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Articles by Zachariah DeMeola
The Past, Present, and Future of IAALS’ Groundbreaking Legal Education and Regulation Work
This is my final expert opinion piece as the director of legal education and the legal profession at IAALS. After this month, I will be the new director of strategic initiatives at the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), where in line with LSAC’s mission I will contribute to new and innovative ways to educate and train lawyers while opening the profession to include more diversity. Looking back, I’m so proud of what we have accomplished—and excited for what’s to come.
IAALS’ First Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Andrew Arruda, Leaves a Legacy at IAALS
After a year of collaboration and innovation, IAALS Board of Advisors member Andrew Arruda has completed his term as our first entrepreneur-in-residence. Arruda’s expertise and start-up mentality made him a natural fit for a more hands-on role at IAALS as we continually seek more innovative approaches to our work and how we can bring change on the ground nationwide.
California Lawmakers Ignore Data in Calls to Restrict the Expansion of Legal Services
The California State Bar is no stranger to controversy, and its recent work in legal regulatory reform has garnered its fair share.
To Close the Justice Gap, We Must Look Beyond Lawyers
Last week was the twelfth annual National Celebration of Pro Bono, bringing attention to the vast need for affordable (and no-cost) legal services and recognizing the attorneys who step up to provide them. As Americans continue grappling with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, including employment, debt-collection, and housing issues, access to legal services is more critical than ever, and the attorneys providing them pro bono should be celebrated.
DailyJournal
By now, it is unequivocal that many people (if not most) in the United States — including those in California — do not have access to the legal advice or legal assistance they need to address their legal problems.
Data from Utah’s Sandbox Shows Extraordinary Promise, Refutes Fears of Harm
Last August, Utah made history as the first state to establish a regulatory sandbox, providing a space for lawyers and other professionals to deliver nontraditional legal services under the supervision of the state supreme court. A year later, numerous businesses and collaborations are up and running, providing a wide range of much-needed legal services. None of this would have been possible without the groundbreaking reforms passed last fall.
Florida Joins Growing List of States Testing Legal Regulation Reforms
On June 28, the Special Committee to Improve the Delivery of Legal Services submitted its final report to the Florida Supreme Court, recommending that Florida adopt a Law Practice Innovation Laboratory Program.
DailyJournal
Ralph Baxter and Zachariah DeMeola believe the legal system is broken ("The legal system is broken; it's time for change," Mar. 22, 2021). Their arguments for why and how nonlawyer ownership of law firms is the fix do not withstand the slightest scrutiny. They conveniently sidestep the most critical problems of nonlawyer firm ownership raised by Arash Homampour ("A regulatory 'sandbox' that will turn to quicksand," Feb. 26, 2021).
DailyJournal
Arash Homampour's recent op-ed opens with the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." ["A regulatory 'sandbox' that will turn to quicksand," Feb. 26, 2011]. Well, the legal system is broken. Disgracefully broken. And in grave need of fixing. The system may work well for some lawyers, but it is broken for nearly everyone else -- and in dire need of fixing.
US Legal System Can Benefit From Nonlawyer Ownership - Law360
Law360 (February 16, 2021, 5:35 PM EST) -- Let's leave the alarmism throughout Austin Bersinger and Nicola Rossi's recent Law360 guest article, "UK Is Proof Nonlawyer Ownership Threatens Legal Profession," behind and, instead, look to decades of facts, research and experience when discussing regulatory reform. Let us start with the basics. Contrary to the assumption in Bersinger and Rossi's article, there is no U.K. legal or regulatory jurisdiction.
To Close the Justice Gap, We Must Look Beyond Lawyers
Last week was the twelfth annual National Celebration of Pro Bono, bringing attention to the vast need for affordable (and no-cost) legal services and recognizing the attorneys who step up to provide them. As Americans continue grappling with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, including employment, debt-collection, and housing issues, access to legal services is more critical than ever, and the attorneys providing them pro bono should be celebrated.
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