A2J Briefings: News from the Field

Technology 

  • NBC News reports on the rise of self-represented litigants using ChatGPT to help with their legal problems. [10/8]
  • The Bloomberg Law State of Practice survey shows AI adoption lagging. [10/6]
  • A LawNext interview explores the American Arbitration Association’s soon-to-be-launched AI-powered arbitrator that will evaluate case merits, generate recommendations, and prepare draft awards. [9/30]

Regulatory Innovation

  • Reuters reports on a California bill, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, that bars attorneys in the state from splitting fees with out-of-state alternative business structure law firms in certain circumstances. [10/16]
  • IAALS at the University of Denver released parts of an interim evaluation of the Utah legal services sandbox. [10/6]
  • The Victorian Government (Australia) has posted materials from a workshop that Professor Cary Coglianese, Director of the Penn Program on Regulation, delivered recently. [9/23] 
  • The Illinois Supreme Court has approved–in concept–a new Community Justice Worker Program. [9/23] 

Courts, Rules & Access to Justice

  • WFYI Indianapolis reports on recommendations made by a collaboration of lawyers across the state that argue court practices have become a driver of homelessness, family trauma, and community instability. [10/6]
  • A post in the Harvard A2J Lab blog explores the hidden costs of “no money down” bankruptcies. [10/6]
  • Law360 explores the consequences of fines and fees on indigent defendants. [10/3]
  • In response to reports that certain federal courts consistently deny defendants access to counsel, Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is urging the Judicial Conference to take action, Law360 reports. [10/24]

The Profession 

  • Reuters reports that law school applications have increased 33% from last year. [10/15]
  • Multiple outlets reporting on Utah’s new alternative to the traditional bar exam: Reuters [10/1], Deseret News [10/2], Law.com [10/2].
October 15, 2025
By Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession
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