Vision:
Access to justice, the ability to understand the law and to obtain its protection, can make all the difference — empowering families to stay together, save their homes, preserve their savings, secure their safety from harm, assure their freedom, and hold antagonists accountable to the rule of law. We believe the justice system must protect people from oppression, even as we recognize that, too often, it contributes to their oppression. The National Center for Access to Justice is relying on data and advocacy to expand justice, improve the justice system, and build a more just and equitable society.
Projects:
- The Justice Index – Relying on data and rankings to prompt adoption of best policies for access to justice (Introduction, here). The Justice Index Attorney Count is NCAJ’s national research project in Summer 2019.
- Fines & Fees Project – Building a consensus on best policies for reducing reliance on fines and fees to fund government, and expanding the Justice Index to promt adoption of best fines and fees policies in the states.
- Tracking Outcomes: A Guide for Civil Legal Aid Providers & Funders – Using data to track effects of civil legal aid in improving people’s lives.
- AtJ Scholars Project – Gathering researchers (with NSF support) from across disciplines to build the field of access to justice research.
- Sustainable Development Goal 16 – Implementing in the US the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda which calls on all countries to use data to expand access to justice.
- A2J Initiative at Fordham Law School – Putting access to justice at the center of legal education.
Headlines:
- A2J Summit at Fordham Law School – Convened national leaders to envision a unified civil and criminal justice system reform movement, producing the A2J Summit Collection
- AtJ Scholars Project – Partnering with Rebecca Sandefur and Alyx Mark to convene social scientists from across disciplines to build field of civil justice research,
- Tracking Outcomes: A Guide for Civil Legal Aid Providers & Funders – Authored this instruction on best policies for using data to track access to justice outcomes
- Pro Bono Publico Award – Received this Video and Award from American Bar Association, recognizing creation of the Justice Index by NCAJ with volunteers from corporations, law firms, and law schools.
- Recommended Access to Justice Indicators for Goal 16 in the US – Collected and edited this set of measures for civil justice in the United States through collaborative effort with US DOJ and nonprofit sector
- Where the Civil and Criminal Justice Systems Meet – Hosted panel with chief justices of state courts and leader of National Legal Aid & Defender Association on issues that unify civil and criminal justice systems
Articles, Videos & Transcripts:
- David Udell Dishes on Growing Access to Justice Research, interviewed in Law360, describing the field of civil justice reform, the importance of civil justice system research, and a new project hosted by National Science Foundation to grow the field
- The A2J Summit Collection, offering new writings by national leaders defining the leading edge of the civil justice reform movement, including by NCAJ’s executive director on why civil justice reform is the next front in the criminal justice reform movement.
- Dahlia Lithwick, Slate Senior Reporter, host of Amicus Podcast, on access to justice, the rule of law, and NCAJ (video and transcript)
- Video from ABA Pro Bono Publico Award, describing how law firms, law schools, and corporate counsel created the Justice Index
- Op-Ed.TV!, speaking on civil justice reform with Bob Herbert in television interview
- Moderating Civil Right to Counsel panel for New York State Bar Association at Cardozo Law
- Pro Bono & Professional Development Roundtable, speaking about pro bono movement with National Association for Law Placement
Overview Materials (downloadable):