Early this year, the A2J Lab was expanding globally for the first time, bringing its mission to study access to justice to both Kenya and Tunisia — and just about half-way through its study — when a federal stop-work order abruptly shut down the project. In this episode of Proof Over Precedent, we have no study results to report about the project that intended to look at whether prompt access to quality representation affects legal and social outcomes for defendants in misdemeanors and petty offenses in the two African nations. Instead, the A2J Lab’s Renee Danser shares her experience working on the lab’s first global project, the intentions of the study and the progress it made through January this year, and the lessons learned from both an international project and the discontinuation of the study. Primary takeaway: remain hopeful and persistent as we continue to look for funding to restart the project.
Read the corresponding blog post.
Speakers:
- Renee Danser, Associate Director of Research and Strategic Partnerships, Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School
- Michelle Blouin, Communications Associate, Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School
Resources mentioned:
Share feedback and relevant topics you would like the A2J Lab to discuss: a2jlab@law.harvard.edu
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab:
Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal