2025 Equal Justice Conference: Full Schedule

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10:00am EDT

Ethical and Practical Considerations for Deploying a Generative AI Chatbot in Legal Self-Help Websites

Thursday May 15, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am EDT

As legal self-help websites grow, generative AI chatbots offer efficiency and accessibility but raise ethical, practical, and technical concerns. This interactive session explores deploying AI in sensitive areas like family court, focusing on ethical issues, policy implications, and decision-making frameworks to ensure fairness, equity, and effectiveness.

Speakers

Ayyoub Ajmi

Founder & CEO, CiviLaw.Tech

Ayyoub Ajmi is a dedicated educator and leader in legal technology and access to justice. He teaches Legal Technology, Law Practice Systems, and Document Automation at UMKC Law, equipping future lawyers with the skills to navigate and leverage emerging technologies in the legal profession... Read More →

Stephanie McDonald

Directing Attorney, Family Law Self-Help Center, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada

Stephanie McDonald is with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, and has been serving as the Directing Attorney of the Family Law Self Help Center in Clark County, Nevada since 2013. She oversees the provision of services to roughly 90K self-represented litigants locally, and partners... Read More →

Katherine Stocks

State Court Administrator, Nevada Supreme Court

Katherine Stocks was appointed to the State Court Administrator for Nevada on February 16, 2021. Her previous experience includes both public service and private legal practice. Previously, she served as Court Administrator for the 10th Judicial District in Kansas (2015-2021). She... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am EDT
Continential 2

Sessions

11:30am EDT

Networking Lunch: Transactional Pro Bono

Thursday May 15, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT

Continential 2

Thursday May 15, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Continential 2

Networking Lunch

1:15pm EDT

Pro Se Support From Pro Bono Attorneys: The Supply and Demand Landscape

Thursday May 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

Continential 2

Demand for pro se support has increased while the pro bono attorney supply landscape has changed. This session will explore reasons behind this dichotomy and offer strategies for increasing self-represented litigant access to volunteer attorneys. Highlighted models include online legal clinics, legal assistance hotlines and other convenient limited scope engagements.

Speakers

Tali Albukerk

ABA Free Legal Answers National Administrator, American Bar Association

SInce 2016, Tali Albukerk has been the National Administrator of ABA Free Legal Answers – a virtual pro bono walk-in clinic providing low-modest means inidividuals with legal advice and information from attorneys licensed in their state. During her career, Tali has worked for several... Read More →

Samantha Biggio

Legal Program Manager, TrustLaw, Thomson Reuters Foundation

Samantha joined the Thomson Reuters Foundation in December 2022. As Legal Program Manager for North America, she handles legal pro bono projects from TrustLaw’s community of NGOs and social enterprises and supports strategic legal research programs on regional and cross-border issues... Read More →

Sharon Goldsmith

Disaster Benefits Team Manager, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Brittanny Perrigue Gomez is the Disaster Benefits Team Manager at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA). She advocates for low-income individuals affected by natural disasters, providing critical assistance with FEMA, SBA, and Texas Health and Human Services Other Needs Assistance programs... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Continential 2

Sessions

2:45pm EDT

Responding to the Evolving Funding Landscape for Legal Aid - Federal Funding Panel Discussion

Thursday May 15, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Continential 2

Speakers

Luise Stone

Deputy Director, Civil Legal Services & Member Engagement, NLADA

Luise Stone is the Deputy Director, Civil Legal Services & Member Engagement at the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA). She focused her career on public service and on advocating for sustainable long-term change, especially for those that are not given a voice. Starting... Read More →

Anne Sweeney

Chief, Civil Legal Services, NLADA

Anne worked with Legal Aid Society of Cleveland for over twenty years. In Cleveland, while serving as Managing Attorney for Community Engagement for the last 12 years, she gained experience and developed expertise in community lawyering, group representation, engaging non-attorney... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Continential 2

Sessions

4:15pm EDT

Tackling Toxicity in Organizations: Building Healthy, Thriving Volunteer Environments

Thursday May 15, 2025 4:15pm - 5:30pm EDT

Continential 2

Toxicity can undermine volunteer well-being, disrupt engagement, frustrate leaders, and ultimately hinder organisational success. This practical and inspiring session will explore the signs of toxic environments in organisations and offer real, actionable strategies for transformation. Through insightful examples and actionable takeaways, participants will explore how to create healthier, more supportive environments where volunteers feel valued, motivated, and empowered to make a lasting impact.

Speakers

Martin Cowling

Consultant and Change Maker, CLIC: Change-Leadership-Impact-Community

Martin J. Cowling passionately advocates for effective change, leadership, and impact. He firmly believes that people are the key to an organisation's success and is dedicated to enabling individuals to use their unique gifts for the benefit of others, their organisations, and the... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 4:15pm - 5:30pm EDT
Continential 2

Sessions