2026 Equal Justice Conference: Full Schedule

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8:30am EDT

Booked Up, Logged In, and On the Road Again-- Close the Justice Gap with a Public Library Partnership

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Strategic partnerships with public libraries can address inequities in the justice system for self-represented individuals. Pro bono led clinics, combined with library services and resources, put self-helpers on equal footing with opponents as they advocate for themselves. This session features innovative partnerships with public libraries that bridge the justice gap. We’ll share ideas for clinics and programs; an initiative that brings virtual public access to court services and resources; and a mobile legal office to ensure no one gets left behind.

Speakers

Katherine Hope Chew

Executive Director, LA Law Library

Katherine serves as the Executive Director of LA Law Library. LA Law Library is the largest public law library on the west coast, and second only to the Law Library of Congress in size in the United States. With a vast collection of state, federal, and foreign legal resources spanning... Read More →

Julie M. Brophy

Associate, Dechert LLP

Karie Schulenburg

Research Librarian, Boston Public Library

Karie chose librarianship as her career because of the library's intrinsic and unique ability to effectively pivot and evolve according to the needs of the public it serves. Librarians are a vital conduit for positive social change by providing trustworthy information and services... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Symphony 1

Sessions

8:30am EDT

Creative Strategies to Train and Support Pro Bono Lawyers

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Governers 5&6

Great pro bono programs don’t just recruit volunteers -- they build systems that set them up for success. This panel explores practical strategies for onboarding, training, and retaining volunteers, with real-world models from Pro Bono Network and Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida. Ideal for legal aid staff, pro bono coordinators, and law firm professionals who design or support attorney engagement and training efforts.

Speakers

Courtney Jones

Courtney S. Jones is the Managing Attorney of Pro Bono Development at Community Legal Services (CLS), where she leads strategic initiatives to recruit, train, and support volunteer attorneys and law students in delivering high-quality legal services to underserved communities. In... Read More →

Molly MacCready

Executive Director, Pro Bono Network

Molly MacCready is the Executive Director of Pro Bono Network, a nonprofit that creates flexible pro bono opportunities, removing barriers to attorney volunteerism, to serve people in need. She oversees staff leadership and leads the organization’s strategic vision, working closely... Read More →

Sheila Winkelman Pont

Pro Bono Director, Pro Bono Network

Sheila Winkelman Pont is a founder and the current Pro Bono Director of Pro Bono Network. In this role, she collaborates with nine legal aid organizations to expand access to justice by creating pro bono opportunities that address critical community legal needs while providing attorneys... Read More →

Andrea D. Ortiz

Director of Pro Bono Services, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Governers 5&6

Sessions

8:30am EDT

Defending Civil Society: Innovative Pro Bono Models for Protecting Nonprofits Under Pressure

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Carolina D&E

Nonprofit organizations are currently navigating a perfect storm of federal funding freezes, tax-exempt status challenges, and congressional oversight. This session provides a practical framework for mobilizing pro bono resources to protect these vital institutions. We will explore the intersection of administrative law, grant compliance, and governance to build tiered support systems—ranging from immediate technical triage to sophisticated legal counsel. Participants will learn to design comprehensive support ecosystems that integrate legal expertise with policy advocacy and community partnership, while mastering the logistics of training hundreds of volunteers and leveraging technology to maintain rigorous supervision standards at scale.

Speakers

Bob Glaves

Executive Director, The Chicago Bar Foundation

Bob Glaves has been Executive Director of The Chicago Bar Foundation since October of 1999, prior to which he had a successful nine-year career as a civil litigator in private practice. As Executive Director of the CBF, Glaves is responsible for leading and overseeing the CBF’s... Read More →

Lauren Worsek

Director, Pro Bono Initiatives, Lawyers for Good Government

Lauren Worsek is the Director of Pro Bono Initiatives at Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), where she oversees the strategic direction and operations of L4GG’s national pro bono programs, mobilizing thousands of volunteers to respond to urgent legal issues nationwide. She previously... Read More →

Michelle Roos

Executive Director, Environmental Protection Network

MIchelle Roos is the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Network (EPN). EPN has a small staff and over 750 EPA alumni across the country volunteering their time to protect the integrity of EPA, human health, and the environment. Michelle helped launch EPN’s capacity-building... Read More →

Jillian Blanchard

Senior Vice President of Climate Change and Environmental Justice, Lawyers for Good Government

Jillian Blanchard is L4GG’s Senior Vice President of Climate Change and Environmental Justice and a nationally recognized attorney in energy and natural resources law. Ms. Blanchard has worked in all levels of government, nonprofit, and the private sector on environmental, infrastructure... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Carolina D&E

Sessions

8:30am EDT

Fail Smart, Win Big: Overcoming Fear to Unlock Innovation Potential

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Carolina A

Innovation requires experimentation, and experimentation means some failures are inevitable. Yet fear of failure often paralyzes organizations and stifles breakthrough thinking. This panel explores how to distinguish between intelligent failures—productive experiments that generate valuable learning—and preventable mistakes. Our panel shares frameworks for building cultures where calculated risk-taking is encouraged, failures are analyzed without blame, and teams develop the courage to push boundaries and drive meaningful innovation.

Speakers

Andy Cole

Pro Bono Managing Attorney, West Tennessee Legal Services

Ashley Holliday

Executive Director, West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc.

Ashley Holliday is Executive Director at West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. Ashley has worked at WTLS since 2009, previously serving as General Counsel and Manager of the Senior Services, Intake, and Consumer Units. Ashley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Carolina A

Sessions

8:30am EDT

Financing the Future and Strengthening the Law Student to Public Interest Pipeline

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Mecklenburg 2

Supporting law students to pursue paths to legal services or pro bono partnerships is critical to recruitment and retention in the sector. We will explore how providing financial support from legal services, law schools, the State Bar, and others can encourage students to seek public interest careers while also increasing diversity.

Speakers

Phong Wong

Pro Bono Director, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Phong Wong, Pro Bono Director at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.

Phong oversees the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles’ pro bono work and coordinates its pro bono cases and projects, including Disaster Response and the Pro Bono Training Institute. She also oversees the outreach, recruitment, and hiring of volunteers including law students, underg... Read More →

Elizabeth Hom

Program Director, State Bar of Calfornia

Elizabeth A. Hom is a Program Director at the State Bar of California, Office of Access & Inclusion, where she advances the State Bar’s efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system. Elizabeth supports administration of grants to legal aid organizations throughout... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Mecklenburg 2

Sessions

8:30am EDT

From Casework to Capacity-Building: Supervisors as Change Agents

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Carolina C

Senior supervising attorneys in legal aid organizations often juggle high caseloads while serving as the connective tissue of their programs. Too often, their role is framed narrowly as case oversight, rather than as an opportunity to build organizational capacity and shape culture. This session reframes supervision as a lever for change. Through interactive discussion, real-world case studies, and practical tools, participants will explore how supervisors can develop staff skills, embed equity in everyday practice, and pilot innovative workflows that ripple beyond their teams. Attendees will leave with frameworks for shifting from “approver of work” to “capacity-builder,” strategies for balancing advocacy with leadership, and templates for implementing small-scale changes that drive systemic impact.

