Former Loyola University Chicago Law Dean David Yellen has been named the incoming chief executive officer of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, better known as IAALS.

IAALS, which is based out of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, seeks to improve access to civil justice and system equity in the courts through research and advocacy. The nonprofit organization in recent years has also focused on legal education and how best to prepare new lawyers for modern practice. That dedication to access to justice and reform is a major reason he was interested in the job, Yellen said shortly after the announcement that he will become IAALS's new leader in June. Moreover, IAALS's reputation for centering its efforts on real-world solutions rather than on abstract issues made the job appealing.