Over the last month, I have seen the importance and impact of our partnerships firsthand. We recently released our Civil Justice Messaging Guide to help partners speak with greater clarity, consistency, and impact about civil justice reform. I appreciate the many organizations that partnered in the creation of this guide and have shared it broadly. I was delighted to highlight the guide at the MIE National Conference for Legal Aid Fundraising & Communications where I was able to see its need—and impact—up close. The excitement around its ability to unite so many of our messages and improve how we all communicate to our audiences was tangible. 

Michael Houlberg, Director of Special Projects, gave the keynote speech at the 2026 NALA Conference & Expo last month in Denver. It was an honor to have Michael and our Allied Legal Professional work highlighted at the conference.  

These connections are what make IAALS and our partners so effective. Thank you to the legions of passionate and dedicated problem-solvers we are fortunate to collaborate with every day. 

BRITTANY K.T. KAUFFMAN, CEO

August 2026

FILLING THE GAPS: HOW NONPROFIT AND SLIDING SCALE LAW FIRMS SUPPORT COMMUNITIES

At an ATLN webinar, lawyers and innovators learned how nonprofit and sliding scale law firm models can benefit communities.

LIFTING ALL BOATS: HOW MIDDLE CLASS AND LOW-INCOME LEGAL EFFORTS OVERLAP

ATLN and people-centered legal providers serving those across the income scale can collaborate, share innovative models, and partner toward our shared goals.

IAALS LAUNCHES JUSTICE NARRATIVE PROJECT TO UNITE CIVIL JUSTICE VOICES NATIONWIDE

Through nationwide collaboration, IAALS developed a messaging framework that organizations can adapt while reinforcing a shared narrative about civil justice.

CIVIL JUSTICE MESSAGING GUIDE: HOW TO TALK ABOUT CIVIL JUSTICE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND IMPACT

Our civil justice system is a foundational bedrock of society and plays a huge role in people’s lives, yet talking about the importance of civil justice is not easy. We need messages and stories that resonate broadly and elevate the imperative for reform—allowing civil justice champions to achieve our shared mission of a system that is more just for all. 

Part of the Justice Narrative Project, this guide is designed to equip a broad swath of stakeholders with a coordinated, compelling, and adaptable set of messages about the importance of the civil justice system as a civic infrastructure, the collective challenges within the system, and the urgent need for innovative improvement.

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES, IMPROVING ACCESS



IAALS continues to champion innovative legal service models that strengthen the legal profession and help more people get the legal help they need. As the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Charity of the Year, IAALS was proud to have Michael Houlberg, Director of Special Projects, present at the NALA Conference, where he shared how paralegals and Allied Legal Professionals can help meet growing legal needs. National Paralegal Day, on August 6, also provided an opportunity to recognize the essential role paralegals play and to celebrate the professionals who help people navigate legal challenges every day.

Through research and collaboration, IAALS is helping create an empowered, direct-to-consumer career pathway for qualified legal professionals.

Learn more about NALA's Charity of the Year partnership and IAALS' Allied Legal Professionals work.

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

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.

Watch the recording of the previous webinar here.

WEBINAR AND WORKSHIPS:

Value-Based Pricing for Nonprofit & Sliding Scale Law Firms: A Nuts & Bolts Workshop

Fall date TBD - registration coming soon

UPCOMING EVENTS, EXTERNAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AND ATTENDANCE:

• Aug. 12: Measuring What Matters: Evaluating the Impact of Innovations (Webinar)
• Sept. 11-12: American Civil Bar Roundtable (Washington, D.C.—Kauffman)
• Sept. 17-18: American Law Institute: Principles of the Law, High-Volume Civil Adjudication Meeting (Philadelphia, PA—Kauffman)
• Sept. 23: IAALS Justice Tech Directory webinar
• Sept. 30: IAALS Non-Prosecution Policies and Toolkit webinar

• July 23: “Shaping Tomorrow Through Courage, Leadership and Legacy: Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame Announces the Class of 2027” in EIN Presswire
• July 23: “Isolation, emotion, persona: Colorado judicial programming prepares people for life on the bench” in Colorado Politics
• July 23: “The Future of Lawyering: Lawyer Training” from Law.com
• July 27: “Lawyers Give High Marks to State’s Judges” from the Nebraska State Bar Association
• July 29: “IAALS Launches Justice Narrative Project to Unite Civil Justice Voices Nationwide” in Yahoo! Finance

Noteworthy

• July 2026: “SJI Releases New Report on Legal Deserts in the U.S.” from the State Justice Institute
• July 1: “Case Status® Reaches 1 Million Active & Engaged Clients, Proving the Client Is the Way for Modern Law Firms” from Case Status
• July 17: “Board Of Nonlawyer Legal Service Providers Regular Meeting Minutes” from the Arizona Supreme Court  
• July 25: “Divorce Is a Foreign Language. We Built DivorcePlus to Be Your Translator.” from DivorcePlus
• July 25: “Is It Time for Canada to Rethink Non-Lawyer Ownership of Law Firms? The Accountants May Have Already Answered” from Barbarian Law