2025 Equal Justice Conference

The MIE Roundtable allows legal services Executive Directors and Managers to discuss difficult challenges and pressing concerns confidentially, and to benefit from their colleagues who have experience and learning to share. This session moves the community as a whole forward toward better management, resulting in better services to clients.

Panelists will introduce and demonstrate Purpose-Driven Board Leadership, a governance framework that helps governing boards of legal services organizations reimagine their roles to provide the strategic leadership and oversight that helps the sector better preserve and advance justice and equity.

This session will explore models for growth in pro bono units at three different civil legal services organizations serving a mix of metropolitan and rural communities. Participants will take time to envision growth in pro bono teams at their own organizations, what they hope to achieve, and concrete strategies to make it happen. While the session will focus on challenges experienced with expanding programs at civil legal services agencies, lessons will be applicable to firms and others looking to expand pro bono programs.

AI may have the power to democratize access to justice, but the path forward is complex. LSC’s Technology Initiatives Grant team will share many varied ways legal aid organizations are using AI tools to increase access to justice and enhance services to clients and self-represented litigants. The session will highlight use cases including how AI is used in internal/administrative tasks; legal advocacy; better help for SRLs; intake improvements; and more. Panelists will then lead a discussion related to replication strategies and other ways AI can enhance the work of legal aid.