updates from IAALS |
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| Term Limits for the United States Supreme Court: Lifetime tenure has been the source of controversy in recent years, and fixed, 18-year terms have emerged as the most popular alternative—including a recent proposed constitutional amendment—reflecting a growing call for Supreme Court reform amid declining public trust and confidence. |
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Double Your Impact Before Year-End: Support IAALS
Imagine the possibilities if our system was designed for the people moving through it, rather than only those working within it. That is the work that IAALS is dedicated to and, together, we can make it happen.
This holiday season, your gift to IAALS can go twice as far! Thanks to a generous $50,000 matching gift, every dollar you donate will be matched, doubling your impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference—please donate today and help us reach our $50,000 match!
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IAALS is proud to highlight a new report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, where Eduardo Gonzales—IAALS' 2024 Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award Recipient—serves as Program Officer for Civil Justice. Achieving Civil Justice: A Framework for Collaboration addresses the civil justice gap and highlights steps to close it. Created by legal scholars, community activists, and practitioners, it showcases successful initiatives and tactics like listening to underserved communities, using technology, training support personnel, and building partnerships for resources and innovation.
Similar to IAALS' process, the report emphasizes putting people first, collaborating with networks, using data to guide actions, and scaling solutions effectively. It serves as a tool for innovative strategies to promote accessibility and equity in legal aid in an effort to close the civil justice gap. Learn more and read the full the report here. |
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| Be sure to read all of the news from IAALS on our blog. |
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| Events |
SAVE THE DATE!
April 10, 2025: IAALS 17th Annual Rebuilding Justice Award Dinner. Click here for more information, including awardee details, and to purchase tickets.
Upcoming External Speaking Engagements:
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| IAALS in the News |
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November 14: “Attorneys don’t want Dane County Judge Ellen Berz to hear their cases” in The Cap Times
November 12: “Changing of the Tide: Law Firm-Fee Sharing and Ownership with Nonlawyers” on Lawnext.com
November 11: “Court Planning During a Technology Explosion” in The Judge’s Journal
November 1: “To Legitimacy and Beyond: A Reform Agenda to Restore Public Confidence in the Federal Courts” in Law and Contemporary Problems
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Noteworthy
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IAALS cited in Suffolk University Law School’s research paper, Teaching “Mistrust”
IAALS mentioned in the Journal of Law & Empirical Analysis article, Putting the Bar to the Test: An Examination of the Predictive Validity of Bar Exam Outcomes on Lawyering Effectiveness
IAALS cited in draft report, Nonlawyer Assistance and Representation, submitted to the Administrative Conference of the United States
IAALS cited in NCSC's National Scan of Safe Harbor Policies report |
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| Get Involved |
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IAALS is a national, independent research organization that innovates and advances solutions that make our civil justice system more just.
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