Mission

We stand for an American civil justice system that is equitable, efficient, and accessible for all.

In the United States, at least 50 percent of Americans face a civil legal problem each year. These are problems that impact daily life, and with high stakes for all involved parties. They can involve smaller-scale, everyday social disputes between individuals — evictions, landlord problems, domestic violence, divorces, consumer debt, labor disputes, immigration status, etc. They can also involve larger-scale harms impacting huge populations — environmental contamination, defective drugs and consumer products, fraud, data breaches, and more. 

Established in 2014, the Center on Civil Justice is a preeminent thought leader and convener for key civil justice issues across the nation. Alongside legal scholars, judges, lawyers, non-lawyer advocates, and litigants, we push for legal procedures and strategies that lessen bureaucracy, broaden access, promote just outcomes, and increase efficiency in state and federal civil courts. Our research, conferences, and programming focus on issues like Access to Justice, legal technology and AI, and process improvements for class actions, multi-district litigation, litigation financing, bankruptcies, and arbitration.

Civil courts are crucial in ensuring justice in facets of everyday American life; they protect tenants, families, consumers, and workers. To that end, they must function efficiently, and they must function effectively. We envision a world where America’s civil courts are more equitable, streamlined, and accessible for all its users.