2026 Equal Justice Conference: Full Schedule

8:30am EDT

Law School

Wednesday May 13, 2026 8:30am - 5:00pm EDT

Symphony 1

Wednesday May 13, 2026 8:30am - 5:00pm EDT
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Pre-Conference

10:00am EDT

Belonging Against the Backdrop: Reimagining DEI in Legal Aid

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

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As anti-DEI sentiment continues, sustaining equity work in legal aid is both difficult and necessary. This session examines what it means to continue this work and why a strong DEI programmatic integration remains essential to justice-centered missions. We’ll discuss research-backed benefits of a strong DEI climate—including strategies to increase sense of belonging, staff retention, and long-term organizational health.

Speakers

Kiara Hunt

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Legal Aid Services of Oregon

Kiara Hunt (they/them) is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO). They hold bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology and are currently a PhD student in Psychology at Oregon State University, where their research centers on liberatory... Read More →

Rej Joo

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

11:30am EDT

Networking Lunch: NAPBPRO Credentialing

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

Design and Deliver Effective & Engaging Training Programs

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

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Pro bono and legal aid professionals are frequently responsible for training others and sharing knowledge. This interactive session will provide practical guidance on how to efficiently design and deliver learning opportunities that achieve goals, resonate with adult learners and promote meaningful engagement.

Speakers

Kelly Tautges

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 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
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Sessions

2:45pm EDT

Strengthening Neighborhoods with Pro Bono Support

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

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Learn how a legal aid program highlights--and delivers on--co-counsel support when attracting volunteer attorneys to the world of urban neighborhood lawyering.

Speakers

Kayla Hogan

Director, Adopt-A-Neighborhood Project, Legal Aid of Western Missouri

Kayla Hogan is the Director of the Adopt-A-Neighborhood Project at Legal Aid of Western Missouri, a pro bono collaboration between urban core neighborhoods and some of Kansas City's largest private law firms. She earned her B.A. in American Studies at Tufts University before joining... Read More →

Anna Berman

Anna is a trial lawyer who represents clients in a wide variety of cases, including breaches of ?duciary duties, contract disputes, theft of trade secrets, commercial and consumer auto ?nance and creditors’ rights issues. She counsels clients during the litigation process, including... Read More →

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

4:15pm EDT

Reimagining the Justice Experience: Designing Justice Systems Through User Feedback and Lessons from Other Sectors

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

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Learn from leaders in healthcare, business, and tech about how their industries transformed service delivery by centering the user. Participants will consider what it would mean to design the civil justice system with a parallel focus: creating a Justice Experience centered on the needs of low-income people navigating civil legal issues.

Speakers

Samantha DiDomenico

Director, Stout

Samantha DiDomenico is a Director in Stout’s Transformative Change Consulting group. Samantha has 10 years of experience providing consulting services to for-profit and non-profit clients in a variety of industries. She has expertise in understanding large, complex systems and data... Read More →

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

8:30am EDT

Booked Up, Logged In, and On the Road Again-- Close the Justice Gap with a Public Library Partnership

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT

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Strategic partnerships with public libraries can address inequities in the justice system for self-represented individuals. Pro bono led clinics, combined with library services and resources, put self-helpers on equal footing with opponents as they advocate for themselves. This session features innovative partnerships with public libraries that bridge the justice gap. We’ll share ideas for clinics and programs; an initiative that brings virtual public access to court services and resources; and a mobile legal office to ensure no one gets left behind.

Speakers

Katherine Hope Chew

Executive Director, LA Law Library

Katherine serves as the Executive Director of LA Law Library. LA Law Library is the largest public law library on the west coast, and second only to the Law Library of Congress in size in the United States. With a vast collection of state, federal, and foreign legal resources spanning... Read More →

Julie M. Brophy

Associate, Dechert LLP

Karie Schulenburg

Research Librarian, Boston Public Library

Karie chose librarianship as her career because of the library's intrinsic and unique ability to effectively pivot and evolve according to the needs of the public it serves. Librarians are a vital conduit for positive social change by providing trustworthy information and services... Read More →

Friday May 15, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EDT
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Sessions

10:00am EDT

Pro Bono Immigration Practice in a Time of Increased Enforcement

Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

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Pro bono programs face a tumultuous and ever-changing landscape of increased immigration enforcement impacting their clients. This creates challenges and uncertainties in effective case management. This session brings the nonprofit, law firm, and corporate perspectives together for a real conversation on the stressors involved in pro bono immigration practice and strategies to navigate those challenges and strengthen collaborations in supporting immigrant communities.

Speakers

Angela Bouliakis Andronis

Deputy Director for Pro Bono Partnerships, Kids In Need of Defense (KIND)

Beth Henderson

Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation

Beth Henderson is Assistant General Counsel – Pro Bono Director at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. In this role, she manages the strategy, budget, and operations of Microsoft’s pro bono program on a full-time basis. Her work includes developing and promoting diverse pro bono... Read More →

Marianne Staniunas

Pro Bono Immigration Counsel, Ropes & Gray LLP

Marianne Staniunas is Pro Bono Immigration Counsel for Ropes & Gray LLP. Marianne has over 20 years of immigration legal experience. In her role as Pro Bono Immigration Counsel, she provides mentorship and subject matter expertise for Ropes’ attorneys representing clients in pro... Read More →

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

3:00pm EDT

Leveraging Our Power for Systemic Impact: When Law Firms Become Expert Thought Partners

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

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This dynamic session reimagines the roles of law firms and legal services organizations (LSOs); rather than operating within the traditional pro bono/LSO referral model, some firms are increasingly building deep subject matter expertise and positioning themselves as strategic thought partners in solving complex societal challenges. Panelists will explore how law firms and LSOs can work together to shift from the one-off client representation model to identifying patterns of injustice, helping diagnose systemic legal issues, and collaborating across sectors to co-create lasting solutions. Using real-world examples, the discussion will highlight how firms can harness their resources, influence, and legal acumen to drive meaningful reform—moving from reactive service to proactive, systems-minded leadership.

Speakers

Katharyn Voit

Natalie Kraner

Pro Bono Partner and Legal Director, Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest, Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Natalie is a Pro Bono Partner at Lowenstein Sandler LLP and the Legal Director of the firm's Center for the Public Interest. In this role, she has helped expand the firm's historic commitment to public service by building an award-winning program that annually serves hundreds of low-income... Read More →

Jessica Kitson

Tamara Serwer Caldas

Friday May 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Symphony 1

Sessions

8:30am EDT

10:00am EDT

11:30am EDT

1:15pm EDT

2:45pm EDT

4:15pm EDT

8:30am EDT

10:00am EDT

3:00pm EDT

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