The Economist recently toured the Center for Out-of-Court Divorce (COCD) in Denver and wrote about the experience in a December article. We’re delighted to see the COCD attract international media attention because its innovative model for separating and divorcing families deserves the exposure.

The COCD’s family-centered approach, which puts children first, is transforming how Americans dissolve their marriages through compassionate, holistic, and affordable services. And that’s leading to better outcomes for children and families. Building on the COCD’s success, IAALS intends to replicate its model across the country.

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On November 3-4, IAALS convened a blue ribbon group of judges, scholars, and attorneys from across the country to discuss best practices for procedural rules for judicial recusal. The group discussed the need for procedures that are fair to both judges and litigants, that provide transparency without sacrificing efficiency, and that uphold the public’s confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the judiciary.

Matthew Menendez, Counsel of the Brennan Center's Democracy Program, wrote a guest blog for IAALS after the meeting, noting consensus on a number of general principles and goals that courts can aim for. IAALS is moving forward with a full report and recommendations, expected in Spring 2017.

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One year ago, the long awaited amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure went into effect, focused on increasing cooperation, achieving proportionality in discovery, and encouraging early case management by judges. The amendments have made a significant mark in just twelve months, and Brittany Kauffman, Director of our Rule One Initiative, outlines their impact so far in a recent blog post.

Additionally, Kauffman attended the federal Civil Rules Advisory Committee meeting in Washington D.C. in November and reported out on the next changes on the horizon: from current proposed rule amendments to future projects focused on discovery practice and active judicial case management.

IAALS intern and second-year law student Mark Staines shares his insights about Foundations for Practice in a recent blog post. As a current law student, he notes the Top 10 foundations current lawyers believe entry-level lawyers need to launch successful legal careers as the most "eye-opening":

"What makes the list so surprising is not necessarily each individual item, which make a lot of sense when you think about them, but rather the fact that the things lawyers believe we aspiring attorneys need in the short term are all (mostly) completely within our own control."

Beyond the Top 10 list, ETL has released a handout of all legal skills, professional competencies, and characteristics that our survey respondents identified as necessary for new lawyers as they leave law school and begin their careers.

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