Daily Briefs

 ABA teams with Rocket Lawyer to explore opportunities for lawyers online

The American Bar Association and Rocket Lawyer today announced they are teaming up to explore innovative solutions to a vexing legal paradox – the difficulty small businesses face finding affordable legal services at a time when many lawyers would welcome expanded professional opportunities.

Through a pilot program, the nation’s largest association of lawyers and the online legal services provider will collaborate to test new ways to empower lawyers to deliver affordable online legal services to small businesses and the self-employed. The pilot program will be designed to connect the ABA’s network of practicing lawyers to prospective clients through Rocket Lawyer’s cloud-based platform.
 
“The American Bar Association welcomes the opportunity to explore ways to expand legal services to those who need a lawyer’s counsel but are not currently being served for reasons ranging from affordability to ease of access,” said ABA President James R. Silkenat. “We look forward to working with Rocket Lawyer on this pilot program to identify ways for our members to serve more clients while remaining faithful to the legal profession’s high standards of ethics and professionalism.”

Rocket Lawyer Founder and CEO Charley Moore describes the agreement as a pioneering effort to democratize access to legal counsel using technology: “At its best, our legal system encourages innovation and facilitates progress. We applaud the American Bar Association for working with us to find new ways to expand legal representation from qualified attorneys through video and mobile technologies.”
 

Chief Justice Roberts addresses ABA at Boston meeting

BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts says the Magna Carta, which turns 800 next year, was a "product of its time" that still resonates in modern American democracy.
 
Speaking at the American Bar Association's annual meeting in Boston Monday, he said the document — Latin for "Great Charter" — should be celebrated because it "heralded the ascent of liberty."

Roberts, who has been chief justice since 2005, said the document was meant to resolve "squabbling" between the English king and feudal barons, but also contained the framework for ideas we now consider "fundamental freedoms," including due process and rule of law.

The American Bar Association, a voluntary association for lawyers with some 400,000 members, is meeting at the Hynes Convention Center from Aug. 7 to 12.

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