Tag Archives: Public Policy

The November Elections are an Important Dispute Resolution Mechanism

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We don’t normally think of elections as dispute resolution mechanisms, but that’s what they are. This year, the election campaigns reflect a deep conflict, with stark differences between Democrats and Republicans about perceptions of the past and present and visions for the future.  The election will provide some resolution of this conflict, possibly producing long-lasting … Continue reading The November Elections are an Important Dispute Resolution Mechanism →

Industrial-Strength Denial

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Jim Coben’s wife, Barbara Freese, recently published a fascinating book, Industrial-Strength Denial: Eight Stories of Corporations Defending the Indefensible, from the Slave Trade to Climate Change. I haven’t read it, but I assume it’s a fascinating book based on a wonderful video interview of Barbara by Joe Rogan (and this link contains some clips).  Here’s … Continue reading Industrial-Strength Denial →

Some History of Racial Issues in the US

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Public revulsion at the killings of George Floyd and other Blacks has led many people to challenge accepted accounts of our history reflected in symbols such as Confederate flags, statues, and names of military bases, educational institutions, and sports teams. Many organizations, including universities, are taking a much more serious look at institutionalized racism in … Continue reading Some History of Racial Issues in the US →

How Many People Will Preventably Die or Get Ill if Universities Hold Classes in Person? – Part 2

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This builds on a previous post discussing problems with plans to teach in-person classes in the fall. Most of this post reproduces a listserv message from TFOI Ben Davis expressing concern about universities’ plans for the fall semester. Like Ben, I am very alarmed about universities’ plans to hold classes in person considering how the … Continue reading How Many People Will Preventably Die or Get Ill if Universities Hold Classes in Person? – Part 2 →

Jurist Articles

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Colleagues recently wrote two timely articles for Jurist, which is soliciting additional pieces. TFOI Ben Davis wrote The Business of Reopening Colleges and Universities in a Pandemic. GFOI Cheryl L. Wade and Elayne E. Greenberg wrote July 4, 2020: How Will We Celebrate? Ben reported that Jurist publisher Bernard Hibbits invites additional articles.  If you … Continue reading Jurist Articles →

Kristen Blankley: New Opportunities for Pro Bono in a Pandemic

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From TFOI Kristen Blankley: COVID-19 has created additional need for legal services in many areas, including housing, consumer law, employment law, probate, family law, domestic violence advocacy, criminal law, among others. We all have substantive and process expertise in different areas, which means that we should have a great ability to fulfill our aspirational (or, … Continue reading Kristen Blankley: New Opportunities for Pro Bono in a Pandemic →

Upcoming Events by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution

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Linda Seely, the director of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, announced the following programs, which are free for Section members: June 10 at 1pm ET – Leveraging ADR to Strengthen Your Client’s Enterprise. This session prepares lawyers to help their clients leverage ADR in workplace litigation to repair the employer/employee relationship, clearing a path … Continue reading Upcoming Events by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution →

If You’re Not Part of the Solution . . .

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Just shy of a year ago, many of us gathered at Pepperdine to appreciate the legacy of our movement and engage the future. How time flies. Since then, our world has been overtaken by a pandemic that is fundamentally altering all of our lives as well as an outpouring of rage about the history of … Continue reading If You’re Not Part of the Solution . . . →

The Coronavirus Crisis Provides an Opportunity to Adopt Better Systems for Licensing Lawyers than the Bar Exam

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The ABA Journal recently published an article entitled Bar Exam Does Little to Ensure Attorney Competence, Say Lawyers in Diploma Privilege State, describing the experience in Wisconsin, the only state that currently has the “diploma privilege.”  Under the Wisconsin rules, in-state law school graduates can become licensed without taking a bar exam.  These graduates must … Continue reading The Coronavirus Crisis Provides an Opportunity to Adopt Better Systems for Licensing Lawyers than the Bar Exam →