In this episode, Linda Odermott delves into the evolving landscape of the legal profession, focusing on regulatory reforms aimed at mitigating the access to justice (A2J) crisis. Linda brings to light essential discussions surrounding the profession's impact on justice accessibility, noting that in 75% of cases, one side is self-represented. She references research from Nora Freeman Angstrom and James Stone on how historical events like the legal crackdown on early 20th-century auto clubs contributed to today's crisis.

Key Takeaways:

• Regulatory sandboxes in states like Utah and Arizona are proving to be successful models for legal reform, enabling non-traditional actors to offer legal services and addressing the access to justice gap.

• The Licensed Paralegal Practitioner (LPP) program in Utah provides essential legal services in areas such as family law, landlord-tenant disputes, and debt collection, offering alternatives in underserved areas.

• Linda argues that opposition to these reforms often stems from fears of market disruption but highlights data supporting the reforms' efficacy and safety.

• Data from Utah's sandbox programs indicate rare incidences of consumer harm compared to traditional lawyer services, bolstering the argument for broader reform.

View the Utah Licensed Paralegal Practitioner Program here

Veiw the Certified Advocate Partners Program here

View the Utah Office of Legal Services Innovation December 2023 report here

View the Legal Innovation After Reform: Evidence From Regulatory Change article here

View the essay Death and Ethics: Suffocating or Saving Nonlawyer Practitioners with Lawyer Ethics here

 

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