North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)

North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)

民间和社会团体

Raleigh，North Carolina 489 位关注者

Dedicated to improving access to justice in North Carolina through regulatory reform.

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关于我们

The North Carolina Justice for All Project (JFAP) is an advocacy group committed to enhancing access to justice in North Carolina through championing reform of the current regulatory structure concerning the practice of law. We educate the public, the legal community, and other stakeholders on public policy and administration concerns in the legal profession that greatly impact the lives of North Carolinians. One of the ways we advocate for the good of the public is by proposing innovative policy alternatives for legal assistance that will mitigate the access to justice crisis. We know that professionals other than attorneys possess or can develop the required skills and knowledge to serve the public successfully in certain areas of the law. We aim to assist the millions of North Carolinians who cannot afford a lawyer, do not qualify for legal aid or pro bono services, and have nowhere else to turn when they have a legal need. Visit www.ncjfap.org to learn more.

网站
https://www.ncjfap.org
所属行业
民间和社会团体
规模
2-10 人
总部
Raleigh，North Carolina
类型
非营利机构
创立
2020
领域
Advocacy、Access to Justice和Policy Analysis

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North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)员工

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动态

  • North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)转发了

    查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    Under the subheading of External Challenges, President Todd Brown of the North Carolina State Bar (NCSB) recently shared his views on the litigation initiated by the North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org), the Institute for Justice, and Cranfill Sumner LLP in the NCSB Journal. Read about that litigation here: https://lnkd.in/eHqiHngk What wasn't mentioned was the journey Executive Director S. M. Kernodle-Hodges, Rachel Royal, CP, NCCP, Plaintiffs Morag Black Polaski, ACP, NCCP, and Shawana W. Almendarez, and I took to address North Carolina’s access to justice crisis before the lawsuit was filed. We first petitioned the NC Supreme Court to implement reforms allowing trained legal paraprofessionals to assist low—and middle-income populations, much like nurse practitioners in healthcare. However, the NC Supreme Court informed us that the regulation of the Unauthorized Practice of Law rests with the General Assembly, not the NC Supreme Court. Later,?Kernodle-Hodges?and I were appointed to an NCSB Regulatory Reform Subcommittee, where we were assured there was goodwill to find a solution. Todd Brown served on this subcommittee, which met from June 2020 to December 2021. The January 2022 report recommended certain reforms: Limited licensing for nonlawyers/paraprofessionals A regulatory sandbox to test new legal service models A court navigator program Exploring alternative business structures and fee-sharing Liberalizing unauthorized practice of law statutes The report stated, “The subcommittee unanimously recommends the State Bar Council pursue the development and eventual implementation of a separate license for qualified nonlawyers to provide legal services.” However, the Access to Justice Committee, formed in July 2021, to study these initiatives further focused on “legal deserts,” seeking to place more lawyers in rural areas without addressing any of the reforms we had discussed in committee. Read the subcommittee report: https://lnkd.in/ejiqTrrb While needed, more lawyers alone is not a scalable solution. The ABA has cited an increase from 326,000 lawyers in the 1970s to 1,331,290 by 2023, a 76% increase. Yet, the situation regarding access to justice worsens every year. In 2022, Legal Services Corporation reported that 92% of low-income individuals’ civil legal needs are either unmet or inadequately met. As the lawyer population grows, access to justice does not improve. In 2023, we petitioned the General Assembly to allow limited licensing and community justice workers with the support of think tanks nationwide and the U.S. DOJ Antitrust Division. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eCR-2W96 Several senators empathized with our position, but we were repeatedly referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee because they were the "experts" in those matters. The SJC, comprised primarily of lawyers, ignored our contact requests. Having exhausted all avenues, we filed a lawsuit. More in the comments.

  • North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)转发了

    查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    The?Texas?Supreme Court published its proposed rules on Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals and "Licensed Court-Access Assistants." Comments are due November 1, 2024. These new roles are designed to make legal services more accessible ?? for people who might not be able to afford traditional legal representation, especially those in underserved communities. The introduction of LLPs and Licensed Court-Access Assistants will fundamentally change how legal services are delivered ??, opening up new career opportunities for paralegals and other legal support staff. At the same time, it raises important questions about the scope of practice, ethical considerations, and the regulatory framework for these professionals ??. The public comment period is a critical time for legal professionals, organizations, and the public to weigh in ??? and ensure the final regulations are truly beneficial for the communities they aim to serve ??. As Texas is a significant jurisdiction, the rules it adopts could also set a precedent for similar initiatives in other states (I'm looking at you, North Carolina General Assembly??) and potentially serve as a model for expanding access to legal services nationwide. It's important for all stakeholders to take a close look at these proposed rules, understand their potential impact, and share their thoughts. #TexasJustice #AccessToJustice #CommunityJustice #LegalEmpowerment #JusticeForAll #LegalInnovation #TexasLeads #EquityInLaw #JusticeReform #LicensedLegalParapofessionals #sharingiscaring

