1. Growing Movement: Leadership Development in Law Schools

2. Survey of websites of 204 ABA -accredited law schools:
Named leadership development programs:
19 law schools with general leadership objective
5 with specific focus – diversity, business law, government, transitional justice and cybersecurity.
Leadership development courses:
27 law schools with leadership courses for credit
7 with non-credit courses

3. Common Objectives: 1. Discuss role of lawyers as leaders:
Obligation to serve. Opportunity to positively impact.
2. Self-awareness and self-assessment
3. Goal setting and strategic plan
4. Study leadership styles, characteristics and strategies
5. Study organizational and human behavior:
Looking for context and barriers
6. Experiential learning through case studies, role playing, problem solving, etc.

4. 7. Equipping for success in the practice of law (and leadership): - Effective communication - Collaboration - Team Work & Building Teams - Building Relationships - Ethical Judgement - Managing Conflict - Crisis Management - Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship - Inclusive Diversity - Mentorship; Coaching; Sponsorships

5. 8. Latest additions: -Grit - Growth Mindset - Resilience - Feedback - Healthy View of Stress and Failure Health, Wellbeing, Adaptation

6. Challenges to our State Court Systems
Implications for Democracy

7. Civil Justice is Foundation of Democracy
Touches every aspect of our lives and society:
- Resolves conflicts
- Governs behavior
- Provides precedent and guiding principles
Intended for both parties to be represented by zealous advocates bound by ethical constraints - lawyers

8. Current system
High-value tort and commercial contract disputes - less than ½ percent of caseload
64% were contract cases, mostly debt collection and landlord/tenant cases
75% of all judgments were less than $5,200
For 75% of cases – disposition within 372 days
For 50% - dispositions with 4 months

9. Current system Too expensive! costs exceed value Cumbersome!
daunting to Self Represented Litigants
Takes too long!

10. Access to Justice
DENIED

11. Alternatives Private entities are filling the void
- mandatory arbitration
- private judges for hire
- online legal services

12. Impact on Society Not sufficiently democratic
No guarantee a transparent and impartial process.
Not necessarily bound by existing law
Do they contribute to creating new law and shaping 21st century justice
Threaten to erode a publicly accessible body of law governing civil cases
Fewer common law precedents
lessened standards for negotiating civil transactions or conforming their conduct in a responsible manner
Undermines legislative and executive branches of government
Can’t respond to developing societal circumstances if claims not filed in state courts

13. Impact on the Legal Profession
Relevance & Influence

14. Civil Justice Initiative
Recommendation to Conference of Chief Justices:
1. Initial Triage – Right-size case management:
Quick processes of uncomplicated matters
Intense oversight for complex matter
2. Specialized Courts – expertise and efficiencies
3. Quick disposition for uncontested docket

15. How can we help?
Strong leadership and bold action are needed to transform our system for the 21st century while preserving the best of our 200-year tradition.
Our democracy depends on it.