IRVINE, Calif. (February 28, 2025) — University of California, Irvine School of Law Professor Emily Taylor Poppe has been appointed as an Associate Reporter to The American Law Institute’s (ALI) Principles of the Law, High-Volume Civil Litigation project. A distinguished interdisciplinary and empirical scholar, Professor Taylor Poppe specializes in research that addresses inequalities in access to civil justice. She serves as the Faculty Director of the UC Irvine Law Initiative for Inclusive Civil Justice and is an affiliated faculty member of the Center for Empirical Research on the Legal Profession.
“I am honored to contribute to ALI’s important work in addressing systemic challenges in high-volume civil litigation,” said Professor Emily Taylor Poppe. “This project presents a unique opportunity to develop principles that can enhance fairness and efficiency in our legal system, particularly for unrepresented and vulnerable litigants.”
“Professor Taylor Poppe’s appointment as an Associate Reporter to this crucial ALI project is a testament to the significance of her empirical research and interdisciplinary approach,” said UC Irvine Law Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law Austen Parrish. “We look forward to following her contributions to this impactful project.”
About the ALI Principles of the Law, High-Volume Civil Litigation Project
The American Law Institute (ALI), the premier independent organization in the United States dedicated to clarifying, modernizing, and improving the law, is widely recognized for its influential Restatements of the Law, Model Codes, and Principles of Law projects. ALI provides trusted guidance to courts, legislatures, legal scholars, and practitioners. The Institute’s work is shaped by the collective expertise of its esteemed members, including prominent lawyers, judges, and academics.
The Principles of the Law, High-Volume Civil Litigation project aims to address critical challenges faced by state courts in handling high-volume, high-stakes, low-dollar-value civil claims, such as debt collection, evictions, home foreclosure, and child support. The project, initiated in October 2022, focuses on the adjudication of high-volume civil cases that, though often smaller in scale, have profound impacts on individuals and communities. These cases frequently involve at least one unrepresented party and result in a high number of default judgments. The project seeks to establish best practices and principles for case management, court administration, technology use, and institutional design, ensuring that state courts navigate these challenges with fairness, efficiency, and accuracy.
I am honored to contribute to ALI’s important work in addressing systemic challenges in high-volume civil litigation. This project presents a unique opportunity to develop principles that can enhance fairness and efficiency in our legal system, particularly for unrepresented and vulnerable litigants.
Professor Emily Taylor Poppe
About Professor Emily Taylor Poppe
Professor Taylor Poppe’s scholarship explores the origins and resolutions of civil legal problems, emphasizing the role of legal actors and institutions in shaping these processes. Her research has provided crucial insights into disparities in access to legal counsel, the impact of legal representation on case outcomes, and systemic reforms aimed at enhancing equality in civil justice. Her work has been published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals and law reviews, including Law & Society Review, Law & Social Inquiry, Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, UC Davis Law Review, and Fordham Law Review.
In addition to her role as Faculty Director of the UCI Law Initiative for Inclusive Civil Justice, Professor Taylor Poppe serves as Secretary of the AALS Section on Trusts and Estates, an Editorial Board Member of Law & Social Inquiry, an Editorial Advisory Board Member of Law & Society Review, and a Reporter for the Uniform Law Commission’s Uniform Transfers to Minors Act Drafting Committee.
Prior to her academic career, Professor Taylor Poppe was an associate in the Private Client Department of McDermott Will & Emery LLP in Chicago, IL, and served as Associate Director of Planned Giving for Harvard Business School in Boston, MA. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Cornell University, a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, and A.B. degrees in Public Policy and Spanish from Duke University.
UC Irvine Law is proud to have several faculty members who are actively engaged with The American Law Institute. In addition to Professor Taylor Poppe, UC Irvine Law faculty who serve as ALI reporters, advisers, and members include:
- Mario Barnes, Chancellor’s Professor of Law (ALI Member)
- Alejandro Camacho, Chancellor’s Professor of Law (ALI Member, Member Consultative Group, Restatement Fourth of Property)
- Robert S. Chang, Professor of Law and Sylvia Mendez Presidential Chair for Civil Rights (ALI Member)
- Andrew Gold, Professor of Law (ALI Member)
- Dalié Jiménez, Professor of Law (ALI Member)
- Stephen Lee, Professor of Law (ALI Member)
- Carrie Menkel-Meadow, Distinguished and Chancellor’s Professor of Law (ALI Life Fellow)
- Austen L. Parrish, Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law (ALI Member)
- R. Anthony Reese, Chancellor’s Professor of Law (ALI Member; Associate Reporter, Restatement of the Law, Copyright)
- L. Song Richardson, Chancellor’s Professor of Law (ALI Member)
- Kenneth W. Simons, Chancellor’s Professor of Law (ALI Member; Chief Reporter, Restatement Third of Torts: Intentional Torts to Persons)
- Ari Waldman, Professor of Law (ALI Member)
- Christopher A. Whytock, Professor of Law (ALI Member; Associate Reporter, Restatement of the Law Third, Conflict of Laws)
The engagement of UC Irvine Law faculty in ALI underscores the school’s commitment to legal scholarship, law reform, and public service.
About the University of California, Irvine School of Law
The University of California, Irvine School of Law is a visionary law school that provides an innovative and comprehensive curriculum, prioritizes public service, and demonstrates a commitment to equity within the legal profession. At UC Irvine Law, we are driven to improve our local, national, and global communities by grappling with important issues as scholars, as practitioners, and as teachers who are preparing the next generation of leaders. The collaborative and interdisciplinary community at UC Irvine Law includes extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, dedicated staff, engaged alumni, and enthusiastic supporters. Connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, and sign up for our monthly newsletter for the latest news and events at UC Irvine Law.