Speakers

Holly Beck

Divisional Supervising Attorney, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Kadeem Morris

Co-Managing Attorney, Housing Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Kadeem Morris is a Co-Managing Attorney in the Housing Unit at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, where he co-manages a team of 40 lawyers, paralegals, social workers, and other staff members in litigation and advocacy to prevent evictions and homelessness. He also co-leads... Read More →

Jenna Collins

Director of Supervision & Professional Development, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Jenna Collins is the Director of Superivsion and Professional Development at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. She is also a housing attorney. She oversees and supports CLS’s supervision and training systems to ensure all staff have access to excellent supervision and training... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Carolina C

Sessions

8:30am EDT

From Collaboration to Code: Building a Statewide Civil Justice Infrastructure

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Symphony 3

Discover how Louisiana’s Civil Legal Navigator evolved from vision to statewide infrastructure. This session demonstrates the platform and its integrated screening, intake, and referral tools, then unpacks the collaborative ecosystem—multi-partner capacity-building, coordinated content and resource development, taxonomy alignment and more—that helps Louisiana inform, empower, and connect legal help seekers across the state.

Speakers

Laura Tuggle

Executive Director, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services

Laura Tuggle has been the Executive Director of Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) since May 2014 after beginning her career in 1993. She managed SLLS’ Housing Law Unit following Hurricane Katrina from 2005-2010. Laura's work includes direct services, systemic work and policy... Read More →

Amanda Brown

Rachel Mills

ATJ Projects Counsel, Louisiana State Bar Association

Rachael Mills, Esq. currently works with the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Access to Justice Program where she serves as ATJ Projects Counsel. In this role she works to manage, administer and direct various projects of the LSBA ATJ Program, which strengthens relationships and... Read More →

Stephanie Beaugh

Access to Justice Projects Counsel, Louisiana State Bar Association

Stephanie Beaugh is the Access to Justice Projects Counsel at the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA), where she serves as staff liaison to the Self-Represented Litigation, Technology, and Community Outreach & Education Committees of the Access to Justice Commission. In this role... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Symphony 3

Sessions

8:30am EDT

Innovative Tools for Managing and Growing Outreach and Pro Bono Programs

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Governers 1&2

Building on last year’s popular discussion, “Innovative Strategies for Managing and Growing Your Outreach Program,” this session shares how our outreach and pro bono strategies have evolved. Presenters will demonstrate equity-driven approaches using tools like Monday.com, interactive maps, and inclusive campaigns to streamline planning, engage communities, and coordinate volunteers. Attendees will leave with practical tools and ideas to strengthen and grow their own outreach and pro bono programs.

Speakers

Sandra L. San Emeterio Fair

Director of Community Outreach and Education, Statewide Legal Services of CT

Sandra L. San Emeterio Fair, Esq., is the Director of Community Outreach and Education at Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, where she leads efforts to expand access to justice for underserved communities. With nearly a decade of experience in community outreach, education... Read More →

Aletheia C. Stratos

Executive IT Assistant, Statewide Legal Services of CT

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Governers 1&2

Sessions

8:30am EDT

IRS vs. IOU: Leveraging IRS Regs and Counterclaims in Nonprofit Hospital Debt Suits

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Mecklenburg 3

501(c)(3) hospitals must comply with IRS Section 501(r) regarding Financial Assistance Policies and Extraordinary Collection Actions (ECAs). This session is a tactical guide for advocates defending medical debt collection cases by leveraging these federal regulations. Learn to spot violations—like improper billing or illegal ECAs—and use them as powerful counterclaims to secure full debt discharge, enforce charity care, and hold tax-exempt hospitals accountable for aggressive collections.

Speakers

Matthew Keenan

Executive Director, Kansas Legal Services

Matt Keenan received his undergraduate in Liberal Arts from the University of Kansas, graduating with Distinction in 1981. At graduation, he was honored with the Agnes Wright Strickland award, given to two graduates with demonstrated leadership in matters of University concern.
KU law school, 1984, Order of the Coif, Articles Editor, KU Law Review. Law clerk, Hon. James K. Logan, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Shook, Hardy & Bacon in KCMO where he practiced for 37 years, serving as chair of the firm’s pro bono committee. In August... Read More →

Andy Kent

Staff Attorney, Kansas Legal Services

Casey Johnson

Director of Advocacy and Litigation, Kansas Legal Services

Casey Johnson is the Director of Advocacy and Litigation for Kansas Legal Services (KLS) and is primarily responsible for the firm’s judicial advocacy, litigation strategies, and attorney training. Casey interned in the Topeka office from 2011 to 2013 and, after a brief stint as... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Mecklenburg 3

Sessions

8:30am EDT

Launching Community Justice Workers: a Solution to the Legal Deserts Faced by DV Survivors

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Symphony 5

More states are allowing various forms of practice for CJWs. Alaska’s Rule 43.5 allows CJWs to practice law in certain circumstances, including going to court. We’ll share how CJWs are trained for use of the waiver and the progress CJWs are making to end legal deserts for DV survivors.

Speakers

Sarah Carver

Managing Attorney, Center for Elder Law and Justice

Sarah Carver is Co-Director of Alaska Legal Services Corporation’s Community Justice Worker Resource Center (CJWRC). She started her legal career with ALSC as the sole staff attorney in the rural Nome, Alaska office. Since 2018, she has worked to build up the Community Justice Worker... Read More →

Teryn Bird

Legal Program Director, Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living

Teryn Bird is a trial attorney and Legal Program Director at the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living in Fairbanks, Alaska. She was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah and... Read More →

Lauren Kellogg

Community Justice Worker, Alaska Legal Services Corporation

Joy K. Anderson

Co-Director, CJWRC, Alaska Legal Services Corp

Joy Anderson is a Co-Director for the Community Justice Worker Resource Center, an initiative of the Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC). Previously, Joy served as the General Counsel of the Association of Village Council Presidents, a large non-profit tribal consortium of 56... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Symphony 5

Sessions

8:30am EDT

San Diego Participatory Defense (FREE SD), Bringing the Racial Justice Act to Life

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Mecklenburg 1

FREE-SD works to turn the promise of California’s Racial Justice Act into practice by building power, transparency, and accountability in the legal system. Through court watching, public records requests, data analysis, community organizing, education, and media advocacy, FREE-SD strengthens RJA cases and advances racial justice. This presentation highlights partnerships with the San Diego Public Defender’s Office, UC San Diego, and Pillars of the Community, showing how collaboration equips families and attorneys to challenge systemic racism and fight to free loved ones.

