2025 Equal Justice Conference

This session will highlight the importance of client stories in public messaging and explore practical strategies for identifying stories, communicating with clients, developing informed consent policies, and effectively elevating their voices. Done well, amplifying client stories is a mutually beneficial effort -- offering a platform to clients to share their lived experiences, and promoting the critical role legal aid plays in America.

Legal deserts—regions with limited access to affordable legal services—impact both rural and urban areas, leaving millions of middle-class Americans without options. This session will examine key data on legal deserts, explore contributing factors, and highlight incubator programs addressing the gap. Case studies from the Cleveland Legal Collaborative, Colorado’s Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice, and Purdue Global Law School will showcase data-driven strategies to expand affordable legal services and support sustainable practices in underserved communities.

Explore leading practices in strategic planning for pro bono programs, including tools to support dynamic frameworks for ongoing decision-making. Attendees will gain practical tools to assess and enhance their programs, set clear priorities, and navigate complex challenges with greater clarity and confidence.