2026 Equal Justice Conference has ended

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2026 Equal Justice Conference

Beth Hofmeister

The Legal Aid Society

Supervising Attorney, Pro Bono Practice

New York City

https://legalaidnyc.org

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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

Building the Pipeline: Cultivating Pro Bono Leadership Across Career Stages Carolina D&ESarah Lahlou-Amine • Jeffrey Harvey • Sylvia Novinsky • Emily Ellis Rethinking Brief Services Evaluation – A Strategic Approach to Understanding the Impact of Brief Services Mecklenburg 1Neil Steinkamp • Melanie MacBride 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 Networking Lunch: Racial equity in the delivery of pro bono legal services Mecklenburg 2

1:15pm EDT

Design and Deliver Effective & Engaging Training Programs Symphony 1Kelly Tautges • Julia R. Wilson From Clicks to Clinics: Solving the Puzzle of Pro Bono Clinic Logistics Carolina D&EJoseph Schieffer • Anh LyJordan • Meghan Martie • Victoria Pan Habeas in Practice: Strategies and Stories from the Front Lines Governers 1&2Jacqueline Pearce • Mindy Johnson • Harold Solis • Beth D. Baltimore • F. Evan Benz

2:30pm EDT

Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing Symphony Foyer

2:45pm EDT

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 Justice Starts in Law School: Expanding Pro Bono Through Academic Partnerships Carolina D&EJeanne Ortiz-Ortiz • Amy Hsieh • Gina D'Amico • Aaron J. Irving 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 Designing Tech-Driven Case Studies and Role Plays for Pro Bono Volunteers Carolina D&EPatrick Fodell • Phong Wong • Judy Hale If You Build It, They Will [Advocate]: How to Develop Your Own Guardianship Defense Practice Governers 5&6Karen Nicolson • Sara E. Planthaber

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 Fail Smart, Win Big: Overcoming Fear to Unlock Innovation Potential Carolina AAndy Cole • Ashley Holliday From Casework to Capacity-Building: Supervisors as Change Agents Carolina CHolly Beck • Kadeem Morris • Jenna Collins

9:45am EDT

10:00am EDT

How to Kill your Darlings: Making Bold Changes to Maximize Pro Bono Program Impact Symphony 2Sarah Babcock • Darcy McLean • Kate Gaffney • Sarah J. Anderson MIE Roundtable for Legal Services Executive Directors and Managers Carolina AJared S. Smith • Yvonne Mariajimenez • Alexis Smith Tech Skills for Justice: Strengthening Legal Aid Staff Technology Competencies Carolina D&EJane Ribadeneyra • David Forrester • America Valdez Testing Your New GenAI-Enhanced Tool(s) – How and Why  Carolina CAngela Tripp • Russ Bloomquist

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

ChatGPT Isn't Your Lawyer: Building AI Digital Literacy Carolina D&EKelli Raker • Sonja Ebron • Scheree M. Gilchrist • Liz Keith

2:45pm EDT

Exhibit Hall Raffle Drawing TBA

3:00pm EDT

From Tokenism to Transformation: Centering System-Impacted Leaders in Legal and Policy Work Symphony 3Paul Briley • Sonja Tonnesen-Casalegno • Daryl V. Atkinson Leveraging Our Power for Systemic Impact: When Law Firms Become Expert Thought Partners Symphony 1Katharyn Voit • Natalie Kraner • Jessica Kitson • Tamara Serwer Caldas

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

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