  • North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)转发了

    查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    I'll be listening to my favorite Institute for Justice lawyer, Paul Sherman ??. The Federalist Society's Regulatory Transparency Project Presents: Legal Licensing Reform: Does the World Need More Lawyers? April 2, 2024 The Regulatory Transparency Project invites you to join us for an event bringing together distinguished practitioners and scholars to examine the legal and practical implications of the current legal licensing regime, highlighting challenges and opportunities for reform. Keynote: Clark?Neily, Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute Event?Schedule: Welcome & Opening Remarks 9:45 am - 10:00am Panel I: Broad Perspectives on Legal Licensing Reform 10:00 am - 11:30 am Lunch & Keynote Address 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Panel II: Practical Challenges to Legal Licensing Reform 1:15 pm - 2:45 pm Confirmed Speakers: Braden Boucek,?Vice President of Litigation, Southeastern Legal Foundation Daniel Greenberg,?General Counsel, Competitive Enterprise Institute Andy Kvesic,?Managing Partner, Radix Law Lucian Pera,?Partner, Adams and Reese LLP Jon Riches,?Vice President for Litigation, Goldwater Institute Paul Sherman,?Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice Caleb Trotter,?Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation Luke Wake,?Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation Shoshana Weissmann,?Director, Digital Media, Communications and Fellow, R Street Institute Stephen Younger,?Senior Counsel, Nixon Peabody LLP

    Welcome and Panel I: Broad Perspectives on Legal Licensing Reform

    https://www.youtube.com/

  • ?? ANNOUNCEMENT ALERT! ?? I don’t post often, but when I do…it’s about something truly remarkable! Today, I’m absolutely thrilled to celebrate an extraordinary achievement by an even more extraordinary person, my good friend and colleague, Mercer. If you know anything about Mercer, you know she’s humble, values her privacy, and if she stays quiet long enough, you know she will have “thoughts” followed by the most unique questions asked in any room. You may also know she continues to deny that she answered my “let’s work together” email years ago with great enthusiasm! Now, the moment we’ve been waiting for is almost here. As we begin the countdown to her graduation, it’s not just a celebration of an academic milestone. It’s the acknowledgement of Mercer’s relentless dedication, and the profound impact her work and presence has had on all of us. Please join me in congratulating my colleague, co-founder, and friend, Dr. Alicia Mitchell-Mercer. And let me just say, stay tuned. “WE” are just getting started, and I assure you, the best is yet to come! - S.M. Kernodle-Hodges, Executive Director ??#GraduationCountdown #NewBeginnings #DrMitchellMercer??

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  • North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)转发了

    查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    The first Access to Justice and the Future of Justice Work Conference hosted by Frontline Justice and the American Bar Foundation is a wrap. We had some great panels to close out the week in Tempe, Arizona. I could not make it there in person, but I am thrilled to have snagged these photos of S. M. Kernodle-Hodges, Executive Director of the North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org) and some of my favorite access to justice peops. Grateful that it was available online. My notebook is full! Jessica Bednarz Rebecca Sandefur Paul Avelar Charlie Gillig Jim Sandman David Udell Helen Hierschbiel The Access to Justice and the Future of Justice Work conference explores the growing body of evidence about people’s justice experiences and just solutions to everyday legal problems, with a focus on creating an enabling environment for effective and accessible justice work, empowering new kinds of justice workers, and democratizing access to justice. Through the lens of regulatory reform, technology, public education, training and capacity building, and using tools of research, advocacy, litigation, and program design and implementation, the conference brings together scholars, policy makers and frontline organizations and advocates to celebrate recent advances and chart the future of justice work in the United States.

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  • North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)转发了

    查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    It can be difficult to keep up with the regulatory reform that is spreading across the United States. I met with Michael Houlberg at (IAALS) Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System about two weeks ago to update this Allied Legal Professionals (ALP) map. This map reflects the status of ALP programs across the United States. I am amazed at how quickly states are studying and adopting ALP programs. Green states are moving forward but may not necessarily have their first licensed cohort just yet as they put the final pieces in place. Washington sunset its program (for now) but presently licensed LLLTs will continue to practice. Yellow states have some form of written proposal. Obviously, in North Carolina, we are litigating. We would like to see a license come to fruition, but at this point, no action has been taken legislatively, which is what needs to happen in order for North Carolina to move forward. From IAALS: Up and down the income scale, the legal needs of Americans are going unmet. The inability to afford a lawyer, among other factors, has led to ballooning rates of self-representation in our justice system, with over 70 percent of civil and family cases including a party without a lawyer. People in these situations are not only facing life-altering challenges alone—like child custody hearings or landlord/tenant issues—they also face disproportionately bad outcomes in their cases. Allied legal professionals hold a key to bringing more accessible and affordable legal help where it is needed most. Like nurse practitioners working alongside doctors, these legal professionals work alongside lawyers and are beginning to show great potential for lower-cost, excellent public service—and IAALS’ Allied Legal Professionals project is working to standardize and grow these successful programs nationwide. What's happening in your state?