Speakers

Mitchelle Woodson

Legal Director, Pillars of the Community

Mitchelle is Legal Director at Pillars of the Community, overseeing Police Accountability and Law Office Study programs. She is a founding member of FREE-SD and the DeDe McClure Community Bail Fund, a national speaker on justice issues, and an award-winning advocate. She earned her... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Mecklenburg 1

Sessions

8:30am EDT

The Golden Years Challenge: The Experience of Aging Observed Through a New Lens

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

Symphony 6

The Golden Years Challenge is an interactive experience that places participants in the roles of older adults managing the daily realities of aging. Modeled after poverty and re-entry simulations, it explores barriers like fixed incomes, mental/physical problems, healthcare access, transportation, and more. As older persons, participants gain empathy and insight into how economic and social inequities affect aging, while discovering ways to strengthen community support, promote inclusion, and advance justice for older adults.

Speakers

Kay Hightower

Partner, Richburg Career Services

Kay Taylor Hightower, Esq., is a partner at Richburg Career Services, Consulting firm that supports nonprofit organizations through grant writing, prospect research and pipeline building by connecting nonprofit to business, governmental and private funders. For almost nine years... Read More →

Susan Ingles

Senior Staff Attorney and Consumer Protection Unit Head, S.C. Legal Services

Susan Ingles is a senior staff attorney and consumer protection unit head at S.C. Legal Services and a frequent speaker on consumer protection, innovation and other legal topics. After 22 years in private practice, Susan spent the last 22 years at SCLS working with vulnerable populations... Read More →

Sally Nesemeier

Communications Manager, Pacolet Milliken

Dr. Sally Nesemeier is a Communications Manager at Pacolet Milliken, where she helps lead strategic communications across a family of companies. Previously, she directed marketing and communications for South Carolina Legal Services, a statewide nonprofit, serving as the organization’s... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
Symphony 6

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Community-Based Legal Innovation: Research on Justice Worker Programs in Indian Country

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Mecklenburg 2

This session examines emerging community justice worker (CJW) programs in Indian Country as an evolution from Alaska Legal Services Corporation’s CJW program. Panelists will share research on program design, integration, and impact, highlighting how CJWs expand legal capacity in Alaska Native and American Indian communities and identifying priorities for future study.

Speakers

Cody Nelson

Executive Director, Anishinabe Legal Services

Cody Nelson is the Executive Director of Anishinabe Legal Services, a 501(c)(3) non-profit civil
legal aid law firm providing free legal assistance to low-income Native Americans residing on or
near the Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake Nations in northern Minnesota. Cody
gra... Read More →

Rebecca Sandefur

Professor, Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University

Dr. Rebecca Sandefur is the Director of the Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University and a Faculty Fellow at the American Bar Foundation, where she founded and leads the Access to Justice Research Initiative. In 2018 she was named a MacArthur Fellow... Read More →

Matthew Burnett

Director of Research and Programs for the Access to Justice Research Initiative, American Bar Foundation

Matthew Burnett is Director of Research and Programs for the Access to Justice Research Initiative at the American Bar Foundation (ABF), a visiting scholar with the Justice Futures Project at Arizona State University, and an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center... Read More →

Sarah Carver

Managing Attorney, Center for Elder Law and Justice

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Mecklenburg 2

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Enforcing the Disability Rights of Public Benefits Applicants and Recipients Under Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Governers 5&6

In an interactive lecture format, attendees will learn the basics of the Americans with Disability Act (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“504”) coupled with effective strategies to fight disability discrimination against applicants and recipients of Public Assistance, SNAP and Medicaid. There will be several interactive hypotheticals to facilitate issue spotting, and participants will learn the nuts and bolts of investigating and developing federal ADA/504 complaints. There will be an update on the rapidly changing legal landscape of the ADA/504.

Speakers

Saima A. Akhtar

Senior Attorney, National Center for Law and Economic Justice

Saima Akhtar is a Senior Attorney with the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. She works on issues that include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (food stamps), cash public assistance, subsidized childcare, and concerns of Due Process. Saima has represented... Read More →

Haley Kulakowski

Supervising Staff Attorney, Empire Justice Center

Haley Kulakowski is a Public Benefits Supervising Staff Attorney at Empire Justice Center's Rochester office. Haley practices in public benefits law, focusing on impact litigation through class action lawsuits to improve public benefits programs and ensure equitable access to benefits... Read More →

Elizabeth Woods

Supervising Senior Attorney, Empire Justice Center

Elizabeth Woods is a Supervising Senior Attorney in the Public Benefits unit at the Empire Justice Center in Albany, NY. Elizabeth was previously a Senior Staff Attorney at Disability Rights New York in the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Program, focusing... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Governers 5&6

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Fines and Fines Reform: Opportunities and Lessons Learned

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Governers 1&2

Court fines and fees can have a devastating impact on court users with collateral consequences beyond a criminal case, including ramifications for housing and credit. This session will focus on the civil implications of court fines and fees, civil legal strategies to address the impact of court fines and fees, reform initiatives, and tools and resources developed by the recent national CCJ/COSCA Task Force on fines, fees, and pretrial reform. It will also focus on current political challenges related to fines and fees reform and the impact on civil legal justice.

Speakers

Grace Spulak

Principal Court Management Consultant, National Center for State Courts

Grace Spulak, JD, is a Senior Court Management Consultant with the National Center for State Courts where she works on a variety of access to justice issues, including the use of remote hearings, rural justice, process simplification, user-testing, and regulatory reform. Grace is... Read More →

Lisa Foster

Co-founder and Senior Advisor, Fines and Fees Justice Center

Lisa Foster is the Co-Founder and Senior Advisor at the Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC), where she leads the organization’s work with the judiciary and courts. A retired judge and the former Director of the Office for Access to Justice at the United States Department of Justice... Read More →

Alisha Clegg

Associate Director of Legal Impact, Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation

Thomas More Donnelly

A Cook County Circuit Judge, Thomas More Donnelly, was sworn in as a judge more than 25 years ago on January 7, 2000. He has received over four hundred jury verdicts. He currently sits in the Law Division, Commercial Calendar, deciding motions, convening settlement conferences, and... Read More →

Bob Glaves

Executive Director, The Chicago Bar Foundation

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Governers 1&2

Sessions

10:00am EDT

From Evidence to Engagement to Action: Leveraging Research, Convening, and Direct Services for Stronger Domestic Violence Protections

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Mecklenburg 1

Domestic violence survivors often face complex, system-level barriers to obtaining and enforcing orders of protection and related civil legal remedies. To address these challenges, three South Carolina groups joined forces to create a cycle of research, convening, and service delivery to expand access to legal protections for survivors. This session will share lessons learned and practical guidance for making academic research accessible and actionable, convening stakeholders to build consensus and commitments around evidence, and translating those commitments into real service improvements.

