2026 Equal Justice Conference has ended

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2026 Equal Justice Conference

Alla Holmes

Acacia Center for Justice

Program Manager, Witness for Justice

Tallahassee, FL

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7:30am EDT

Lactation Room Lower Symphony Lounge Pre-Conference Registration Symphony Foyer Quiet Room - sponsored by Mutual of America Financial Group Piedmont

12:00pm EDT

Conference Check-In Symphony Foyer

3:00pm EDT

CLE/Help Desk Symphony Foyer Conference Check-In Symphony Foyer Exhibitor Showcase Symphony Foyer

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

Bringing Home the Crisis in Legal Aid Funding Symphony 6Lisa Singer • Hilaire Armstrong • Felecia Pettway 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 Speaking with One Voice: Building a Shared Message for America’s Civil Justice System Governers 5&6Samira Nazem • Eve Runyon • Maria Duvuvuei • Brittany Kauffman

11:30am EDT

Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing Symphony Foyer Networking Lunch: Building a Shared Message for America’s Civil Justice System Together: From Challenges to Opportunity Carolina C Networking Lunch: Immigration Mecklenburg 3

1:15pm EDT

Design and Deliver Effective & Engaging Training Programs Symphony 1Kelly Tautges • Julia R. Wilson Legal Aid Funding Landscape & Roundtable Discussion Symphony 6Anne K. Sweeney • Shubi Deoras • Jared S. Smith • Bill Boies

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 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

4:00pm EDT

4:15pm EDT

(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 Designing Tech-Driven Case Studies and Role Plays for Pro Bono Volunteers Carolina D&EPatrick Fodell • Phong Wong • Judy Hale Media 101: Press Relations with a Small Team (or Without Comms Staff) Symphony 5Maria Duvuvuei Understanding & Addressing Burnout Mecklenburg 3Julia R. Wilson

6:00pm EDT

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

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 Symphony Foyer

8:30am EDT

Creative Strategies to Train and Support Pro Bono Lawyers Governers 5&6Courtney Jones • Molly MacCready • Sheila Winkelman Pont • Andrea D. Ortiz Innovative Tools for Managing and Growing Outreach and Pro Bono Programs Governers 1&2Sandra L. San Emeterio Fair • Aletheia C. Stratos

9:45am EDT

10:00am EDT

Justice Isn't Blind: The Role of Implicit Bias in the Courts Mecklenburg 3Rita Cameron Wedding • Shalinee Hunter Pro Bono Immigration Practice in a Time of Increased Enforcement Symphony 1Angela Bouliakis Andronis • Beth Henderson • Marianne Staniunas Tech Skills for Justice: Strengthening Legal Aid Staff Technology Competencies Carolina D&EJane Ribadeneyra • David Forrester • America Valdez

11:15am EDT

Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing Symphony Foyer

11:45am EDT

Awards Luncheon Symphony 4Michelle A. Behnke • Radhika Singh

1:00pm EDT

1:30pm EDT

50 Tech Tips: Tools to Boost Everyday Practice Mecklenburg 1LaDierdre Johnson • Shellie Reid • Jane Ribadeneyra • Angela Tripp Leading Through the Storm: Building Resilient Legal Aid Organizations in Challenging Times Carolina AAshley Campbell • Jackie Kiger • Larissa Mañón Mervin

2:45pm EDT

Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing TBA

3:00pm EDT

Data with Balance: Captivating Funders Without Becoming Captive to the Numbers Carolina D&EAntonia More • Bonnie Rose Hough From Tokenism to Transformation: Centering System-Impacted Leaders in Legal and Policy Work Symphony 3Paul Briley • Sonja Tonnesen-Casalegno • Daryl V. Atkinson Meeting The Moment: Supporting Nonprofits in Times of Crisis Carolina ARene Kathawala • Ritu Mahajan • Kathryn Eidmann • Matt Kugizaki

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

Coffee Service Symphony Foyer

8:30am EDT

Eyes on Justice: Creative Volunteer Pathways to Strengthen Immigration Due Process Mecklenburg 2Stacey Kim • Alla Karagodin Holmes

10:00am EDT

Closing Plenary Brunch: Expanding Access to Justice - The Health Sector Joins Forces with Civil Legal Aid Symphony 4Jason Patnosh • Bethany Hamilton • Lauren Smith