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    Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services

    The ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services has the mandate to improve access to lawyers and legal services for those of moderate incomes – those who do not qualify for legal aid yet lack the resources for full legal representation.

    Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access

    2024 Nominations are now closed

    The Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access is presented annually to programs and projects that advance access to legal services for those of moderate incomes in ways that are exemplary and replicable. All nominees of the Brown Award are also entered into the running for BROWN SELECT, which is presented to the Brown Award nominee that gets the most votes from the general public through online voting. Check back soon for the 2025 nomination form.

    Learn More - Award Nomination Process

    2024 Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access Virtual Award Ceremony

    Join us in celebrating the winners of the 2024 Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access, presented to The Fair Employment Project (FEP), and the Brown Select Award, recognizing the Black Connect Small Business Legal Services Program. Watch the ceremony now!

    Free Virtual Conference on Unbundling

    On April 20-22, 2021, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS), The Chicago Bar Foundation, the ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, and the Self-Represented Litigation Network (SRLN) hosted a three-day event focused on the major hows and whys of supporting and implementing the practice of unbundled legal services. The sessions offered content relevant to members of the private bar, legal aid, and those involved with court-annexed projects.

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    Unbundling Resource Center

    The Committee developed the Unbundling Resource Center to help lawyers, bar leaders, the judiciary, court administrators, scholars and the media better understand and critically analyze the issues involved in limited scope representation, also known as unbundling. Materials include articles, reports, cases, rules, ethics opinions and more.

    Legal Incubators

    Legal Incubators have emerged as models that enable newly-admitted lawyers to acquire the range of skills necessary to launch successful practices that provide affordable legal services. This site provides a directory of current and planned incubator programs, profiles of the programs, latest developments and other resources.

    Incubator Resources - View

    2021 Legal Incubator Survey

    The Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services has completed a survey of Legal Incubator programs. The final report and survey instrument are now available.

    Learn more - Incubator Report

    More Resources

    More resources from the Standing Committee can be found here

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    Redesigning Legal Speaker Series

    IAALS, the ABA Center for Innovation, the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, the ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, and Legal Hackers are hosting a quarterly speaker series, Redesigning Legal, to provide a forum to learn about and discuss the regulatory changes underway, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they provide. Industry leaders and experts will offer a variety of perspectives and break down common assumptions and misunderstandings, as well as provide information on the nature and scope of the access to justice crisis and barriers to sustainable legal access. Click here for more information

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