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  • 查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    This example of trying to help a victim of domestic violence is spot on. I lived this. Her circumstances and the outcome haunt me every time I think about civil access to justice. I'm still amazed that a magistrate who, in North Carolina, does not have to be licensed to practice law can decide whether a victim of domestic violence deserves a 10-day restraining order. Still, I cannot tell a self-represented person how to fill out a form in their most desperate hour. Did you know that magistrate judges?in North Carolina adjudicate civil and criminal matters, over?80% without a law degree? Or, that they can perform their role for up to six months without having completed the 40-hour training? Or, that every magistrate shall complete a course of in-service training consisting of at least 12 hours in the civil and criminal duties of a magistrate? "To be eligible for nomination as a magistrate, an individual shall have at least eight years' experience as the clerk of superior court in a county of this State or shall have a four-year degree from an accredited senior institution of higher education or shall have a two-year associate degree and four years of work experience in a related field, including teaching, social services, law enforcement, arbitration or mediation, the court system, or counseling." "Within six months of taking the oath of office as a magistrate for the first time, a magistrate is required to attend and satisfactorily complete a course of basic training of at least 40 hours in the civil and criminal duties of a magistrate." But, state-certified paralegals like Morag Black Polaski, ACP, NCCP and Shawana W. Almendarez and nonprofits like the North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org) with members who have decades worth of experience cannot help someone in need fill out a court-created form. ????♀?????♀? https://lnkd.in/eiRrqm8i *********************** Imagine a woman in Charlotte, North Carolina worried about breaking up with her abusive boyfriend. She knows about restraining orders but getting one is something she’s never done. With little money in the bank and credit cards near their limits, she has no choice but to try to fill out the paperwork to get the order without an attorney. If she fills out the form incorrectly, the judge could deny the order and make it harder to leave a dangerous relationship.?It’s that type of situation that the North Carolina Justice for All Project (JFAP) was established to prevent. Working as paralegals, JFAP founders S.M. Kernodle-Hodges and Alicia Mitchell-Mercer saw firsthand the problem of access to justice.?It’s a problem backed with hard statistics. A 2020 study found that more than two-thirds of low-income North Carolinians will experience at least one civil legal problem in any given year. And within that group, 86% of those legal needs go unmet because of limited resources. Read more... https://lnkd.in/eXKCWW_M #NCJFAP #justiceforall #accesstojustice

    Paralegals Look To The First Amendment To Open Access To Justice

    Paralegals Look To The First Amendment To Open Access To Justice

    forbes.com

  • 查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    On December 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Access to Justice, along with the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable, released a report titled “Access to Justice in Federal Administrative Proceedings: Nonlawyer Assistance and Other Strategies.” This report highlights the extensive involvement of non-lawyers in various roles across federal agencies, emphasizing their contribution to enhancing access to justice. Interesting quotes: "LAIR engaged in a review to understand the reach and impact of these nonlawyer practices in federal administrative proceedings. In this review, LAIR learned that 15 member agencies—all of the member agencies with relevant administrative proceedings—permit nonlawyers to provide assistance across many types of proceedings of varying complexity." "LAIR learned that nonlawyers assist in all substantive areas, including housing, public benefits, immigration, civil rights, tax, food security, and worker protection. In some proceedings, nonlawyer assistance is relatively straightforward and procedural, such as assisting an individual with filing the correct form with the right boxes checked by the correct date. In other proceedings, nonlawyer assistance is highly technical and complex, such as representation in a removal proceeding in immigration court, delivered by a highly trained professional." "There will never be enough lawyers to resolve all the legal problems that the community faces. Sometimes, community justice workers are more suitable to address cases than lawyers are. They are connected in ways that lawyers may not be as they are often close to or are members of the community. They are helping lawyers expand their reach and amplify the services." ~ Nikole Nelson "Expanding nonlawyer assistance is also important because in many communities it may be the only form of assistance available due to the lack of available lawyers, particularly in remote or rural areas or areas without law schools. Nonlawyer assistance can also increase the representation of the community served by those providing legal help, because the time and cost of attending law school and bar exam requirements can often create difficulty for members of a community to become licensed lawyers. When nonlawyers have close ties to the community, they can also be instrumental in helping people overcome any distrust for public institutions, potentially further increasing access to legal help and government programs." States can learn from the 2023 Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable Report about integrating nonlawyers into the legal system to improve access to justice. The report highlights strategies for effective use of nonlawyers, including training and oversight frameworks, to ensure quality assistance while expanding legal service availability. #AccessToJustice #NonlawyerAssistance #JusticeReform #LegalInnovation #DOJReport

  • Here's an update on our work from our co-founder, Alicia Mitchell-Mercer. Thank you to the Institute for Justice for your ongoing advocacy!

