Analysis & Commentary
Civil Right to Counsel
Evidence Based Access to Justice
Laura Abel examines the lack of an evidence based approach in efforts to expand access to the justice system for people facing such civil legal problems as foreclosure, eviction, child custody disputes and more.
Authored by: Laura Abel, in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Law and Social Change
– 01/21/11
Keeping Families Together, Saving Money & Other Motivations Behind New Civil Right to Counsel Laws
To inform advocates seeking expansion of the right to counsel, the Brennan Center’s Laura Abel provides an overview of existing right to counsel statutes across the states and the legislative motivations that led to their passage.
Authored by: Laura Abel, in the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review
– 03/11/10
Carrot and Stick Approach Needed for Homeowners in Foreclosure
Fixes to help homeowners with the foreclosure crisis: first, lifting federal restrictions on the Legal Services Corporation, and second, considering more civil counsel assistance options.
Authored by: Melanca Clark, in Roll Call
– 03/02/10
Give Victims of Foreclosure a Voice in Court
Thought the foreclosure crisis was tapering off? Hardly. Nationwide, nearly 940,000 homes received a default or auction notice or were repossessed by banks in the third quarter of 2009. In New York State, filings were up 11% from the second quarter of 2009 . . . .
Authored by: Melanca Clark, Op-Ed in NY Daily News
– 10/21/09
Another Kind of Foreclosure Crisis
The foreclosure crisis is being made substantially worse by a shortage of lawyers for people whose homes are at risk. According to a new study, an overwhelming number of homeowners who face foreclosure do not have legal help in protecting their rights. As a result, people are losing their homes who do not need to . . . .
Authored by: The New York Times, Editorial
– 10/09/09
Lack of Legal Help: One More Way the Deck Is Stacked Against Homeowners
As bad as America’s foreclosure crisis is—and it’s very bad, with over 300,000 homes receiving a foreclosure filing every month—it’s being made even more devastating by the lack of legal assistance available to beleaguered homeowners . . . .
Authored by: Arianna Huffington, The Huffington Post
– 10/05/09
Waiting in California
Two innovative bills recently approved by the California Legislature are on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk. One would make the state’s justice system fairer and more efficient. The other would improve public safety. Neither would add to California’s fiscal woes, and both would set a worthy example for the nation . . . .
Authored by: The New York Times, Editorial
– 10/04/09
(Penny) Wise Justice for California
A legislative bill offers a smart, cost-effective way to provide civil case legal counsel to those who can’t afford it . . .
Authored by: The Los Angeles Times, Editorial
– 09/25/09
Current Developments in Advocacy To Expand the Civil Right to Counsel
Around the country, state and local bar associations, access to justice commissions, and local advocacy groups are working to expand the right to counsel in their jurisdictions.
Authored by: Laura K. Abel and Paul Marvy
– 01/30/09
The Existing Civil Right to Counsel Infrastructure
A discussion of the ways in which to use existing legal infrastructure to expand the right to counsel in civil cases appeared in The Judges’ Journal.
Authored by: Laura K. Abel & Judge Lora J. Livingston
– Fall 2008