i4J News
i4J Updates
Featured blog posts by i4J staff and leadership students.
For the past five years, i4J has been at the forefront of designing service models that leverage unauthorized practice of law (UPL) reform. i4J's work is part of a growing movement across the US to empower “community-based justice workers” or advocates at community-based organizations with the training and authorization to provide limited-scope legal advice in the course of their current work. This spring, i4J is expanding on this work to train 37 new community-based justice workers in Arizona: 28 Housing Stability Legal Advocates, 8 Domestic Violence Legal Advocates, and 1 cross-trained advocate.
ASSUMPTION: Only lawyers can give legal advice.
BUSTED: When we assume only lawyers can give legal advice, we leave many people, like survivors of domestic violence, with nothing. When we prioritize new and innovative service models—like UPL reform—we increase access to justice and connect more people to legal help.
Most survivors of domestic violence don’t have access to legal help.
In recent years, “trauma” and “trauma-informed” have become buzzwords across disciplines and professions, garnering the attention of academics, professionals, and practitioners. This has led to a variety of meanings and applications of trauma-informed practices in various industries. Emerging scholarship shows a desire and necessity for trauma-informed practices to be implemented within higher education settings, including law schools. i4J is committed to making sure that “trauma-informed” is not a buzzword, but is an intentional, action-based, responsive, and reflective practice within our classrooms and communities throughout our research and design processes.
Stacy Butler, Director of Innovation for Justice, wrote an article on Allied Legal Professionals and the Legal Service Ecosystem that was published today by the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS).
i4J in the News
A selection of news coverage of i4J’s work.
2024
New Training for Lay Legal Advocates in Arizona Aims to Expand Access to Justice Statewide, LawSites, March 13, 2024
Readout of Office for Access to Justice Director Rachel Rossi’s Trip to Arizona, Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice, March 4, 2024
The Diverse Landscape of Community-Based Justice Workers, IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, February 22, 2024
Governments can erase your medical debt for pennies on the dollar — and some are, Stateline, February 13, 2024.
Leveraging Unauthorized Practice of Law Reform to Advance Access to Justice, Law Journal for Social Justice, January 18, 2024
In Speech, New Jersey Governor Backs Phonics and Medical Debt Relief, The New York Times, January 9, 2024.
2023
Tenant Eviction Support Program in Two States Empowers Nonlawyer Advocates, JDJournal, June 15, 2023
Nonlawyer advocates can help tenants facing eviction in program approved in 2 states, ABA Journal, June 14, 2023
Allied Legal Professionals: A National Framework For Program Growth, IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, June 1, 2023
This nonprofit just launched a bilingual program to help Utahns navigate medical debt, KSL.com, May 29, 2023
U.S. National Plan To End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies For Action, The White House Gender Policy Council, May 25, 2023
Neurosurgery Device Wins Grand Prize at 13th Annual Bench To Bedside Competition, Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute News, April 19, 2023
Three evictions, three stories. Why the Phoenix area eviction crisis is only getting worse, Arizona Republic, Apr. 17, 2023
Allied Legal Professionals and the Legal Service Ecosystem, IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, February 15, 2023
On Demand: Stacy Butler channels passion for legal innovation into i4J incubator, ABA Journal, February 1, 2023
A Recap of LSC’s Innovations in Technology Conference, Talk Justice an LSC Podcast, January 31, 2023
4 Takeaways from LSC’s 2023 Innovations in Technology Conference, Connecting Justice Communities / Pro Bono Net, January 31, 2023
Authorizing a Licensed Legal Advocate Pilot Program for Domestic Violence Cases and Related Matters, Supreme Court of the State of Arizona Administrative Order No. 2023 - 21 (Replacing Administrative Order No. 2020-88), January 19, 2023
2022
The Landscape of Allied Legal Professional Programs in the United States, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, November 2022
Legal Innovation After Reform: Evidence From Regulatory Change, Stanford Law School Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession, September 26, 2022.
Recognizing effective rule of law projects around the globe: meet the 2022 Access to Justice Challenge Winners, World Justice Project, 2022.
New Proposal for Legal Advocates Could Help with Housing Instability in Arizona and Utah, IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, August 11 2022.
Which states are the best (and worst) at protecting residents from medical debt?, Benefits Pro, July 18, 2022
5 Things Texas: 1925 abortion ban, Child health policy recommendations, Medical debt guidance, State of Reform, July 13, 2022
Treasurer calls state hospitals ‘cartels’ profiting during pandemic, including Novant’s $812M, Port City Daily, June 28, 2022.
UArizona Recognizes Stacy Butler for Research, Innovation with Inaugural Women of Impact Award, Arizona Law News, June 27, 2022
Medical Bills Can Shatter Lives. North Carolina May Act to ‘De-Weaponize’ That Debt, KHN, June 21, 2022.
Study says Arizona isn't doing enough to protect consumers from high medical debt, AZPM, June 17, 2022.
Kansas and Missouri could and should help rein in medical debt, researchers say, KCUR, June 14, 2022.
