Explore every episode of the podcast Proof Over Precedent
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 7: Evaluating Online and In-Person Family Law Hearings | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:44:15 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
Does the medium of family law cases — online or in-person — factor into procedural justice and the satisfaction of litigants in these cases? In this episode, A2J Lab Associate Director Renee Danser talks with Jim Greiner, faculty director of the A2J Lab, about a study nearing completion, including:
Join us for a deep dive into this study with some takeaways both for the online vs. in-person courtroom debate and for general judicial demeanor. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 15: Pro Se Problems — Defining and Deploying Legal Knowledge | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:20:31 | |
Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
In this “Student Voices” episode of Proof Over Precedent, HLS J.D. candidate Rachel Barkin discusses the challenges faced by pro se litigants in complying with civil procedure rules. While interpretation of legal language may be an obstacle, she argues that deployability–the ability to effectively use legal knowledge in court–is the more significant hurdle for self-represented litigants. She delves into the quantitative and qualitative research available for addressing the complexities of legal procedures, suggesting that a balance of both may be necessary for a complete understanding of the issues. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
Resources mentioned:
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal | |||
| Episode 14: Ethical Conundrums in Legal Research | 15 Sep 2025 | 00:45:35 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
In this Proof Over Precedent episode, the third show in the ‘Demystifying IRBs’ series, host Jim Greiner meets with IRB expert Shannon Sewards to answer the tricky question: Who counts as a ‘human subject’? Medical fields can easily point to human subjects in their research; but in social sciences, the definition relies heavily on federal regulations from Institutional Review Boards that require consent from human subjects to participate in research. So, legal researchers need to know about IRBs and how they define ‘human subjects’ and IRBs need to know about legal research and the role of participants in the studies. While the previous episode in the ‘Demystifying IRBs’ series addressed human subject research versus medical research, this third episode discusses:
Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
Resources mentioned:
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal | |||
| Episode 13: Criminal Gideon, Civil Gideon, And Gender | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:15:40 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
This “Student Voices” episode of Proof Over Precedent discusses the critical need for providing legal representation in civil cases—particularly those in which an individual’s home, family, or safety is at risk. While the right to counsel already extends to criminal cases in both federal and state courts, it does not currently extend to civil cases, where the socioeconomic outcomes often affect women more so than men. HLS LLM Laura Aquino asks why civil cases are not treated with the same level of importance as criminal cases and argues that expanding legal access is a matter of both fairness and justice. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 13: Criminal Gideon, Civil Gideon, And Gender | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:15:40 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
This “Student Voices” episode of Proof Over Precedent discusses the critical need for providing legal representation in civil cases—particularly those in which an individual’s home, family, or safety is at risk. While the right to counsel already extends to criminal cases in both federal and state courts, it does not currently extend to civil cases, where the socioeconomic outcomes often affect women more so than men. HLS LLM Laura Aquino asks why civil cases are not treated with the same level of importance as criminal cases and argues that expanding legal access is a matter of both fairness and justice. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 12: Can Texts Help Secure Housing and Avoid Evictions? | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:46:31 | |
Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
In this episode of Proof Over Precedent, host Jim Greiner talks with the A2J Lab’s Renee Danser about the recently completed pilot study referred to as the “Eviction Diversion Study.” The study aimed to combat housing security by providing legal information and resources to at-risk populations in the Houston area via text messaging. Ultimately, insights gained from the pilot highlighted the need for and promise of a full-scale study on light-touch intervention as a means of avoiding evictions. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 11: Breaking Legal Traditions — Insights from Medicine’s Evidence-Based Evolution | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:15:53 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
In this “Student Voices” episode of Proof Over Precedent, HLS student Andrew Reed explores how the legal profession could benefit from adopting data-driven, evidence-based practices similar to those in medicine. The episode examines the historical transformation of medicine from tradition-based to science-based and discusses key lessons that law can learn, including:
Read the corresponding blog post. Resources: Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 10: What is Human Subjects Research in Law? | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:52:10 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
