National Legal Aid & Defender Association

To allow for correction of an error, the NLADA Governance Elections are re-opening, starting today! We’re now accepting nominations for open positions on NLADA’s Board of Directors and Councils. This is your opportunity to help shape the future of equal justice! View our Virtual Nominations Booklet for details on available positions and how to nominate yourself or a colleague. https://lnkd.in/eAB5qDqC All are welcome to participate — your voice matters!

🌟 Introducing Our 2025 NLADA Exemplar Award Winner, Ben Weinberg 🌟 As Dentons’ pro bono partner, Ben develops and supports partnerships with legal aid providers, clients, nonprofits and NGOs. Ben’s most prominent success has been his development and leadership of the Domestic Violence Appeals Project, operated with Legal Aid Chicago. Since 2013, the project has won 19 of 21 appeals, including four published opinions, and has improved access to justice for domestic violence survivors throughout Illinois. We are beyond excited to celebrate Ben at this year’s Exemplar Gala, taking place at the Showroom in Washington, DC on Wednesday, September 24. To read the full press release, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/ec_hDUU3

Federal funding cuts could severely impact state and local budgets—and the aid available to those in need. Join our webinar tomorrow at 4 pm ET to hear how top practitioners anticipate adapting their work as funding shifts. Panelists include: Salena Copeland, Executive Director, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) Ken Days, City of Atlanta Office of the Public Defender Lillian Patil, Senior Analyst, State & Local Budgets, Fines and Fees Justice Center Michael Mitchell, Lead Researcher, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

📣 We're officially accepting RFPs for our 2025 NLADA Annual Conference! 📣 This year, NLADA's Annual Conference will host breakout sessions geared toward better supporting strategic collaboration, thought leadership and collective advocacy. The three priority areas for Annual Conference are: ⚖️ Rule of Law & Due Process: How laws ensure fairness and protect civil rights 🏛️ Government Programs & Funding: How the federal, state and local government does (and does not) work for people 📚 Expanding the Narrative: Recognizing, reclaiming and respecting different voices If you would like to present a breakout session at this year's conference, please visit our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/d6hDKeZT. Proposals are due on August 8th, so don't wait!

This Friday at 3 pm ET, we're hosting True Progress Lab for our monthly Community Drop-In Discussion! This workshop, "Building Calm and Control Under Pressure," will help professionals who face pressure, fast decisions, and high-stakes moments — and want to stay sharp, confident, and composed when it counts. You'll walk away with a practical framework for managing pressure in real time, the mental tools to recover faster from stress and setbacks, and protocols for communicating clearly under fire. Register via our website: https://lnkd.in/egnwMXTe.

Now more than ever, NLADA is calling on everybody to join the fight and tell Congress to #JustFundIt. NLADA Legal Director Michael Mrozinski explains how you can help ensure that millions of people don't lose essential services like Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and housing assistance. Visit our website to access our digital action toolkit and make your voice heard. https://lnkd.in/esDzTFUu

We're partnering with Association of Pro Bono Counsel - APBCo to talk about cases related to the False Claims Act! Join us this Thursday at 1pm ET for a webinar explaining how this act works, the potential for FCA allegations and enforcement actions in light of new terms and conditions included in federal grant agreements, and how grant recipients can assess those risks. https://lnkd.in/g8G5mdPD

Recent funding challenges for #A2J initiatives have left many wondering what their next step will be. Join us on July 18 at 3 pm ET for a community discussion on how these challenges affect our work, along with strategies to find more funding and general support. Register here: https://lnkd.in/etbSEEfn #legalaid #publicdefender #advocacy

#JuneRecap: Last month, NLADA staff, members, and coalition partners launched our #JustFundIt campaign with a national conversation on the importance of federal funding to safeguard equal justice. At Dentons, client leaders and advocates shared firsthand stories of how civil #legalaid transforms lives and communities. We'd like to thank our staff and members, along with representatives from Connecticut Veterans Legal Center , Legal Action Center , National Low Income Housing Coalition , Coalition on Human Needs and the Iowa State Public Defender for joining us as we fight towards equal justice for everybody under the law. Want to learn more about #JustFundIt? Visit our website to get more information, access our digital action toolkit, and receive detailed steps on how you can join the fight. https://lnkd.in/eeD7TeXY.

What does it mean to hire for "merit," and who gets to decide how it's defined? This Friday at 3pm ET, join us for a free discussion on how to continue advancing #equity in #hiring without retreating from your mission. Whether you're in #HR, #legal, or organizational leadership, you'll leave with tools to help reframe merit in a way that's compliant, courageous, and aligned with your equity goals. https://lnkd.in/gunwQFnB