Speakers

Lisa Martin

Professor of Law, University of South Carolina Rice School of Law

Lisa Martin is a Professor of Law and the Director of the Domestic Violence Clinic at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law and a member of the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission. Throughout her career, Professor Martin’s research and practice has... Read More →

Shunna V. Jeter

Shunna Jeter is the Executive Director of South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS), a statewide nonprofit law firm providing civil legal assistance to low-income South Carolinians. She is also a member of the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission. Her professional background is... Read More →

Hannah Honeycutt

Executive Director, South Carolina Access to Justice Commission

Hannah has served as the SC Access to Justice Commission’s executive director since June of 2019. She is a 2007 graduate of Wagner College in Staten Island, New York with a B.A., magna cum laude, in English and Spanish, and a 2013 graduate of the University of South Carolina School... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Mecklenburg 1

Sessions

10:00am EDT

How to Kill your Darlings: Making Bold Changes to Maximize Pro Bono Program Impact

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Symphony 2

Hemingway famously advised writers to "kill their darlings" - those aspects of a story that they love but no longer serve the overall purpose. This advice also applies to organizations running longstanding but outdated pro bono programs. Using case studies from several legal services organizations, this session will discuss knowing when your program needs a change, determining what changes to make, and successfully implementing those changes to maximize program impact.

Speakers

Sarah Babcock

Co-Director, Community Justice Resource Center, Alaska Legal Services

Sarah Babcock is the Director of Saturday Lawyer and Eviction Defense Programs at Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. These programs connect tenants experiencing housing issues with legal advocacy, information about their rights, and representation by pro bono attorney volunteers... Read More →

Darcy McLean

Director of Pro Bono & Community Engagement, Alston & Bird

As the Director of Pro Bono & Community Engagement at Alston & Bird, Darcy McLean develops and maintains relationships with legal services organizations and law firm pro bono coordinators firmwide. She facilitates trainings and volunteer opportunities for attorneys and staff and manages... Read More →

Kate Gaffney

Director of Pro Bono, Atlanta Legal Aid Society

Kate Gaffney is the Director of Pro Bono at Atlanta Legal Aid Society. Kate develops, manages and oversees the many ways Atlanta Legal Aid Society works with private attorneys, law students and volunteers to help further the organization’s mission of helping low-income people meet... Read More →

Sarah J. Anderson

PBU Deputy Director/Clinics & Compliance, Georgia Legal Services Program

Sarah Anderson serves as the Pro Bono Unit Deputy Director / Clinics & Compliance for Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP). In this role, she develops clinic models that can be implemented across GLSP’s regional offices and oversees compliance with Legal Services Corporation (LSC... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Symphony 2

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Impact of Disaster Related Payouts to Public Benefit Recipients

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Symphony 5

Natural disasters disrupt clients' lives in many ways, affecting not only their homes and livelihoods, but also their continued receipt of public benefits. Learn how disaster-related payouts and relief programs can impact benefit eligibility as well as effective models for delivering legal services to disaster-impacted communities.

Speakers

Carlos Valdes

Pro Bono Manager, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Carlos Valdes (he/him) is the Pro Bono Manager at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), where he supports the Pro Bono Disaster Response Team serving individuals affected by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. In his role, Carlos has coordinated volunteer attorneys and law... Read More →

Jonathan Brown

Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Jon Brown, J.D. is an attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, where he represents low-income clients with a broad range of public benefits issues as part of LAFLA’s Economic Stability Work Group. He represents clients in various administrative hearings and has litigated... Read More →

Bernadette Segura

Deputy Group Coordinator, Public Benefits Group, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Symphony 5

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Justice Isn't Blind: The Role of Implicit Bias in the Courts

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Mecklenburg 3

Join this conversation to discuss how colorblindness is a barrier rather than a solution to achieving equality in society and the courts. Recently a judge said, “I always thought colorblindness was a good thing!” Other judges have stated, “I don’t notice race, I just read what’s in the court reports!” Racial bias will inevitably seep into court decision-making through language in court documents, testimonies, judicial rulings etc. A colorblind court, one in which racism is not acknowledged, can never deliver justice. Understanding interventions to interrupt colorblind courts are more urgent now than ever.

Speakers

Rita Cameron Wedding

Emerita Faculty, Emerita Faculty Sacramento State University

Dr. Cameron Wedding served as department chair & faculty in the departments of Women’s & Ethnic Studies at Sacramento State University for over 20 years. Her first training program, Implicit Bias: Impact on Decision-Making, which was based on her university curriculum, became a... Read More →

Shalinee Hunter

Shalinee Hunter, J.D., is a civil rights and equity leader serving as the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Assistant Director, and Equity Lead for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where she provides enterprise-wide leadership for a workforce of more than... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Mecklenburg 3

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Meet Hazel to Learn About Approaches to Inclusive Work Environments

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Symphony 3

This session will introduce Hazel, New Mexico Legal Aid's facility dog. In conjunction with Assistance Dogs of the West, the presentation will focus on alternative methods to promote an inclusive work environment that addresses both visible and invisible disabilities at legal aid organizations.

Speakers

Sonya Bellafant

Executive Director, New Mexico Legal Aid

Sonya G. Bellafant, Esq., is a transformational Chief Executive Officer and attorney with more than 20 years of leadership experience advancing mission-driven organizations through strategic growth, financial stabilization, and operational excellence. She has led complex, multi-site... Read More →

Linda Milanesi

CEO/President, Assistance Dogs of the West

In 2006, Linda Milanesi began her career with Assistance Dogs of the West when she apprenticed to become an instructor/trainer in the school programs. She served as Vice President of the ADW board until 2011, when she was named ADW’s Executive Director. Linda oversees a whole-systems... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Symphony 3

Sessions

10:00am EDT

MIE Roundtable for Legal Services Executive Directors and Managers

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Carolina A

The MIE Roundtable allows legal services Executive Directors and Managers to discuss difficult challenges and pressing concerns confidentially, and to benefit from their colleagues who are willing to share their experiences. This session moves the community as a whole forward toward better management, resulting in better services to clients.

