Pictured: Shawana Almendarez; Michael Houlberg, Esq. (IAALS); Natalie Knowlton, Esq. (IAALS);

S.M. Kernodle-Hodges; Alicia Mitchell-Mercer; Rachel Royal

Dear Gentle Readers:

Nearly everyone knows someone who has needed legal help but could not afford a lawyer. The North Carolina Justice for All Project team (JFAP) continues to advocate for various types of regulatory reform, including limited licensing, to improve access to justice in North Carolina for our neighbors and loved ones.

Because the regulatory reform landscape is changing rapidly, we have updated our website to keep you up to speed. Beginning with this issue, we will send out quarterly newsletters for August, November, February, and May.

~ IN THIS ISSUE ~

• RSVP for our upcoming meet n’ greet with special guest, Judge Richard Dietz. You do not want to miss it!

• Catch up on recent updates regarding our NC State Bar and the status of limited licensing and other regulatory reforms.

• Find out what's happening across the country that is sure to have an impact on the paralegal profession.

• Learn about IAALS's new Allied Legal Professionals initiative.

• Volunteer with JFAP or submit speaker requests.

JFAP Virtual Meet N' Greet

The Honorable Richard Dietz

Court of Appeals Judge &

NC Supreme Court Candidate

August 25, 2022, at 6 PM

JFAP is hosting a virtual meet n' greet on August 25, 2022, at 6 PM. You won't want to miss this discussion on access to justice, regulatory reform, and Judge Dietz's favorable views on limited licensing. We'll also talk about potential JFAP volunteer opportunities. Come ready with your beverage of choice for a night of fun and Q&A. This is a free event.

NC State Bar Updates

Limited Licensing and More!

In case you missed it, the Subcommittee Studying Regulatory Change has completed its work, and a Report has been prepared, which includes recommendations to the Issues Committee and the State Bar Council concerning regulatory reform (e.g., limited licensing, regulatory sandbox, and others) to facilitate access to justice in North Carolina.

You will be taken to our Home Page where you can read the State Bar Report.

NC State Bar Approves

New Access to Justice Committee

On July 20, 2022, representatives of North Carolina Justice for All People attended the Issues Committee meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. On July 21, 2022, we watched the Executive Committee meeting to hear the State Bar’s plan for recommendations made by the Regulatory Subcommittee in its January 2022 report.

Although we appear to be making progress, behind the scenes, many leaders and members of the State Bar remain unconvinced that regulatory reform is needed. Both genuine concerns and protectionism continue to act as barriers to North Carolinians seeking real change through regulatory reform. 

Watch the Executive Committee Vote: Timestamp: 1:03:54 - 1:06:04 

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver, announced in April that it is launching Allied Legal Professionals. With generous support from the Sturm Family Foundation, this project seeks to help standardize a new tier of legal professionals nationally—to increase the options for accessible and affordable legal help for the public.

Thank you to Natalie Knowlton and Michael Houlberg for their mentoring and support!

 Upsolve Wins the Right for "Non-Lawyers" to Give Legal Advice 

Upsolve, Inc. et al v. James

Pictured: Rachel Royal; Shawana Almendarez; Jim Sandman, Esq. (President Emeritus of Legal Sevices Corporation); S.M. Kernodle-Hodges; Rohan Pavuluri (CEO of Upsolve); Lois Lupica, Esq. (Sturm College of Law)

On January 25, 2022, Upsolve filed a First Amendment and civil rights legal challenge against NY state, fighting for a new civil right in America: "the right to access your legal rights regardless of how much money is in your bank account."

Rohan Pavuluri (pictured above) and his legal team challenged the constitutionality of laws that stop trained professionals who aren't lawyers from providing free, vetted, and accountable legal advice to low-income families in their community.

Want to know what happened next?

Oregon Approves Limited Licensing!

The Oregon Supreme Court voted unanimously to approve the Licensed Paralegal program, effective July 1, 2023.  The licensed paralegal program will allow participants to provide limited legal services in family law, including divorces and custody matters, and in landlord and tenant cases. Those two areas have the greatest unmet need in Oregon, according to the state bar.

Licensed paralegals will be able to assist clients in filing and drafting forms; observe depositions; represent clients in settlement discussions and mediation, and prepare clients for court appearances. They cannot argue in court themselves. Congratulations to Linda Odermott, RP, OCP, for her hard work in bringing limited licensing to Oregon. 

Utah Supreme Court

Justice Constandino "Deno" Himonas
2015 to 2022

Justice Deno Himonas; Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

"We cannot volunteer ourselves across the access-to-justice gap. We have spent billions of dollars trying this approach. It hasn’t worked. And hammering away at the problem with the same tools is Einstein’s very definition of insanity. What is needed is a market-based approach that simultaneously respects and protects consumer needs."

- Justice Deno Himonas

JFAP Is Accepting Volunteers and Speaking Engagement Requests