2026 Equal Justice Conference has ended

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2026 Equal Justice Conference

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7:30am EDT

CLE/Help Desk Symphony Foyer Conference Check-In Symphony Foyer Exhibit Hall Symphony Foyer Lactation Room Lower Symphony Lounge Quiet Room - sponsored by Mutual of America Financial Group Piedmont Self-Care Station - sponsored by Justice Works Symphony Foyer

7:45am EDT

Breakfast - sponsored by Complete Equity Markets, Inc. Symphony Foyer

8:30am EDT

Opening Plenary Symphony 4Liz Clasen-Kelly

10:00am EDT

AI Injustice as a New Frontier for Lawyer-Organizer Advocacy Models Mecklenburg 3Susan Garcia Nofi • Andrea Reyes Belonging Against the Backdrop: Reimagining DEI in Legal Aid Symphony 1Kiara Hunt • Rej Joo Bringing Home the Crisis in Legal Aid Funding Symphony 6Lisa Singer • Hilaire Armstrong • Felecia Pettway Building the Pipeline: Cultivating Pro Bono Leadership Across Career Stages Carolina D&ESarah Lahlou-Amine • Jeffrey Harvey • Sylvia Novinsky • Emily Ellis Finding the Story in the Numbers: Turning Court Data into Action Governers 1&2Tanisha Pierrette • Lillian Patil Hot Topics in Civil Legal Aid Carolina AJason Vail • Radhika Singh • Ronald S. Flagg Justice Metamorphosis: Courts Innovating e-Filing Technology to Provide Access and Empower Survivors Symphony 3Sarah Mauet • Sarah Hoskinson • Amy Borman Promising Practices For Veterans Discharge Upgrade Applications Based On Racial Discrimination Symphony 5Alden Pinkham Protecting SNAP and Medicaid Access in Light of HR 1 Changes Mecklenburg 2Skyler M. Rosellini • Lauren Hasen • Jessica Mark Rethinking Brief Services Evaluation – A Strategic Approach to Understanding the Impact of Brief Services Mecklenburg 1Neil Steinkamp • Melanie MacBride Speaking with One Voice: Building a Shared Message for America’s Civil Justice System Governers 5&6Samira Nazem • Eve Runyon • Maria Duvuvuei • Brittany Kauffman Using Online Dispute Resolution Pre-Suit to Address Medical Debt Symphony 2Dana Schmidt • Anne-Louise Wirthlin • Alexander McVeagh • Linda Warren Seely Utilizing an Externship, Secondee, or Retiree Model to Grow Pro Bono Engagement Carolina CSara Richman • Laura Sinrod • Lauren Connell • Hamra Ahmad

11:30am EDT

Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing Symphony Foyer California LSC Project Directors Symphony 3 Community Economic Development, Coops, and Community Symphony 5 LSC Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) - for current and former grantees Symphony 2 Networking Lunch: ABA Free Legal Answers Carolina A Networking Lunch: Building a Shared Message for America’s Civil Justice System Together: From Challenges to Opportunity Carolina C Networking Lunch: Immigration Mecklenburg 3 Networking Lunch: NAPBPRO Credentialing Symphony 1 Networking Lunch: Racial equity in the delivery of pro bono legal services Mecklenburg 2

1:15pm EDT

(ETHICS) Automating Solutions for the Sh&! You Don’t Want to Do but Must Do to Keep Your License Mecklenburg 1Maggie R. Robb • Melinda Fithen (ETHICS) Ethics Quiz Show 2026 Carolina CEllyn Rosen • Jenny K. Mittelman • Lauren Gilbride Advocating for Equity in Medicaid Eligibility Systems in the Automation Age Symphony 2Sarah Grusin • Emma Weil • Susan Garcia Nofi • Shandra Harly Design and Deliver Effective & Engaging Training Programs Symphony 1Kelly Tautges • Julia R. Wilson Fostering Collaborative State Agency Partnerships Mecklenburg 3Elizabeth Hom • Lorin Kline • Kara Brodfuehrer • Samiel a. Thumma • Chris Groninger From Clicks to Clinics: Solving the Puzzle of Pro Bono Clinic Logistics Carolina D&EJoseph Schieffer • Anh LyJordan • Meghan Martie • Victoria Pan From Scarcity to Abundance: #JustOC - A New Model for Collaboration and Innovation Governers 5&6Monica Eav Glicken • Kate Marr • Brooke Weitzman Habeas in Practice: Strategies and Stories from the Front Lines Governers 1&2Jacqueline Pearce • Mindy Johnson • Harold Solis • Beth D. Baltimore • F. Evan Benz Law Firm and Corporate Engagement in MLPs: A Scalable Model for Access to Justice Symphony 5Angie Zimmern • Allison Held • Jontile Ray • David J. DePippo • Carol Wyatt Legal Aid Funding Landscape & Roundtable Discussion Symphony 6Anne K. Sweeney • Shubi Deoras • Jared S. Smith • Bill Boies Reimagining Access: A Case Study in AI-Powered Online Intake Portals Symphony 3Scheree M. Gilchrist • Mauricio Duarte • Megan Hennings Securing Justice Through Debt Relief: Ensuring Access to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Carolina AMaria L. Imperial • George Mykulak • Khandice Lofton • Vikram Swaruup Using Evidence to Allocate Scarce Resources Mecklenburg 2D. James Greiner • Renee L. Danser

