IAALS Report: IAALS at NALA Conference, 20 Years of Leading Civil Justice Research, Summer Webinars, and more

IAALS is off to a hot start this summer. Michael Houlberg, Director of Special Projects, is the keynote speaker at the 2026 NALA Conference & Expo in Denver from July 16-18. We are honored to be NALA’s selected charity for 2026 and for Michael and our work on allied legal professionals to be highlighted at this event. Read on to learn more about why NALA selected IAALS as its charity for 2026.

We have two webinar series—the Judicial Innovation and Leadership series and ATLN’s Nonprofit/Sliding Scale Law Firm Webinar & Workshop series—that are connecting leaders and experts across the civil justice system all summer. And to top it off, Logan Cornett, Director of Research and Legal Education and Licensure, wrote about IAALS’ leadership in empirical research in legal system reform over the last twenty years.

I hope you'll join us in exploring the ideas, partnerships, and momentum shaping IAALS' work this summer.

BRITTANY K.T. KAUFFMAN, CEO
July 2026

ELEVATING PARALEGALS: WHY IAALS AND NALA ARE THE PERFECT PARTNERS FOR THE FUTURE OF LEGAL SERVICES
IAALS' work on Allied Legal Professional programs across the country is providing paralegals with a clear legal path to independent practice.

BUILT-IN INNOVATION: SPOTLIGHTING THE WASHINGTON STATE BAR ASSOCIATION’S INNOVATION TEAM
The WSBA built dedicated innovation capacity directly into its staffing structure to move ideas into implementation.

Be sure to read all of the news and updates from IAALS on our website.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE: HOW IAALS RESEARCH SETS THE STANDARD FOR CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM
IAALS has elevated the role of empirical research in legal system reform and demonstrated how data and evaluation are the bedrock for effective solutions.

This webinar and workshop series will introduce participants to nonprofit and sliding scale law firms—a proven, sustainable model for effectively serving people who are at or above the income eligibility line for free legal aid. Led by nationally recognized leaders and innovators, these three sessions will provide a comprehensive pathway for organizations interested in exploring nonprofit and sliding scale law firms. Register for free today!

WEBINAR AND WORKSHIPS:
Expanding Sustainable Access to Justice Solutions
July 16, 2026

Launching & Scaling Nonprofit and Sliding Scale Law Firms: A Nuts and Bolts Workshop
August 11, 2026

Value-Based Pricing for Nonprofit & Sliding Scale Law Firms: A Nuts & Bolts Workshop.
Fall date TBD - registration coming soon

This series is open to all judges seeking to become catalysts for positive change in the legal system. Click here for more details on the entire series, each individual webinar, and to register for any/all today!

NEXT UP IN THE SERIES:
Measuring What Matters: Evaluating the Impact of Innovations
August 12, 2026

UPCOMING EVENTS, EXTERNAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AND ATTENDANCE:

July 16: Expanding Sustainable Access to Justice Solutions: Building and Scaling Nonprofit & Sliding Scale Law Firms (Webinar)
July 16: 2026 Saratoga Meeting (Chicago—Kauffman)
July 22: MIE National Conference for Legal Aid Fundraising & Communications (Baltimore—Kauffman)
Aug. 11: Launching & Scaling Nonprofit and Sliding Scale Law Firms: A Nuts & Bolts Workshop (Webinar)
Aug.12: Measuring What Matters: Evaluating the Impact of Innovations (Webinar)
Sept. 11-12: American Civil Bar Roundtable (Washington, D.C.—Kauffman)
Sept. 23: IAALS Justice Tech Directory webinar
Sept. 30: IAALS Non-Prosecution Policies and Toolkit webinar

June 4: "How Changing Family Court Procedure Can (and Can't) Bridge the Justice Gap for Pro Se Litigants" from the American Bar Association
June 8: "ABA Resolution 108 and the Evolution of Unbundled Legal Services" from First File
June 9: "Admission by Portfolio Evaluation: Core Competencies, Portfolio Requirements, and Next Steps" in Washington Bar State News
June 11: "What’s New NALA, With CEO Vanessa Finley (Plus NALA’s 2026 Convention)" on Legal Talk Network's Paralegal Voice Podcast
June 11: "How Clients Actually Find Lawyers in Canada" from LawOnline
June 18: "Rethinking What Makes a Lawyer Ready: Aligning Legal Education, Hiring, and Opportunity" from Education and Career News
June 18: "The Future of Law Isn’t Just Lawyers: Expanding the Legal Workforce to Meet Real Needs" from Education and Career News
June 18: "AI Arbitration and the Future of Legal Work, with Bridget McCormack" on the Lawyerist Podcast
June 19: "The federal and state judiciary's evolving role in American democracy" from Ballotpedia
June 23: "William T. Hangley: In Memoriam" on hangley.com
June 24: "A Better Way to Regulate? Lessons from State Regulatory Sandboxes" from the Pioneer Institute
June 24: "The Parity Mandate: A Plug-and-Play Legislative Blueprint" from Jaime Chesney

SOCIAL: Follow and share on LinkedIn

REPLAYS: Watch our webinars and videos

COLLABORATION: Consulting and partnership opportunities

EMAIL UPDATES: IAALS Report, Unlocking Legal Regulation, Above the Line Network

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