Home - Civil Justice Research Initiative

Too often, the courthouse doors are closed to those who have suffered serious injuries and violations of their rights. By emphasizing rigorous scholarship and thorough research, the Civil Justice Research Initiative can make a real difference in access to the American justice system.
Dean Erwin ChemerinskyUC Berkeley School of Law

Too often, the courthouse doors are closed to those who have suffered serious injuries and violations of their rights. By emphasizing rigorous scholarship and thorough research, the Civil Justice Research Initiative can make a real difference in access to the American justice system.

Dean Erwin Chemerinsky
UC Berkeley School of Law

Dramatic changes to the civil justice system threaten to undermine our rights as citizens. By documenting these changes and exploring their consequences, the Civil Justice Research Initiative will strengthen civil justice in the United States.
Valerie HansProfessor of Law, Cornell Law School

Dramatic changes to the civil justice system threaten to undermine our rights as citizens. By documenting these changes and exploring their consequences, the Civil Justice Research Initiative will strengthen civil justice in the United States.

Valerie Hans
Professor of Law, Cornell Law School

The fair and impartial administration of justice is the bedrock of our democracy. Without access to courts, the fundamental rights afforded by our Constitution may be stripped away. The work of CJRI will provide judges, lawyers and policymakers a sound basis for decision-making.
Roman M. Silberfeld National Trial Chair, Robins Kaplan LLP

The fair and impartial administration of justice is the bedrock of our democracy. Without access to courts, the fundamental rights afforded by our Constitution may be stripped away. The work of CJRI will provide judges, lawyers and policymakers a sound basis for decision-making.

Roman M. Silberfeld
National Trial Chair, Robins Kaplan LLP

The Civil Justice Research
Initiative explores, through interdisciplinary, academically-based
and independent research, how the civil justice system can be made
more available to everyone seeking relief.

Rank of the united States among 113 countries in “accessibility and affordability of civil justice.”

100Million+

Number of people in the United States living with civil justice problems, many involving basic human needs like housing, health care and custody of their children.

The percent of the civil legal problems reported by low income Americans for which they received inadequate or no legal help.

CIVIL JUSTICE NEWS

The Decline of the Civil Jury Trial: Implications for Trial Practice

There has been a decline of the civil jury trial over the past few decades. From this trend, there are several implications that are noteworthy for trial practice.

EVENTS

ETHICS FOR PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEYS

Public interest attorneys face unique ethical issues representing low-income workers, undocumented residents, unhoused community members, organizational plaintiffs, and others that may be unfamiliar with the legal process. This is your chance to hear an ethics expert’s advice on how to handle the sticky situations that sometimes arise. A collection of hot-button hypotheticals will provide guidance for your next ethical quandary.

Wednesday, August 3, 2022, 12 – 1PM, Webinar

CIVIL JUSTICE RESEARCH

Medical Legal Partnerships in Asylum Cases

The Civil Justice Research Initiative recently published a report Medical Legal Partnerships in Asylum Cases, authored by Anjali Niyogi, Hiroko Kusuda and Serena Chaudhry. Read the paper here.