Speakers

Jared S. Smith

Director of Programs, Management Information Exchange (MIE)

Jared Smith is MIE’s Director of Programs, a role in which he works to develop innovative remote and in-person trainings, engaging resources, and effective spaces for collaboration. In this role, he also supports private and legislative fundraising efforts, including by enhancing... Read More →

Yvonne Mariajimenez

President & CEO, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA)

Yvonne began her career at NLSLA more than 48 years ago, as a Paralegal/Interpreter. She was the NLSLA Deputy Director for 25 years, and became President and CEO in 2019. She is a self-proclaimed beneficiary of the transformative work legal aid provides to low-income families. When... Read More →

Alexis Smith

Executive Director, New Haven Legal Assistance

Alexis H. Smith (she/her) is the Executive Director of New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) a nonprofit law firm whose mission is to provide high quality legal assistance to individuals and families who cannot obtain a lawyer. Prior to becoming executive director, Alexis... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Carolina A

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Pro Bono Immigration Practice in a Time of Increased Enforcement

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Symphony 1

Pro bono programs face a tumultuous and ever-changing landscape of increased immigration enforcement impacting their clients. This creates challenges and uncertainties in effective case management. This session brings the nonprofit, law firm, and corporate perspectives together for a real conversation on the stressors involved in pro bono immigration practice and strategies to navigate those challenges and strengthen collaborations in supporting immigrant communities.

Speakers

Angela Bouliakis Andronis

Deputy Director for Pro Bono Partnerships, Kids In Need of Defense (KIND)

Beth Henderson

Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation

Beth Henderson is Assistant General Counsel – Pro Bono Director at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. In this role, she manages the strategy, budget, and operations of Microsoft’s pro bono program on a full-time basis. Her work includes developing and promoting diverse pro bono... Read More →

Marianne Staniunas

Pro Bono Immigration Counsel, Ropes & Gray LLP

Marianne Staniunas is Pro Bono Immigration Counsel for Ropes & Gray LLP. Marianne has over 20 years of immigration legal experience. In her role as Pro Bono Immigration Counsel, she provides mentorship and subject matter expertise for Ropes’ attorneys representing clients in pro... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Symphony 1

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Tech Skills for Justice: Strengthening Legal Aid Staff Technology Competencies

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Carolina D&E

Legal aid organizations increasingly rely on technology, yet staff often face gaps in digital skills that hinder efficiency and client service. This session will share strategies for assessing staff technology competencies, mapping them to organizational needs, and implementing tailored upskilling programs. Panelists will highlight lessons learned, practical tools, and approaches to building staff confidence, ensuring tech equity, and strengthening service delivery.

Speakers

Jane Ribadeneyra

Senior Program Officer for Technology, Legal Services Corporation

Jane Ribadeneyra joined the Legal Services Corporation in 2009 and is a Senior Program Officer for Technology. She oversees technology initiative grants that improve access to high-quality legal assistance for low-income people throughout the United States and its territories. She... Read More →

David Forrester

IT Director, Northwest Justice Project

David Forrester leads Northwest Justice Project's dedicated technology team as IT Director. For the past 20 years, David’s work has focused on helping nonprofits develop strategies and deliver technology solutions that help broaden and deepen their positive impact. Before joining... Read More →

America Valdez

HR Director, Community Legal Aid of SoCal

Hello - My name is America, and I am HR Director at Community Legal Aid SoCal. I look forward to connecting with you.

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Carolina D&E

Sessions

10:00am EDT

Testing Your New GenAI-Enhanced Tool(s) – How and Why 

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

Carolina C

Generative AI has the potential to increase access to justice, but only if we engage in responsible use. To do this, we must thoroughly test AI tool performance for accuracy and iterate models based on results – before the tool is launched and after. Panelists will discuss why evaluation is key; how they determine acceptable error rates based on use and audience; how much testing is necessary; and testing methods and strategies that attendees can use.

Speakers

Angela Tripp

Program Officer for Technology, Legal Services Corporation

Russ Bloomquist

Program Manager & Sr. Full Stack Developer, Maryland Legal Aid

Russ Bloomquist leads innovation and automation initiatives at Maryland Legal Aid, where he leverages over 25 years of experience in software development and design. His work centers on closing the justice gap through technology, with a focus on ethical AI integration, data-driven... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Carolina C

Sessions

1:30pm EDT

50 Tech Tips: Tools to Boost Everyday Practice

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Mecklenburg 1

This lively, rapid-fire session will showcase 50 practical technology tips designed to help legal aid and pro bono staff work smarter every day. Panelists will highlight free and low-cost tools, AI-powered resources, collaboration platforms, accessibility solutions, and strategies for managing information securely. Attendees will leave with an array of easy-to-use apps, add-ons, and shortcuts they can immediately put into practice to save time, improve efficiency, and better serve clients.

Speakers

LaDierdre Johnson

Program Officer, Legal Services Corporation

Shellie Reid

Manager, Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project

Shellie Reid is the Manager of the Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project (LSNTAP). During law school, Shellie sought opportunities to gain experience beyond the normal law school path. As an ATJ Tech Fellow, Shellie learned of the many career options available to students... Read More →

Jane Ribadeneyra

Senior Program Officer for Technology, Legal Services Corporation

Angela Tripp

Program Officer for Technology, Legal Services Corporation

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Mecklenburg 1

Sessions

1:30pm EDT

Breaking Bread, Changing Futures: Community Solutions for Youth Justice

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Governers 5&6

This session combines a brief presentation with facilitated small-group conversations to show how community justice workers and trauma-informed approaches can keep youth out of the justice system. Participants will engage directly with scenarios and problem-solving discussions, leaving with practical strategies to strengthen families, build trust, and improve community safety.

Speakers

Nikole Nelson

CEO, Frontline Justice

Nikole Nelson is the founding CEO of Frontline Justice. Prior to joining Frontline Justice Nikole was the Executive Director of Alaska Legal Services Corporation, Alaska’s only statewide provider of free civil aid. During her 25 years in the field, she worked to build community-led... Read More →

Jim Copple

Alicia Mitchell-Mercer

Chief Operations Officer, Fontline Justice

Rachel Royal

Program Coordinator, Frontline Justice

Rachel Royal is the Program Coordinator at Frontline Justice. A certified paralegal with nine years of legal field experience, she transitioned to nonprofit project and operations management in 2021. At the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission, Rachel managed projects... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Governers 5&6

Sessions

1:30pm EDT

Centering Clients, Expanding Reach: Pro Bono in Rural Communities

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Symphony 3

Explore what it means for a pro bono program to be truly client-centered in rural and under-resourced communities. This session highlights lessons from successful service-delivery efforts, with a focus on project development, communication, and engagement strategies to expand access to services. Participants will discuss practical methods for training and engaging volunteers, including those from outside rural areas, to expand service delivery. Walk away with concrete tools to strengthen rural pro bono efforts and develop a more robust network of legal advocates.

