Welcome HALT Supporters

​You’ve probably found this page because you are looking for HALT—An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform (also known as Help Abolish Legal Tyranny). I’m sad to report that HALT’s Board of Directors voted in 2014 to dissolve the organization. In many ways, however, the real fight to make the legal system more user-friendly and to break the monopoly lawyers hold over legal services is just beginning.

I helped found Responsive Law precisely because I thought more could be done to bring about the changes in the legal system we sorely need. Now, with HALT no longer in operation, Responsive Law is the only organization in the United States working to create a legal system that is truly responsive to the needs of its users.

Since Responsive Law’s founding in 2010, we’ve had great success. Further, more so than at any time previously, the legal establishment is starting to pay attention to the issues you and I care about. If you’re a former HALT supporter, I ask you to lend the energy and support you graciously gave HALT over the years to Responsive Law. While HALT is no longer in operation, the issues you and I care about are as relevant as they ever were and Responsive Law is uniquely poised to carry those issues forward.

Let me explain why. Since our founding, Responsive Law has taken meaningful steps toward making the legal system more responsive to your needs. Responsive Law was the only group to speak on behalf of consumers before the American Bar Association’s Ethics 20/20 Commission—out of more than 200 who testified. This commission led the effort to rewrite the rules that will govern the legal profession for the next decade or more.

That was just the start. Responsive Law has carried the voice of consumers all across our country, submitting testimony before courts, state legislatures, and bar associations in no less than 18 different states.

It’s not only the legal establishment that’s paying attention. Our efforts have not gone without notice in the mainstream press. We’ve had positive media coverage in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and American Lawyer. As you can see, we’ve employed every available method of putting forth our advocacy and it is having an impact.

HALT was founded 40 years ago to take on the legal establishment. While I am saddened to see HALT end, I am confident that Responsive Law will achieve many of the reforms HALT was founded to bring about. If you take a look around our website, I expect you’ll be pleased with the work we’ve done. I hope you’ll sign up to receive occasional email updates about our accomplishments, and perhaps even make a tax-deductible contribution to Responsive Law. With your support, we’ll be able to continue the fight to give Americans back their legal system.

Sincerely,
​
Tom Gordon, Executive Director