In this second episode in the Proof Over Precedent series on demystifying the institutional review board process in law, host Jim Greiner speaks again with IRB expert Shannon Sewards, this time to define human subjects research and differentiate it from medical research. The pair delve into:
Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 9: Cellphone Bans: Courthouse Nuisance or Necessity? | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:17:23 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
In this “Student Voices” episode of Proof Over Precedent, HLS student Joe Lieberman interviews classmate Andrew Reed on the implications of courthouse cell phone bans on access to justice, particularly as it relates to self-represented litigants. Though intended to maintain courtroom order and security, the bans often create more headaches for litigants having to secure their phones outside the courthouse; furthermore, Reed suggests, it can be an impediment to access to justice with some litigants missing hearings entirely due to the bans. The discussion touches on the following topics:
Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 8: Ethics in Research — IRBs and the Common Rule Explained | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:40:21 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) watch over human subjects research to ensure ethical compliance. Ubiquitous in medical research, IRBs may still baffle those working in legal research. This week, in the first of a series of podcast talks demystifying IRBs, Proof Over Precedent host Jim Greiner talks with IRB expert Shannon Sewards about the importance of IRBs and the Common Rule in ensuring ethical research practices. Among the topics:
Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 16: Can Community Diversion Program Help Repeat Offenders Rehabilitate? | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:32:39 | |
Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
Resources mentioned:
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal | |||
| Episode 17: The Inaccessibility of a Financial Fresh Start | 06 Oct 2025 | 00:21:38 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
Is the financial reset system too difficult to navigate? In this “Student Voices” episode of Proof Over Precedent, HLS J.D. candidate Joe Liberman discusses the complexities and accessibility issues associated with “no-money-down” bankruptcy filings that often hurt the people who can least afford these particular filings.Closer scrutiny to legal fees associated with bankruptcy filings may help steer incentives toward the debtor rather than the attorney working with the filer. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
Resources mentioned:
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal | |||
| Episode 19: How to Grow from a Global Study Setback | 20 Oct 2025 | 00:26:00 | |
Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School 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:
Resources mentioned:
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal | |||
| Episode 18: No Money Down Bankruptcy, Part II — Navigating Possible Solutions | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:20:05 | |
Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
More bankruptcy cases were filed in 2024 than all other civil cases in federal court combined – a factor that should make access to the bankruptcy filing process a priority in the U.S., HLS student Joe Liberman argues in this Student Voices podcast. Part II of this series discusses potential reforms, including changing attorney fee structures, simplifying the bankruptcy process, and making information about legal representation more accessible. Read the corresponding blog post. Listen to Part 1 of the podcast or read Part 1 of the blog post. Speakers:
Resources mentioned:
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal | |||
| Episode 20: Caught in the Web — Government Websites and Accessibility | 27 Oct 2025 | 00:14:00 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School Access to justice via government websites should mean ease of digital access to information. But what if your simple search on filing for a restraining order returned lists of forms in legalese or 37 pages of links to weed through for the appropriate form? In this Student Voices episode of Proof Over Precedent, J.D. candidate Spencer Thieme argues for simple and inexpensive upgrades to state and federal government websites to improve accessibility for the nonlawyers and non-government workers. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 22: Exploring Involuntary Commitment and Legal Reforms | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:22:25 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 21: What is the Impact of Legal Counsel at First Hearings? | 03 Nov 2025 | 01:06:43 | |
Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School Can the presence of legal counsel at a criminal justice defendant’s first court hearing transform their journey through the justice system? Two Texas counties examined this possibility in a now-completed A2J Lab study. Director Jim Greiner hosts fellow A2J Lab researcher Renee Danser and Texas A&M researchers George Nafault and Bethany Patterson in a discussion about the project results and their potential impact on legal representation and judicial decision making going forward. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||
| Episode 31: Life Without Parole—a Death Sentence in Disguise | 12 Jan 2026 | 00:18:07 | |
In this "Student Voices" episode, HLS J.D. candidate Kristen Arnold looks at the procedural shortcomings of life sentences without the possibility of parole, particularly in comparison to capital punishment cases. She dives into the injustices of the LWOP procedure, the no-hope consequences for inmates and the system, and opportunity for a randomized control trial in the field to improve fairness.