Speakers

Anais Taboas

Program Counsel, Legal Services Corporation

Anais Taboas is program counsel for Pro Bono Innovation and Veterans Grant Administration in the Office of Program Performance. Anais previously served as the pro bono program director at Maryland Legal Aid, where she developed statewide standards for pro bono practice and supervised... Read More →

Matt Kgizaki

Bethanie Mettling

Jerri Shick

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Symphony 3

Sessions

1:30pm EDT

ChatGPT Isn't Your Lawyer: Building AI Digital Literacy

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Carolina D&E

Equip yourself, your colleagues, and your clients with digital literacy skills in the age of AI. Being able to evaluate AI legal tools through product research can help you recognize examples of responsible tech and prevent predatory services, while maximizing opportunities to refer self-help clients to trusted tools to solve their own problems.

Speakers

Kelli Raker

Associate Program Director for Law, Technology, & Entrepreneurship Programs, Duke University, School of Law

Kelli Raker, MA, serves as the Associate Program Director for Law, Tech & Entrepreneurship Programs at the Duke Center on Law & Technology. She supports multiple initiatives and programs including RAILS (Responsible A.I. in Legal Services), the Duke Law Tech Lab, the Legal Design... Read More →

Sonja Ebron

CEO, Courtroom5

Sonja Ebron is the chief executive officer at Courtroom5, a legal automation platform for people representing themselves in U.S. civil courts. She is a PhD electrical engineer and former academic with a background in utilities and AI. She serves on the Leaders Council of the Legal... Read More →

Scheree M. Gilchrist

Chief Innovation Officer, Legal Aid of North Carolina

Scheree Gilchrist is the Chief Innovation Officer at Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC).In this position, she oversees the development of a sustainable, strategic plan for innovation that will improve access to justice for clients and improve the way staff works to deliver services... Read More →

Liz Keith

Chief Partnerships Officer, Pro Bono Net

Liz Keith serves as Chief Partnerships Officer at Pro Bono Net, the country’s leading nonprofit access to justice innovator with a 25-year history of impact. She has played a senior leadership role in advancing Pro Bono Net’s program strategy and cross-sector partnerships for... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Carolina D&E

Sessions

1:30pm EDT

Digital Accessibility and Disability Justice

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Mecklenburg 2

Digital accessibility ensures that all court users or legal service clients can access legal services and resources. If digital content is not accessible, people with disabilities can be deprived of equal access, legal rights, or basic needs. This session will address legal requirements for digital accessibility and teach participants how to address common accessibility barriers using interactive scenarios. We will close with tips and strategies from courts who are implementing digital accessibility.

Speakers

Gabriella Vazquez

Court Management Consultant, National Center for State Courts

Gabriella Vazquez, MPA, is a Court Management Consultant with the National Center for State Courts. She works on a variety of access to justice initiatives at NCSC, including supporting eviction diversion programs in state courts, Safe Harbor policy development, user-centered design... Read More →

Grace Spulak

Principal Court Management Consultant, National Center for State Courts

Emily F. Deines

Statewide Manager of Justice Initiatives, Massachusetts Trial Court

Emily Deines has over 21 years of dedicated experience at the Massachusetts Trial Court, primarily within the Probate and Family Court, where she has developed expertise in court operations, technology, and user-centered service delivery. In April 2025, she assumed the role of Statewide... Read More →

Jill Roberts

Principal Court Management Consultant, National Center for State Courts

Jill Roberts, JD, is a Principal Court Management Consultant at the National Center for State Courts. Her work is focused on expanding access to state courts with a focus on people without lawyers, people with disabilities, and people with limited English proficiency. She works closely... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Mecklenburg 2

Sessions

1:30pm EDT

Emergency and Estate Planning for Vulnerable Communities

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Mecklenburg 3

Estate planning tools are not reserved for the wealthy, they can help families create plans to support stabilization and transitions in caregiving and preserve housing and income stability, across generations. Learn how simple estate planning tools can serve vulnerable populations, including preparedness for immigrant or mixed-status households, older adults, and underserved disaster-prone households.

Speakers

Jennifer Anders-Gable

Legal Services of Northern California

Jennifer Anders-Gable has been dedicated to serving older adults since joining Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) in 2012 as staff attorney; she is now a regional counsel, leading the organization's disaster and elder law advocacy. Within LSNC, Jennifer's leadership involves... Read More →

Bertha Sanchez Hayden

Associate Vice President for Justice for Seniors and Justice for Dependent Adults, BetTzedek Legal Services

Bertha Sanchez Hayden serves as Associate Vice Presidnet- Justice for Seniors and Dependent Adults at Bet Tzedek Legal Services. Bet Tzedek is a nationally recognized premier legal services firm in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Hayden currently oversees Direct Services for Seniors... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Mecklenburg 3

Sessions

1:30pm EDT

Leading Through the Storm: Building Resilient Legal Aid Organizations in Challenging Times

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Carolina A

How do we lead when crisis hits from every direction? In this panel, three executive directors of North Carolina civil legal aid programs share how they led through overlapping shocks: Hurricane Helene without federal disaster legal funding, a statewide freeze on IOLTA funds, and the hard realities of layoffs and restructuring. They will offer candid lessons on decision making under pressure. Attendees will leave inspired and equipped with practical tools to sustain morale, communicate stability, and turn disruption into forward momentum.

Speakers

Ashley Campbell

CEO, Legal Aid of North Carolina

Ashley Campbell is the CEO of Legal Aid of North Carolina, where she leads a statewide organization advancing access to justice for more than two million income-eligible North Carolinians each year. She began her legal career at Legal Aid in 2003 as a staff attorney, representing... Read More →

Jackie Kiger

CEO, Pisgah Legal Services

Jaclyn “Jackie” Kiger, JD, MSW is the Executive Director of Pisgah Legal Services (PLS). Pisgah Legal Services is a nonprofit legal-aid law firm serving Western North Carolina since 1978. PLS provides civil legal advocacy to help low-income individuals and families meet their... Read More →

Larissa Mañón Mervin

CEO, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Larissa Mañón Mervin, Esq. is the Chief Executive Officer at Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, a regional civil legal services organization that offers holistic civil legal aid to those in need. Larissa sets the organization’s strategic direction and ensures financial sustainability... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Carolina A

Sessions

1:30pm EDT

Volunteers Tell All: Peeking Behind the Curtain With Corporate and Law Firm Pro Bono Leaders

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Carolina C

What do firm and corporate partners want and need in a pro bono partnership? How can we motivate transactional corporate attorneys to take pro bono cases in court? Is it awkward to ask a firm to pay for lunch? Hear from corporate and law firm pro bono leaders in a Q&A style panel, and brainstorm ways to improve partnerships between firms, corporations, and legal services organizations.

