2026 Equal Justice Conference: Full Schedule

10:00am EDT

AI Injustice as a New Frontier for Lawyer-Organizer Advocacy Models

Thursday May 14, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

The access-to-justice world has long found community organizing too unfamiliar or risky to integrate fully into lawyer-dominated change-making strategies. But, the present injustices our client communities face call for bold, collective action beyond what lawsuits alone can win. Using leading edge advocacy against AI-related injustices as a backdrop, this session will explore the ways that organizations can integrate lawyering and organizing in advocacy campaigns to secure lasting social change for low-income communities.

Speakers

Susan Garcia Nofi

Senior Attorney, TechTonic Justice

Susan Garcia Nofi is a Senior Attorney at TechTonic Justice. She spent most of her career as a frontline legal aid attorney at Vermont Legal Aid, Central West Justice Center (MA) and New Haven Legal Assistance (CT), where she also served as Deputy Director and Executive Director... Read More →

Andrea Reyes

Sr. Organizing Strategist, TechTonic Justice

Thursday May 14, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
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Sessions

11:30am EDT

Networking Lunch: Immigration

Thursday May 14, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT

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Thursday May 14, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
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Networking Lunch Sessions

1:15pm EDT

Fostering Collaborative State Agency Partnerships

Thursday May 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

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The State Bar of California Office of Access and Inclusion, with the Legal Aid Association of California and the California Access to Justice Commission, are pioneering a model replicable in any state or area by fostering innovative collaboration between legal aid organizations and state agencies. Attendees will learn about groundbreaking collaboration efforts yielding new partnerships, more effective systems, and streamlined materials in critical areas such as housing, immigration, seniors, and veterans. Attendees will also learn about innovative, similar work ongoing in Arizona.

Speakers

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 →

Lorin Kline

Director of Advocacy, Legal Aid Association of California

Lorin is the Director of Advocacy at the Legal Aid Association of California and has been with LAAC since early 2014. Lorin leads LAAC's advocacy program, which speaks as the unified voice for the community of more than 100 legal aid organizations in California. LAAC's advocacy aims... Read More →

Kara Brodfuehrer

Samiel a. Thumma

Judge, Arizona Court of Appeals (Chair, Arizona Commission on Access to Justice)

Samuel A. Thumma is a Judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, where he has served since 2012, including as Chief Judge. Before that, he served for five years as a trial Judge on the Arizona Superior Court in Maricopa County.
Sam is Secretary of the National Judicial College Board of Trustees. Sam is a Uniform Law Commissioner, most recently serving as Secretary of the Executive Committee. He is an Advisor to the American Law Institute’s RESTATEMENT OF THE LAW (THIRD) OF TORTS: REMEDIES. Sam serves... Read More →

Chris Groninger

Chief Strategy Officer, Arizona Bar Foundation

In her current role as Chief Strategy Officer for the Arizona Bar Foundation, Chris Groninger leads efforts to expand access to legal help across Arizona. Her work focuses on strengthening partnerships, supporting collaboration among stakeholders, and increasing awareness about the... Read More →

Thursday May 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
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Sessions

2:45pm EDT

Building Trust and Connecting with Vulnerable Clients

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

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This session will address the importance of connecting and learning how to communicate effectively with people in marginalized communities. Skills for identifying barriers to communication and connection and ways to overcome them will be discussed.

Speakers

Jaelle R. Richardson

Assistant Clinical Professor of Law and Social Work, Wayne State University Law School and School of Social Work

Jaelle Richardson, Esq., LMSW, is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Wayne State University Law School and the School of Social Work. She is also the Director of Pro Bono and Public Interest Initiatives at Wayne Law. She is an attorney and a licensed clinical social worker. She is... Read More →

Dana Mertz

Thursday May 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
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Sessions

4:15pm EDT

Understanding & Addressing Burnout

Thursday May 14, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm EDT

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Legal aid and pro bono professionals face unique pressures that put them at high risk of burnout.This session explores what burnout is, the biology of the stress cycle, and how to spot early signs. Participants will learn practical ways to prevent and address burnout, including tools to close the stress cycle and create a personal red flags and response plan for greater well-being.

Speakers

Julia R. Wilson

Coach & Consultant, Julia Wilson Coaching

Julia R. Wilson is a leadership and team coach working with individuals and teams in civil legal services nonprofits across the country. She brings 3 decades of experience in legal services, including roles as a frontline attorney, executive director, and board member. She is certified... Read More →

Thursday May 14, 2026 4:15pm - 5:30pm EDT
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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

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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
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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

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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
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Sessions

1:30pm EDT

Emergency and Estate Planning for Vulnerable Communities

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

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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
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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

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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
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Sessions

5:00pm EDT

NC Pro Bono Coordinators' Network Meeting

Friday May 15, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

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Friday May 15, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
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8:30am EDT

Meeting ‘em Where They’re At: How Civil Legal Aid Promotes Overdose Prevention and SUD Advocacy

Saturday May 16, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

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Legal Action of Wisconsin’s Overdose Prevention Project has spent two years integrating outreach and civil legal aid into the harm reduction community, especially in Milwaukee. We especially focus on some of the most vulnerable and underserved communities. Learn about our three-pronged approach that incorporates outreach, education and advocacy (in legal proceedings and with appropriate officials and organizations) to address individual client needs and seek systemic change and support for persons and communities affected by substance use disorder.

Speakers

Charles Bowen

Staff Attorney, Legal Action of Wisconsin

Charlie Bowen is a staff attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin and the primary attorney for their Overdose Prevention Project. This project is designed to meet clients where they are at and provide civil legal aid for people impacted by Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Entering its... Read More →

Karyn Rotker

Staff Attorney, Legal Action of Wisconsin

Karyn Rotker is a Staff Attorney for Legal Action of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee office. Her current work focuses on issues including consumer law, housing conditions and transportation justice. She previously worked for a civil rights organization for more than 20 years, and before... Read More →

Nicole Gorscak

Paralegal, Legal Action of Wisconsin

Nicole Gorscak (she/her/hers) is a Paralegal with Legal Action of Wisconsin. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a specialization in Criminology and a Minor in Film from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, before obtaining a Post-Baccualaurette Certificate in in Paralegal... Read More →

Malinda Eskra

Managing Attorney, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.

Malinda Eskra (she/her) is the Managing Attorney of Legal Action of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee office, the largest nonprofit provider of civil legal services in the state. She oversees teams working in housing stability, family law, public benefits, elder rights, and criminal records... Read More →

Saturday May 16, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
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Sessions

10:00am EDT

11:30am EDT

1:15pm EDT

2:45pm EDT

4:15pm EDT

8:30am EDT

10:00am EDT

1:30pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

5:00pm EDT

8:30am EDT

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