As we approach the five-year mark of alternative business structures—legal service entities that allow people who are not lawyers to have an ownership or decision-making interest in the company—in the United States, over 100 entities have launched in Arizona and
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IAALS Launches Groundbreaking Multi-State Study on Legal Licensure Reform
IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, is proud to announce the launch of Pathways to Legal Licensure: Individualized & Comparative Outcomes, a landmark empirical study examining multiple approaches to attorney licensure across the United…
A Legacy of Vision and Impact: Honoring the Gates Frontiers Fund
On April 23, IAALS gathered with longtime partners, colleagues, and friends to honor the Gates Frontiers Fund, whose early belief in our mission helped bring IAALS to life. As our founding donor—with the visionary generosity of Charles C. Gates and…
New National Blueprint Aims to Restore Trust in the Courts through Judicial Evaluation Reform
Today, IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, released JPE 2.0: Recommendations for Modernizing Judicial Performance Evaluation. This groundbreaking report highlights a set of reforms designed to help states strengthen judicial accountability, promote public trust,…
The Path to Justice: Read the 2024 IAALS Annual Report
Rebuilding Justice Award Dinner Celebrates National Efforts to Expand Access to Justice
Last Thursday, IAALS celebrated local and national innovators at its 17th Annual Rebuilding Justice Award Dinner. The evening drew 200 supporters and partners as we marked our shared achievements to improve access to justice, and united behind our collective…
When the Rule of Law Is Under Attack, We Must Stand Together
In these extraordinary times, we ground ourselves in the foundational principles of our justice system, and we recommit to advancing them. At IAALS, our work is built on these principles, and every day we strive to ensure that the justice…
A Conversation with Robert Southers, 2025 Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award Recipient
Editor’s Note: Robert Southers, Director of the Franklin County Municipal Court Self Help Center and Dispute Resolution Department in Ohio, is the recipient of the 2025 Alli Gerkman Legal Visionary Award, which recognizes innovators who have made significant impacts early…
Expanding Our Development Team to Drive Our Mission Forward
At IAALS, philanthropic support is essential to advancing our mission of building a more accessible, fair, and efficient legal system. As we continue to deepen our impact through research, convenings, and national partnerships, we are excited to expand our development…
Remembering Dan Ritchie—Leader, Founder, Friend
We at IAALS are deeply saddened by the passing of Daniel L. Ritchie, one of the founders of IAALS, Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Denver, and a businessman, philanthropist, rancher, and leader in the Denver community. Born in China…