Speakers

Angie Zimmern

Pro Bono Director and Counsel, McGuireWoods

As McGuireWoods’ pro bono director, counsel Angie Zimmern expands the firm’s commitment to developing and sustaining pro bono programs recognized nationally for innovation and impact.

Angie leads the firm’s most successful pro bono initiatives, including Charlotte Triage... Read More →

Todd Stilleman

Senior Associate General Counsel & Managing Director, Wells Fargo

Todd Stillerman is Senior Associate General Counsel and Managing Director at Wells Fargo, where he leads the Commercial Real Estate and Structured Products legal section and helps guide the company through complex transactions, risk considerations, and enterprise?wide initiatives... Read More →

Julie Leopold

Adult and Community Engagement Manager, Baltimore County Public Library

Julie Brophy has been working in libraries her entire career, starting with a small academic library in her home state of New York, with stops at Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library, as a Graduate Assistant in digital services at the University of Maryland’s McKeldin Library, and... Read More →

Allison S. Constance

Legal Aid of North Carolina

Friday May 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Carolina C

Sessions

3:00pm EDT

Bridging the Justice Gap with Community Justice Workers: Lessons from Texas & Beyond

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Mecklenburg 2

Despite growth in attorneys and pro bono services, 92 percent of low-income Americans’ civil legal needs remain unmet. Community Justice Workers (CJWs) offer a scalable model by training non-attorney advocates to provide structured, limited-scope legal support. This session will examine national developments and share lessons from Texas, where CJW projects are being built now, even without formal certification. Participants will leave with practical strategies to responsibly launch CJW pilots in their own states.

Speakers

Nikole Nelson

CEO, Frontline Justice

Cristian Sanchez

Economic Justice Director, Texas Immigration Law Council

Cristian is the Economic Justice Director at Texas Immigration Law Council where he leads the design and implementation of a program to expand access to civil legal services for low-income Texans through innovation, including Community Justice workers. He is doing this through standing... Read More →

Bethany Carson

Community Justice Worker Coordinator, Texas Immigration Law Council

Bethany Carson is an Equal Justice Works Fellow and the Community Justice Worker Coordinator at the Texas Immigration Law Council, where she supports a statewide cohort of non-attorney fellows expanding access to justice for noncitizen communities. With over a decade of experience... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Mecklenburg 2

Sessions

3:00pm EDT

Data with Balance: Captivating Funders Without Becoming Captive to the Numbers

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Carolina D&E

This session explores how legal aid organizations can use data to inspire funders without losing sight of mission or community needs. Panelists will share strategies for aligning grant deliverables with real-world impact, effectively communicating data to funders, and requesting modifications when needs shift. We’ll also examine how data can be misused or oversimplified—and how maintaining integrity in storytelling ensures continued trust, funding, and meaningful service to those who need it most.

Speakers

Antonia More

Director/Managing Attorney, Pro Bono Legal Services, Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco

Antonia More is the Director and Managing Attorney of Pro Bono Legal Services at the Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco (JDC). Under her direction, JDC provides free legal services to low-income litigants in San Francisco through its various initiatives... Read More →

Bonnie Rose Hough

Principal, Bonnie Rose Hough, Consulting

Bonnie Rose Hough is a consultant on access to justice issues working with courts and legal services agencies. She retired in December 2022 as Principal Managing Attorney for the Center for Families, Children & the Courts of the Judicial Council of California where she worked for... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Carolina D&E

Sessions

3:00pm EDT

Developing and Delivering Community Legal Services in Hawaiʻi Through Expungement and Bench Warrant Recall Clinics

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Mecklenburg 3

Discover how Hawaiʻi’s Judiciary, Public Defender’s Office, ACLU Hawaiʻi, Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaiʻi, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa - William S. Richardson School of Law, and community partners joined forces to deliver expungement and bench warrant recall clinics for under-resourced communities. This session explores the project’s origins, cultural adaptation, and use of technology to maximize impact, and offers practical tips for creating pro bono clinics through strong community support and with limited budgets.

Speakers

E. Edward Aquino

Deputy Public Defender, State of Hawaii, Office of the Public Defender

Edward Aquino is a Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawai'i, Office of the Public Defender where he currently serves as a co-supervisor of the Felony Division in the Honolulu Office. Prior to his current role, he was a senior trial deputy litigating serious and high-profile... Read More →

Daylin-Rose H. Heather

Deputy Administrative Director of the Courts, Hawai?i State Judiciary

Daylin-Rose H. Heather is the Deputy Administrative Director of the Courts at the Hawai'i State Judiciary. Daylin has been with the Judiciary in various roles as a staff attorney at the Hawai'i Supreme Court, Special Assistant to the Administrative Director of the Courts, and judicial... Read More →

Sergio Alcubilla

Director of Community Engagement, ACLU of Hawaii

Sergio Alcubilla is the Director of Community Engagement at the ACLU of Hawai?i where he oversees the communications team and leads community organizing and public education efforts centered on the ACLU of Hawai‘i’s priorities.

Sergio comes to the ACLU of Hawai?i having previously served as the Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Workers Center, a non-profit organization that organizes lower-wage workers to organize for their own political, economic, and social well-being. In this role, Sergio led initiatives... Read More →

Melanie May

District Court Judge, Hawaii State Judiciary

Melanie May is a District Court Judge in Honolulu, Hawai`i. Since her appointment to the bench in 2011, she has presided over the civil, criminal, and traffic calendars, as well as the DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) Court.

Judge May currently serves on the Judiciary Committee on Equality and Access to the Courts, the Judiciary Committee on Innovation, Technology, and Self-Represented Litigants, the HSBA Committee on Delivery of Legal Services to the Public, the Hawai`i Access to Justice Commission... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Mecklenburg 3

Sessions

3:00pm EDT

Empowering Legal Aid: A Toolkit for Serving Communities Impacted by Opioid Use Disorder

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Symphony 2

Discover how Opioid Crisis Response Fellows are addressing the opioid epidemic. The panelists will identify civil legal aid issues associated with the opioid crisis and provide collaborative and systemic approaches to the development of an OUD-focused Medical Legal Partnership. Participants will feel empowered to join the growing workforce of Legal Aid OUD-specialists to create community-based solutions and close service gaps.