2:30pm EDT

Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing Symphony Foyer

2:45pm EDT

(ETHICS) AI in Legal Aid: Ethics, Bias, Privacy, and Regulation Carolina AErin Riker • Ellen Samuel • Sarah J. Duval Building and Sustaining Effective Partnerships for Serving LGBTQ+ Low Income Clients Symphony 3Shinming (Ming) Wong • L. Orozco • Kate Mozynski Building Trust and Connecting with Vulnerable Clients Mecklenburg 3Jaelle R. Richardson • Dana Mertz Built to Deliver, Designed to Learn: Linking Project Management with Evaluation Governers 5&6Shellie Reid • Kelly Shaw-Sutherland • Katherine Wines Catalysts for Change: The Strategic Role of Leaders in Program Innovation & Mission Advancement Carolina CPhil Hwang • Patrick Fodell • Monica Eav Glicken • Robert White Community Legal Needs Assessments Post-pandemic: Trends & Emerging Needs Mecklenburg 1Jeffrey Harvey • Steve Grumm • Jen Lee Enforcing Human Trafficking Survivors’ Rights Through Civil Suits Symphony 6Annie Smith • Jose Alfaro • Aaron Halegua Going on Offense: Using Affirmative Litigation to Achieve Better Outcomes in Eviction Cases Symphony 2Lydia Ellsworth • Beverly Beaver Justice Starts in Law School: Expanding Pro Bono Through Academic Partnerships Carolina D&EJeanne Ortiz-Ortiz • Amy Hsieh • Gina D'Amico • Aaron J. Irving Justice Unbundled: A Path to Legal Access Through Scalable Limited-Scope Models that Empower Clients & Increase Lawyer Engagement Symphony 5Addison N. Mininger • Joy Springfield • Sharmaine Heng • Kiersten Bartolotta Making your Evaluation Meaningful from Design to Impact Mecklenburg 2Julia Schutt Strengthening Neighborhoods with Pro Bono Support Symphony 1Kayla Hogan • Anna Berman The Case for Clarity: Law Firm Giving and Government Advocacy in Turbulent Times Governers 1&2Steve H. Schulman • Paul Lee • Adam Heintz • Mytrang Nguyen

4:00pm EDT

4:15pm EDT

(ETHICS) Navigating Cybersecurity Risks in Legal Aid: Protecting Clients, Data, and Trust Carolina CShellie Reid • Ellen Samuel • Joseph Melo • David Forrester (NOT CLE ELIGIBLE) Redefining Success in Challenging Times: Preserving Rights, Reimagining Justice Symphony 2Tamara Serwer Caldas • Rene Kathawala • Chriselle Raguro • Katie Niejadlik • Bianca Sierra Wolff America's Black Maternal Health Crisis and Disappearing Data Mecklenburg 2Bernadette Manigault Building Tenant Power to Preserve Subsidized Housing Symphony 3Korey C. Lundin • Bridgett A. Simmons • David Sunshine Hamburger Designing Tech-Driven Case Studies and Role Plays for Pro Bono Volunteers Carolina D&EPatrick Fodell • Phong Wong • Judy Hale Educating Legislators About Legal Aid 2.0 Carolina ARonald S. Flagg • Laura Tuggle • Betty Bali Torres • Ashley Campbell If You Build It, They Will [Advocate]: How to Develop Your Own Guardianship Defense Practice Governers 5&6Karen Nicolson • Sara E. Planthaber Media 101: Press Relations with a Small Team (or Without Comms Staff) Symphony 5Maria Duvuvuei Power to the People: A Holistic Revolution to End Mass Incarceration Through Participatory Defense Governers 1&2Mitchelle Woodson Reimagining the Justice Experience: Designing Justice Systems Through User Feedback and Lessons from Other Sectors Symphony 1Samantha DiDomenico State Court Leadership Views on Authorized Justice Workers Mecklenburg 1Rebecca Sandefur • Elizabeth Chambliss • Cassie Chambers Matthew Burnett • Alyx Mark Understanding & Addressing Burnout Mecklenburg 3Julia R. Wilson

5:00pm EDT

A2JN Meeting CJ's (on-site)

6:00pm EDT

Welcome Reception - HopFly Brewing Company 1327 S Mint St. Charlotte, NC, 28203