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| Episode 30: Do Judges Actually Read Search Warrants? | 06 Jan 2026 | 01:02:53 | |
Despite search warrants being a topic of significant interest in court cases and legal scholarship, the process of obtaining warrants offers comparatively little information. But when researchers found a surprising public data point in this field, their analysis led to sobering findings regarding the time judges spend reviewing warrants and the high approval rates of such warrants. In this episode of Proof Over Precedent, the researchers discuss their work, the data analysis process, and the implications of potentially insufficient judicial review of warrants.
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| Episode 28: Pretrial Detention Efficacy and Alternatives | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:25:27 | |
This Student Voices episode focuses on the data and studies pointing to the shortcomings of pretrial detention – the significant costs, lack of impact on reducing crime, and shortage of failure-to-appear connections. HLS JD candidate Leann Poarch instead suggests a low-cost, relatively low-tech alternative that may be more effective.
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| Episode 27: The Hidden Costs of Pretrial Detention | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:25:44 | |
In this Student Voices episode, HLS J.D. candidate Leann Poarch discusses the significant costs of detaining individuals who await trial, such as legal fees, loss of employment, and long-term economic and psychological effects. Given that detaining individuals not yet convicted can cost local governments more than $13 billion, is it time to look into reforming the pretrial system?
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| Episode 26: When is Informed Consent Unnecessary? | 09 Dec 2025 | 01:03:17 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
In this episode of Proof Over Precedent, the fourth in a series on Ethics in the Law, host Jim Greiner talks again with IRB expert Shannon Sewards to discuss the complexities and criteria involved in obtaining waivers of informed consent within the realm of social science and legal research, comparing it to the regulations governing medical research. The two dive into an A2J Lab study on pretrial risk assessment tools to use as an example in determining the necessity of obtaining informed consent. When does protecting study participants take precedence, and when do critical research needs supersede those of participants? Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
Resources mentioned:
Related “Ethics in the Law” series episodes:
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 | |||
| Episode 25: Legal Labyrinths Reveal Divorce Filing Woes | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:58:28 | |
Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
Why is it so hard logistically to file for divorce when legally some cases are quite simple and uncomplicated? This second divorce study episode of Proof Over Precedent dives into the data behind the hassle factors and shares the surprising results of measuring the pro se accessibility of a court system. Maybe the answer isn’t more lawyers. Listen to Episode 24: Legal Labyrinths Reveal Divorce Filing Woes Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
Resources mentioned:
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal | |||
| Episode 24: Till Death—or an Affordable Divorce—Do Us Part | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:46:30 | |
Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
When it comes to obtaining a divorce, pro se litigants face significant obstacles, stemming primarily from financial challenges. Without a lawyer, many are ill equipped to undertake the complex paperwork, waiting periods, and logistical hurdles that come with filing for divorce. This first of two divorce study episodes of Proof Over Precedent introduces the randomized controlled trial the A2J Lab undertook to determine how effective pro bono matching services are in providing access to justice for low-income individuals. Listen to Episode 25: Legal Labyrinths Reveal Divorce Filing Woes Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
Resources mentioned:
Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal | |||
| Episode 23: Innovative Approaches to Mental Health Hearings | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:29:44 | |
Image by Courtney Chrystal, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School
Rogers hearings allow Massachusetts judges to approve treatment plans for involuntarily committed individuals, but the process is criticized for its inefficiency and 99% approval rate. What if procedural reforms could improve outcomes? Replacing district court judges with administrative law judges to oversee hearings and substituting public defenders with mental health professionals as patient advocates could improve outcomes for both the involuntarily committed individuals and the courts—reducing delays, improving patient outcomes, and better utilizing court resources, according to HLS student Aarushi Solanki. She outlines the need for a randomized controlled trial to bring evidence to this proposal. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers:
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 | |||