Speakers

Touri Goode

Program Manager, Equal Justice Works

Lauren Williams

Equal Justice Works Opioid Crisis Response Fellow, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio

Lauren Williams is an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO), where they provide direct legal services and build partnerships with medical, judicial, and community organizations to help reduce opioid fatalities. Working within a harm reduction... Read More →

Carrie Stambaugh

Equal Justice Works Opioid Crisis Response Fellow, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass

Carrie Stambaugh is an Equal Justice Works Fellow in the Opioid Crisis Response Program and a Staff Attorney at Legal Aid of the Bluegrass. Based in rural northeast, Kentucky, her practice is centered on providing direct civil legal services to low-income and substance use affected... Read More →

Justin Apperson

Equal Justice Works Opioid Crisis Response Fellow, Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky

Justin Apperson is an attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow, Opioid Crisis Response Program working with AppalReD Legal Aid in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. His fellowship project focuses on building partnerships with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment providers in Eastern Kentucky to... Read More →

Helen Gratil

Consultant, Beyond Opioids

Helen Gratil is a national consultant and speaker focused on civil legal interventions for individuals impacted by the opioid crisis – specializing in fundraising, training, and project management. In 2019, Helen raised $2.2 million to launch Beyond Opioids Project, through her... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Symphony 2

Sessions

3:00pm EDT

Fighting Against LGBTQ+ Bias in the Legal System to Preserve Democracy

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Mecklenburg 1

Fair courts and an independent judiciary are foundational to our democracy. Young LGBTQ+ people in foster care are required to engage with numerous systems to meet basic needs. Also, research shows that LGBTQ+ people face disproportionate rates of incarceration and interactions with law enforcement. This workshop is for advocates to learn skills and tools to affirm and enforce the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and people living with HIV in the legal system through the provision of legal services.

Speakers

Ethan Rice

Senior Attorney, Lambda Legal

Ethan Rice is the Senior Attorney for the Fair Courts Project at Lambda Legal. Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization committed to achieving full recognition of the rights of LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. The Fair Courts Project focuses its... Read More →

Luna Isaiah Floyd

Equal Justice Works Fellow, Lambda Legal

Luna Isaiah Floyd (they/he) is an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Lambda Legal. Their work with Lambda Legal's Youth in Out-of-Home Care Project centers the needs of transgender youth in foster care and juvenile justice settings, as well as transgender youth experiencing homelessness... Read More →

Richard Saenz

Counsel, Lambda Legal

Richard Saenz (he/him) is Counsel and the Criminal Legal System Strategist at Lambda Legal, the oldest and largest national legal organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV. He is the project manager of Protected... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Mecklenburg 1

Sessions

3:00pm EDT

From Tokenism to Transformation: Centering System-Impacted Leaders in Legal and Policy Work

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Symphony 3

Many legal organizations aspire to “uplift impacted voices,” but struggle with what that actually looks like in practice. Too often, this leads to tokenism rather than real power-sharing. In this interactive skills-building session, panelists will share concrete strategies for embedding system-impacted leadership at every level of an organization, from governance and compensation practices to leadership pipelines and participatory advocacy models. Participants will gain practical tools, including sample policies, frameworks, and checklists, to guide their own organizations toward authentic power-sharing and will leave with actionable steps for moving beyond rhetoric to meaningful transformation across the legal advocacy field.

Speakers

Paul Briley

Executive Director, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children

Paul Briley emerged as the newest Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children in over 20 years and rose quickly in his leadership as an influential driver of the national network for All of Us or None. His ability to draw from the past and present through a prism... Read More →

Sonja Tonnesen-Casalegno

Advocacy Director, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children

Sonja Tonnesen-Casalegno, Esq., Advocacy Director, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children

Sonja is a movement lawyer and lifelong advocate for racial and gender justice who has spent over 15 years working to transform the carceral system. Born and raised outside Milwaukee, WI, Sonja grew up in a family deeply committed to social justice and with loved ones directly impacted... Read More →

Daryl V. Atkinson

Founder & Executive Director, Second Chance Federation

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Symphony 3

Sessions

3:00pm EDT

Leveraging Our Power for Systemic Impact: When Law Firms Become Expert Thought Partners

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Symphony 1

This dynamic session reimagines the roles of law firms and legal services organizations (LSOs); rather than operating within the traditional pro bono/LSO referral model, some firms are increasingly building deep subject matter expertise and positioning themselves as strategic thought partners in solving complex societal challenges. Panelists will explore how law firms and LSOs can work together to shift from the one-off client representation model to identifying patterns of injustice, helping diagnose systemic legal issues, and collaborating across sectors to co-create lasting solutions. Using real-world examples, the discussion will highlight how firms can harness their resources, influence, and legal acumen to drive meaningful reform—moving from reactive service to proactive, systems-minded leadership.

Speakers

Katharyn Voit

Natalie Kraner

Pro Bono Partner and Legal Director, Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest, Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Natalie is a Pro Bono Partner at Lowenstein Sandler LLP and the Legal Director of the firm's Center for the Public Interest. In this role, she has helped expand the firm's historic commitment to public service by building an award-winning program that annually serves hundreds of low-income... Read More →

Jessica Kitson

Tamara Serwer Caldas

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Symphony 1

Sessions

3:00pm EDT

Meeting The Moment: Supporting Nonprofits in Times of Crisis

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Carolina A

This session will help participants gain a deeper understanding of the needs of community-based nonprofits in the wake of mass funding cuts, executive orders, new immigration policies, and increased federal scrutiny. The session will educate the legal community on how best to support, defend, and protect nonprofits that advance equity and serve immigrant communities, including in under-resourced, rural communities. The goal is to activate and equip legal aid lawyers and the pro bono community with the tools to support nonprofits and sustain civil society through crisis and uncertainty.

Speakers

Rene Kathawala

Pro Bono Counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Rene Kathawala serves as Orrick's firmwide pro bono counsel, responsible for managing and initiating the firm's pro bono activities, including all administrative and legal aspects.

Rene works with other pro bono counsel and legal services nonprofits to increase the quantity and quality of pro bono representation that is being provided to indigent clients in each of the cities worldwide where Orrick has a presence. In addition, he supervises and directly works... Read More →

Ritu Mahajan

Directing Attorney, Public Counsel

Ritu Mahajan Estes is the Directing Attorney of Public Counsel’s Community Development Project. Previously, she served as a Supervising Senior Staff Attorney within the project, where she led its small business and early care and education initiatives. During her 16 years at Public... Read More →

Kathryn Eidmann

President and CEO, Public Counsel

Kathryn Eidmann is Public Counsel’s President and Chief Executive Officer. A leading civil rights lawyer, Kathryn has spent over a decade at Public Counsel leading innovative legal advocacy to advance justice for communities across the country. She has litigated major cases in the... Read More →

Matt Kugizaki

Pro Bono Director, Inland Counties Legal Services

Matt Kugizaki is an attorney and the Pro Bono Director at Inland Counties Legal Services. Inland Counties Legal Services is a nonprofit legal services organization serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Matt oversees ICLS’ pro bono programs, including a Small Business Legal... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Carolina A

Sessions