High quality legal service in civil matters is beyond the financial reach of most people. This course addresses the policy and professional responsibility implications of expanding access to the civil justice system in the U.S. We will compare the U.S. system to the much larger programs in peer nations. The course will emphasize the professional and institutional problems of allocating scarce resources among needy claimants and the difficulty in assuring quality and a strong consumer orientation in a subsidized delivery system. We will explore the possible contours of a more comprehensive delivery system, which might include online legal advice and other technological innovations; simplification of rules and procedures; expanded roles for paralegals; contacting with the private bar or "judicare"; vouchers and low fee/"low-bono" service; and prepaid or legal insurance systems. There will be no examination but students will, in consultation with the course instructor, develop, carry out and report on a field or analytic research project that relates to making legal services available. Students may work collaboratively on course research projects. Possibilities for course projects will be posted on the course Web site along with examples of prior student projects.
Section Offerings for 2012-13
There are no offered sections in 2012-13. Please choose a different year.