The 15 states with the best and worst medical debt collection protections, Becker's Hospital Review, June 10, 2022
Report: Colorado is 5th best state for consumer protections from medical debt collections, The Center Square, June 9, 2022
i4J's Innovative Online Scorecard Ranks States by Their Medical Debt Policies, Offers Policymakers a Path Forward, University of Arizona Law, May 25, 2022
How a Social Justice Innovation Lab is Developing New Types of Legal Services, Legal Rebels, February 16, 2022
2021
Redesigning Legal: The Role of Legal Education, Clinics, and Legal Labs, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, December 7, 2021
Applying Design and Systems Thinking Principles to Developing A2J Efforts for the Sandbox, Presentation at Utah Access to Justice Summit, October 8, 2021
Online dispute resolution promises to increase access to justice, but challenges remain, ABA Journal, October 1, 2021
Hallie Jay Pope joins S.J. Quinney to develop the Creative Advocacy Lab; Innovation for Justice with David Eccles School of Business, S. J. Quinney College of Law, August 24, 2021
Reregulation of Legal Services: A Panel of Five Leading Experts Discuss, LawNEXT Podcast, August 23, 2021
With Expansion, Legal Innovation Lab Is First to Span Multiple States and Institutions, Lawnext.com, August 12, 2021
Usability and Court Dispute Resolution Platforms, National Center for State Courts, Trends in State Courts, 2021.
The Public Cost of Eviction in Richmond and Virginia: Response versus Prevention, RVA Eviction Lab, VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, July 2021.
Utah Sandbox OKs Two Programs Enabling Non-Lawyers To Give Legal Advice On Medical Debt, LawSites, May 12, 2021
Arizona's Licensed Legal Advocates: Pilot Program Aims to Provide Needed Legal Help in Certain Cases, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, March 26, 2021
Update from Innovation for Justice, Presentation at University of Arizona Board of Visitors Meeting, February 2021
2020
Eviction protections for renters set to expire at the end of the year, Arizona Public Media, December 11, 2020
Unemployment aid, other programs set to expire as pandemic deepens, The Buffalo News, November 27, 2020.
The Rent is (Past) Due: A Look Ahead to January 2021, Charlotte-Mecklenberg Housing and Homelessness Dashboard Building Bridges Blog, December 3, 2020.
Nearly 19 million Americans could lose their homes when eviction limits expire Dec. 31, CBS News, November 27, 2020
New Report from NLIHC and Innovation for Justice Program Estimates Costs Associated with Eviction-Related Homelessness, National Low Income Housing Coalition, November 23, 2020.
New Research Released on the Costs of COVID-19 Evictions, The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), November 19, 2020
Update: Evictions cost Harris County over $240 million a year--that was before COVID-19, Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research, September 16, 2020.
The Depression Era Lessons that can solve today’s evictions crisis, The Washington Post, September 4, 2020
Estimated Fiscal Impact of Evictions in Harris County, Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research, September 2020.
Trump Plans Nationwide Eviction Moratorium Amid Stalled Stimulus Talks, MSN Newsweek, September 1, 2020
Calculating America’s eviction crisis: Up to 40 million people are at risk of being kicked out of their homes, Marketwatch, August 10, 2020
The Coming Eviction Crisis: ‘It’s Hard to Pay the Bills on Nothing’, The New York Times, August 9, 2020
700 already facing homelessness in Pima County as state readies to lift eviction protection, Arizona Public Media, July 16, 2020.
Phoenix and housing groups ask Ducey to extend Arizona's halt on evictions until end of 2020, AZCentral.com, July 12, 2020
Tucson's housing network braces for 'pending tsunami' as Arizona eviction moratorium nears its end, Arizona Daily Star, July 11, 2020.
Forecasting Homelessness in Arizona During the COVID-19 Crisis, Southwest Institute for Research on Women, July 2020
From Dinosaurs to Social Justice — How University of Arizona Teaches Digital Fluency, Adobe Blog, June 17, 2020
2019 & Earlier
Applying art to law, and shifting mindsets with Stacy Butler, Director Innovation for Justice, Reimagining Justice Podcast, November 11, 2019
Pro Bono Work Should be Encouraged and Celebrated, But Much, Much More is Needed, IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, October 18, 2019
Arizona Task Force Calls for Wide-Ranging Practice Reforms, Including Eliminating Ban on Nonlawyer Ownership, LawSites, October 15, 2019
New Website Designed to Avoid Eviction Proceedings: Hello Landlord from BYU, the University of Arizona & SixFifty, The National Law Review, July 9, 2019
In Unique Partnership, Two Law Schools And A Private Company Collaborate On Tool To Reduce Evictions, LawSites, June 26, 2019
Changing The Narrative On Evictions: "A No Villains Rule" And A Real Solution, Forbes, June 26, 2019
America is facing an eviction crisis. This tool could keep families in their homes, FastCompany, June 26, 2019
UA students to tackle Pima County's eviction woes in new law school course, Arizona Daily Star, August 16, 2018