Research on indigent legal services received a boost in March of 2015, when the research arm of the Department of Justice, the National Institute of Justice convened a national meeting of indigent defense researchers to discuss priorities for the future. NIJ has already devoted funding to several new projects investigating indigent defense, including one co-directed by ILS into counsel at first appearance. This meeting represented a moment for NIJ to reflect on what was known, and remained to be known, about indigent legal services around the nation.

DOJ just published the notes and presentation slides from the meeting, which can be found here. ILS Director of Research Andy Davies was present and spoke about 'Barriers to Access to Counsel for Adults'. The discussion focused on a wide range of issues including the deficit of basic information on indigent defense systems and service nationwide, and particularly the absence of clear conceptualization or measurement of the notion of 'quality' in defense representation.