Civil Justice - Focus on Innovation
America has a civil justice gap.
The difference between the number of people who need legal services for civil issues and the few who receive help of any kind is big and growing bigger.
A publication issued by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Civil Justice for All, examines the civil justice gap and recommends a range of innovations including
- Cultural and regulatory changes to allow non-lawyer civil justice advocates to assist in legal matters
- More collaboration between the law and other professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and social workers
- Simplification of legal forms and procedures
- Adoption of effective technologies
- More pro bono programs at private law firms and more
Read the full report with its seven overall recommendations here.
Case studies highlighting innovative and effective approaches are here.
Learn about the Making Justice Accessible initiative here.
Civil Justice for All - Innovation Committee
Elizabeth Chambliss (Cochair)
Henry Harman Edens Professor of Law; Director, NMRS Center on Professionalism, University of South Carolina School of Law
Andrew Perlman (Cochair)
Dean and Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School
&
Margaret Hagan
Director, Stanford Legal Design Lab
Ben Heineman, Jr.
Senior Fellow, Harvard Law School; Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
Karen Lash
Director, The Justice in Government Project, American University
Mary McQueen
President, National Center for State Courts
Patrick Palace
Owner, Palace Law; Executive Council Member, National Conference of Bar Presidents
Rohan Pavuluri
CEO and Cofounder, Upsolve; Board Director, National Center for Access to Justice
Erika Rickard
Project Director, Civil Legal System Modernization, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Daniel B. Rodriguez
Harold Washington Professor, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Tanina Rostain
Professor of Law, and Faculty Director, Institute for Technology Law and Policy, Georgetown University Law Center
Rebecca L. Sandefur
Professor, School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University; Faculty Fellow, American Bar Foundation
James Sandman
Distinguished Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania Law School; President Emeritus, Legal Services Corporation
Quinten Steenhuis
Senior Housing Attorney and Network Administrator, Greater Boston Legal Services
John Suh
CEO, LegalZoom
Jo-Ann Wallace
President and CEO, National Legal Aid and Defender Association