2026 Equal Justice Conference

Across the country, most people face civil legal problems alone. Legal Hand, developed in New York and expanded to North Carolina, reimagines access to justice by training community volunteers—not lawyers—to provide free legal information and referrals. New York operates a virtual network of regional centers and North Carolina runs a statewide Call-In Center serving all 100 counties. Together, they demonstrate how community-driven innovation can expand reach, build trust, and deliver justice without walls.