    查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    Federal Lawsuit: First Amendment Challenge of North Carolina UPL Statutes Institute for Justice Case Overview: https://lnkd.in/eHqiHngk January 4, 2024, was pivotal for us at the North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org). Our team has tirelessly championed the cause of civil access to justice in North Carolina. We've worked with (IAALS) Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System and many other organizations across the country to learn more about and contribute to conversations concerning remedying the civil access to justice crisis. We've contributed to publications and authored two regulatory reform proposals (2021 and 2023) sent to our state bar, state supreme court, and legislature. Our 2023 legislative proposal garnered the support of the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, and many other organizations. We watched the state conduct two regulatory reform studies (2015-2017 and 2020-2022) and contributed to the second study. The results were reports discussing the need for change, only to recycle those discussions into another committee. We've approached every major government stakeholder in our state concerning the need for reform to improve the lives of North Carolina citizens. Many times we have been led to believe progress was being made only to ultimately be stonewalled by those who were "not ready for such a significant change." We look forward to the work of the Institute for Justice on behalf of Morag Black Polaski, ACP, NCCP, Shawana W. Almendarez, and the North Carolina Justice for All Project. We are committed to ensuring that all have meaningful access to legal assistance regardless of economic status. Our pledge has always been to relentlessly advocate for the legal profession to act justly and equitably. The current legal landscape, where many are priced out of legal services with no alternative recourse, is unacceptable. It's unjust to deny help based on affordability while also barring others from offering assistance. The endless cycle of discussions in committees must end. As a Guardian ad Litem, I once heard a nationally acclaimed psychiatrist say, "The time to influence a child's life is a hundred years before they are born." It made me think differently about public policy and how our legal system functions. It underscores the far-reaching impact of today's policies, not just on the immediate lives we touch but on the well-being of future generations. By challenging our state's UPL statutes in federal court, we fight for our First Amendment rights to speak freely and to bring tangible, positive changes in the lives of individuals and families across our state. Left to Right (Morag Black Polaski, ACP, NCCP, Shawana W. Almendarez, Alicia Mitchell-Mercer, S. M. Kernodle-Hodges) Rachel Royal, CP, NCCP (not pictured) North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org) #accesstojustice #ncjfap #JusticeForAll #InstituteforJustice

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  • North Carolina Justice for All Project (www.ncjfap.org)转发了

    查看Alicia Mitchell-Mercer的档案，图片
    Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

    COO @ Frontline Justice | Strategy Advisor at Lex | ?? Seek Justice ?? Love Mercy ???? Walk Humbly with God

    The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily halted a lawsuit filed by the NAACP chapter in South Carolina. This lawsuit is an attempt to relax a state law that prohibits non-attorneys from providing legal advice. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson requested the 90-day abeyance. This request was based on the possibility that the South Carolina Supreme Court would approve an NAACP-run eviction relief program in which nonlawyer housing advocates assist residents facing eviction. If the program goes ahead, the NAACP's lawsuit may become moot. The case, titled SC State Conference of the NAACP v. Alan Wilson, is being closely watched for its implications on legal aid access and the limits of unauthorized legal practice. The NAACP's legal team includes members of the Georgetown University Law Center's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. The South Carolina Supreme Court has indicated that it may approve the program, either provisionally or as a pilot, but has asked the NAACP for more information about its effectiveness and reach. The outcome of this approval process may have an impact on whether the NAACP continues to argue that the state law in question, which imposes severe penalties for providing unauthorized legal advice, is unconstitutional. Initially, the NAACP sought an injunction against this law, claiming it violated the First Amendment. However, the district court ordered them to first appeal to the state Supreme Court, citing a 1941 precedent. The NAACP complied, but also filed an appeal with the Fourth Circuit. The NAACP emphasized the law's ongoing harm and the urgent need for an injunction in their argument. They also emphasized South Carolina's severe lack of legal representation, particularly for low-income people facing eviction. An amicus brief from 27 legal scholars supported this point, noting that nonlawyer assistance could be critical for those unable to afford or find legal representation. The case, titled SC State Conference of the NAACP v. Alan Wilson, is being closely watched for its implications on legal aid access and the limits of unauthorized legal practice. The NAACP's legal team includes members of the Georgetown University Law Center's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, among others, while Attorney General Wilson is represented by the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. Peter Karanjia of DLA Piper represents the amici who support the NAACP's position. Motion: https://lnkd.in/eWnevPwd Learn more: ?https://lnkd.in/e4NqCxmv

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