2025 Equal Justice Conference: Full Schedule

10:00am PDT

Expanding Access to Justice through Legal Technology

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

Recognizing that legal technology may help legal aid narrow the justice gap, the State Bar of California hired consultants to assess grantees’ operational efficiency and develop a statewide legal technology initiative for its 115 grantees. Panelists will discuss how to replicate this assessment and statewide initiative to other jurisdictions.

Speakers

Sateesh Nori

Senior Legal Innovation Strategist, Just Tech

Sateesh Nori is a lawyer, law professor, and author. He is the Senior Legal Innovation Strategist at Just Tech. For twenty years, he represented tenants across New York City at various legal services organizations. He was a commissioner of the 2019 Charter Revision Commission. He... Read More →

Chriseele Raguro

Pablo Ramirez

Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino

Pablo Ramirez took the reins as Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino with a clear vision for change. He recognized the need to modernize the organization to better serve the low-income and vulnerable populations in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Under... Read More →

Jennifer Zelnick

Lead Program Analyst, State Bar of California

Jennifer Zelnick is a Lead Program Analyst in the Office of Access & Inclusion at the State Bar of California. Jennifer's portfolio includes leading legal technology projects and policy work related to access to justice initiatives. Jennifer’s work on legal technology and generative... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Plaza Room A

Sessions

11:30am PDT

State Pro Bono Support Staff

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

Plaza Room A

Thursday May 15, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT
Plaza Room A

Networking Lunch

1:15pm PDT

Enhancing Legal Access Through Accessible Kiosks

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

Plaza Room A

Legal Kiosks are computers located in public spaces providing access to legal services, removing technology and transportation barriers. Experience firsthand how our accessibility features can connect people with disabilities to legal information and services in their community. The session will cover software accessibility, physical accessibility, and user interface designs on a website that are WCAG compliant to ensure comprehensive access to all users. Watch demonstrations showcasing the kiosks' accessibility features, including optimal placement and design considerations for maximizing acc

Speakers

Candi Rivera

PROGRAM MANAGER, TEXAS LEGAL SERVICES CENTER

Candi Rivera is an accomplished legal professional with extensive experience in program coordination, legal services, and community outreach. In January 2024, she was promoted to Program Manager for the Virtual Court Access Program (VCAP) at Texas Legal Services Center, after serving... Read More →

J Singleton

Program Manager, Legal Services State Support

J. Singleton is the Program Manager of Legal Services State Support. She oversees State Support's work, which ranges from managing access to justice websites, including LawHelpMN.org and MNLegalAdvice.org; putting on continuing legal education webinars and conferences for the legal... Read More →

Laura Steinbach

Legal Kiosk Practice Area Lead, Legal Innovator, Developer, A2J Tech

Laura is the Legal Kiosk Practice Area Lead, Legal Innovator, and Developer at A2J Tech. She is a lawyer turned developer, working with legal aid organizations and law firms to leverage technology in their practice. She specializes in Legal Kiosks, document automation services, productizing... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PDT
Plaza Room A

Sessions

2:45pm PDT

Building A Feedback Culture: With an Emphasis on the Feedback You Are Afraid to Give

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

Plaza Room A

Supervisors can be reticent to provide feedback employees need to improve their work and the quality of their organization’s legal services. This session will provide attendees with actionable and specific tips, tools, and a structure for adequately training and supporting supervisors to provide effective feedback delivery within their organizations.

Speakers

Matthew Canuteson

Matt Canuteson is the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Director at Empire Justice Center in New York State. Proudly leveraging his experience as a person of color on a lifelong wellness journey, Matt’s drive comes from his gratitude that he has succeeded despite challenges... Read More →

Melinda Fithen

Litigation Director, Empire Justice Center

Melinda Fithen is the Litigation Director and a member of the Civil Rights Practice Group at Empire Justice Center. Melinda directs and advances the organization’s mission through impact litigation and provides technical assistance, co-counseling, training and strategic support... Read More →

Maggie Robb

Chief Legal Office, Empire Justice Center

Maggie R. Robb, Esq., is the Chief Legal Officer of Empire Justice Center where she oversees the legal practice, compliance, human resources and serves as general counsel to the organization. She is also a member in the Civil Rights Practice Group where she primarily focuses on impact... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm PDT
Plaza Room A

Sessions

4:15pm PDT

Creating Supportive Work Environments for People with Visible/Invisible Disabilities

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

Plaza Room A

Much like many of our colleagues across the country, our office grapples with vicarious trauma, stress, and anxiety which has exponentially increased post Covid-19. New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) will collaborate and present with Assistance Dogs of the West to introduce several approaches to mitigate trauma and other visible and invisible disabilities. Approaches will include group counseling, mental and physical health, and peer support dogs working to help mitigate secondary trauma in professionals such as attorneys, paralegals, administrative staff and first responders in law enforcement.

Speakers

Sonya Bellafant

Executive Director, New Mexico Legal Aid

Sonya Bellafant is the executive director of New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) a nationally recognized, statewide civil legal aid organization with more than 100 staff (including 61 attorneys), eleven offices and an annual budget of approximately $12 million. Prior to joining NMLA, Sonya... Read More →

Linda Milanesi

CEO/President, Assistance Dogs of the West

Linda Milanesi, CEO/President In 2006, Linda Milanesi began her career with Assistance Dogs of the West when she apprenticed to become an instructor/trainer in the school programs. She served as Vice President of the ADW board until 2011, when she was named ADW’s Executive Director... Read More →

Thursday May 15, 2025 4:15pm - 5:30pm PDT
Plaza Room A

Sessions

8:30am PDT

Law School and Order: Special Pro Bono Unit

Friday May 16, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT

Plaza Room A

Learn how Legal Aid of West Virginia and West Virginia University College of Law collaborate to increase pro bono attorney assistance and mentorship through various legal clinics staffed by students and volunteers. The panel will share lessons learned that could be applied by other legal aid organizations and law schools.

