2025 Equal Justice Conference

Community Justice Workers (CJWs) are trained advocates who provide critical legal advice, assistance and representation in underserved communities. With several states implementing CJW programs, this session explores how the Frontline Justice with support from Ascendium Education Solutions has convened a national taskforce to discuss how best to design and implement low-barrier, competency-based curriculum and credentialing pathways for community justice workers that have the ability to scale to meet community demand and built a justice workforce of the future.

Charlotte law firms built CLIMB (Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses) to enable pr bono lawyers to aid marginalized and under resourced small businesses owners and entrepreneurs with free legal services. CLIMB especially provides opportunities for transactional attorneys – who balk at litigation-oriented work – to engage in significant pro bono assistance.

Learn about joint projects fostered by the AAA-ICDR Institute to explore real-world examples of how Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) can enhance access to justice. Gain insights into the AAA-ICDR Foundation's grant evaluation process and discover innovative ways ADR is being utilized to promote justice within and outside the court systems to make access to justice more equitable for self-represented, diverse populations.

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.