Our Vision
They could:
• enable far more people, especially those who can’t afford to hire lawyers, to access civil justice;
• make the criminal justice system fairer and more efficient; and
• promote the dignity and respect of individuals and families as they encounter the justice system.
The Access to Justice Lab creates and shares the rigorous evidence needed to make these transformations happen.
Theory of Change:
access-to-justice interventions and gold-standard, randomized evaluations
randomized control trials to find out what works for individuals and families in civil and criminal law
lessons learned and best practices to transform the system
current and future practitioners, scholars, and judges in research methods and results to increase capacity and support for rigorous empirical methods
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Projects in the field
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Projects in development
18
States in which the A2J Lab has projects
Latest news
Illustrations and Studies Are Not the Same
Recently, we became aware of at least two blog posts (see here and here) lifting passages from, and selectively highlighting a result of, a draft paper the five of us authored. These posts provide a distorted picture of what our paper said and did. The paper is not intended as an analysis of the Public Read more about Illustrations and Studies Are Not the Same[…]
How we’re learning more about ways to improve access to justice across the U.S.
We’re closing out 2020 with a bang: We have three new studies in the field. Our amazing partners have worked with us to prepare and launch these projects in the face of the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19. Focusing on different topics and in different geographies, these new studies have the potential to improve access Read more about How we’re learning more about ways to improve access to justice across the U.S.[…]
A2J Lab presents an interim report on the Public Safety Assessment–Decision Making Framework System RCT in Dane County, Wisconsin
Today, the A2J Lab presented the findings from the interim report of the randomized evaluation of the Public Safety Assessment–Decision Making Framework System (PSA-DMF), a pretrial risk assessment tool and related decision-making framework, in Dane County, Wisconsin. The full interim report is now available on the A2J Lab website. The presentation at the Dane County Read more about A2J Lab presents an interim report on the Public Safety Assessment–Decision Making Framework System RCT in Dane County, Wisconsin[…]
New study! Evaluating Counsel at First Appearance in Hays County, TX
Texas A&M University’s Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI) and the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School (A2J Lab) are launching a randomized study of counsel at first appearance (CAFA) in Texas—the first study of its kind. At first appearance, magistrates decide whether a person will be released while awaiting trial or held in Read more about New study! Evaluating Counsel at First Appearance in Hays County, TX[…]
The A2J Lab is hiring
Are you interested in learning about managing RCTs in the legal profession? Work with us—we’re hiring! We have an opening for a new Research Specialist to support the operations of some of our current research studies. If you’re interested in hands-on experience of quantitative research in law, we’d love to hear from you. All inquires Read more about The A2J Lab is hiring[…]
New study! Accessing SNAP benefits in Alaska
In partnership with Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC), the A2J Lab has launched a randomized control trial to evaluate community advocates’ services in the context of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – aka Food Stamps) benefits arm of their programs. Low-income and elderly residents in Alaska are in need of access to these benefits. Read more about New study! Accessing SNAP benefits in Alaska[…]
The A2J Lab’s COVID-19 response
Like so many of our fellow researchers, the A2J Lab has been monitoring the COVID-19 situation as it evolves. We have taken the following steps to protect study participants, our study partners, and our staff: Field operations: We have required that our field partners cease any face-to-face interaction that occurs only because of our studies. Read more about The A2J Lab’s COVID-19 response[…]
Study of Eviction Diversion Begins in Miami
Harvard Law School Study of Eviction Diversion Begins in Miami Renters Seeking Repairs Can Get Legal Advice and Information to Avoid Eviction Miami, FL – Legal Services of Greater Miami is launching a first-in-the-nation study of an eviction diversion program, in partnership with Harvard Law School’s Access to Justice Lab. The Tenants’ Equal Justice Clinic, Read more about Study of Eviction Diversion Begins in Miami[…]
Upcoming webinar with Jim Greiner: Credible Measurements of the Socioeconomic Costs of Incarceration
Professor Jim Greiner on Credible Measurements of the Socioeconomic Costs of Incarceration Wednesday, February 26, 2020 12-1 PM (EST) Join A2J Lab Faculty Director Jim Greiner for a webinar focusing on empirical research in criminal justice. The United States incarcerates a higher fraction of its population than any other country in the world. Recent trends, including the election of Read more about Upcoming webinar with Jim Greiner: Credible Measurements of the Socioeconomic Costs of Incarceration[…]
Guest Post: Rohan Pavuluri on Founding Upsolve
Today’s guest post is authored by Rohan Pavuluri, co-founder and CEO at Upsolve, a nonprofit that helps low-income families file bankruptcy for free using an online web app. The idea for Upsolve grew out of Pavuluri’s work as a research assistant at the Access to Justice Lab. The Access to Justice Lab does not endorse Read more about Guest Post: Rohan Pavuluri on Founding Upsolve[…]
A2J Lab Staff
D. James Greiner
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Rianna Brooks
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Renee L. Danser
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April Faith-Slaker
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Ryan Halen
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Becca Human
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Sandy North
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Matthew Stubenberg
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