In the Media/Opinions
The legal profession is failing low-income and middle-class people. Let's fix that.
By Jennifer S. bard and Larry Cunningham
The Washington Post
Excerpts:
. . . 80 percent of low-income individuals in the United States cannot afford the legal assistance they need to avoid the loss of their homes, children, jobs, liberty and even lives. The middle class doesn’t fare much better: Forty to 60 percent of their legal needs go unmet.
* * *
We do not expect charities and generous doctors to provide 80 percent of the medical needs for low-income patients, so why do we think this is possible for our legal needs? As law schools become increasingly unaffordable — resulting in plummeting enrollment and debt levels that make it impossible for graduates to offer legal services at affordable prices — the legal profession needs some major changes.
* * *
Just as a pharmacist can administer vaccines and a nurse practitioner can be on the front line of diagnosing and treating ailments, we should have legal practitioners who can also exercise independent judgment within the scope of their training. Such a change would expand the preparation and independence of the existing network of paralegals, secretaries and investigators already assisting lawyers.
* * *
New kinds of legal practitioners will require a new kind of legal education.
Related News
St. John’s Urges Participation in National Cyber Service Academy Scholarship Program
As a recognized National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) , St. John’s University is one of just 24 schools in New York State (and only seven in New York City) included in the...
St. John’s Discussion Shines a Light on Careers in Internal Auditing
The opportunity to learn more about an emerging business discipline drew more than 40 St. John’s University students to a gathering of internal auditing professionals at The Peter J. Tobin College of...
The 12 Gifts of Christmas Brought Together Alumni and Friends
On December 7, 2024, alumni and friends from The School of Education gathered at the Stewart Manor Country Club in Stewart Manor for a "Sip and Shop" from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. It was a day of fun as...