2026 Equal Justice Conference

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.

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.

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.

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.