Speakers

Maria Almase

Molly Russell

Pro Bono Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid of West Virginia

Molly Russell (she/her) is a practicing attorney with the Morgantown Office at Legal Aid of West Virginia, Inc. She is the Pro Bono Supervising Attorney, where she works with the private attorney involvement staff to recruit, retain, and educate pro bono attorneys statewide. Prior... Read More →

Jennifer Stephens

Friday May 16, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT
Plaza Room A

Sessions

10:00am PDT

The 2024 California Justice Gap Study: Utilizing Data and Research to Support Policy Initiatives

Friday May 16, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT

Plaza Room A

The State Bar of California’s 2019 California Justice Gap Study highlighted significant barriers to legal access for low-income Californians. A 2024 follow up study will update research and recommendations to address ongoing gaps to support policies that promote access to legal aid and pro bono service. The presentation will include discussions of the methodology, research, and findings of the 2024 study and how attendees may utilize data and research to drive policy initiatives to address the justice gap.

Speakers

Lisa Chavez

Program Director, State Bar of California

Lisa Chavez is a Program Director at the State Bar of California, Office of Research and Statistics, where she leads teams in conducting groundbreaking research that supports the State Bar’s mission and strategic plan. As a strategic leader with extensive experience in quantitative... Read More →

Elizabeth Hom

Program Director, State Bar of Calfornia

Elizabeth A. Hom is a Program Director at the State Bar of California, Office of Access & Inclusion, where she advances the State Bar’s efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system. Elizabeth supports administration of grants to legal aid organizations throughout... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Plaza Room A

Sessions

1:15pm PDT

Lifting the Veil: What Nonprofits Need to Know When Working with Firms on Direct Representation.

Friday May 16, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PDT

Plaza Room A

Engaging pro bono lawyers can increase your organization’s impact. It can also sometimes feel like more effort than it’s worth. This session will explore the ways in which pro bono lawyers add value while lifting the veil on pro bono practices at firms and legal services organizations to give you tangible practices for recruiting and mentoring pro bono attorneys for the greatest impact.

Speakers

Jessie Campbell

Supervising Attorney - Compliance / Private Attorney Involvement, Lone Star Legal Aid

Jessie G. Campbell is the Supervising Attorney for Compliance and Private Attorney Involvement with Lone Star Legal Aid. Jessie frequently presents to the community on estate planning and probate matters; to pro bono attorneys on cultural competency, pro bono disaster response, and... Read More →

Anne Chandler

Founding Executive Director, Texas Immigration Law Council

Anne Chandler is the Founding Executive Director of Texas Immigration Law Council. Anne’s lifetime work of advocating for the rights of immigrants has been recognized by the State Bar of Texas and the Christian Science Monitor. She served as on the boards of the Houston’s Immigration... Read More →

Emily Heger

Pro Bono Immigration Attorney, Akin

Emily Heger serves as the Senior Pro Bono Coordinator at Akin where she helps facilitate the global pro bono practice with a focus of managing the firm’s humanitarian immigration docket. Emily was a 2019 Equal Justice Works Fellow co-sponsored by AT&T and Akin and hosted at Human... Read More →

Steven Schulman

Pro Bono Partner, Akin

Steven Schulman joined Akin as its first full-time pro bono partner in 2006, after serving as Latham & Watkins first pro bono counsel from 2001-2004. He has handled dozens of asylum and other immigration cases, with a particular emphasis on complex matters, such as those involving... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 1:15pm - 2:30pm PDT
Plaza Room A

Sessions

3:00pm PDT

Justice Tech: New Horizons in Access to Justice

Friday May 16, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm PDT

Plaza Room A

How can we break down silos and build resources and community between organizations committed to access to justice? Dive into the transformative impact of legal aid-justice tech collaboration. This session will explore the potential of ethical tech advancements to revolutionize the access to justice landscape.

Speakers

Maya Markovich

Vice President, American Arbitration Association - International Centre for Dispute Resolution Institute

Maya Markovich is Vice President of the AAA-ICDR Institute and Executive Director of Justice Technology Association, bringing bold ideas for justice equity into practice. With a deep understanding of the intersection between technology, business and the legal system, Maya forges strategic... Read More →

Kelli Raker

Associate Program Director for Law, Technology, & Entrepreneurship Programs, Duke University, School of Law

Kelli Raker, MA, serves as the Associate Program Director for Law, Tech & Entrepreneurship Programs at the Duke Center on Law & Technology. She supports multiple initiatives and programs including RAILS - Responsible A.I. in Legal Services, the Duke Law Tech Lab, the Legal Design... Read More →

Shellie Reid

Manager, Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project

Shellie Reid is the Manager of the Legal Services National Technology Assistance Project (LSNTAP). During law school, Shellie sought opportunities to gain experience beyond the normal law school path. As an ATJ Tech Fellow, Shellie learned of the many career options available to students... Read More →

Joanne Sprague

Director, Everlaw for Good, Everlaw

Joanne Sprague is a recognized social impact leader with expertise in scaling programs, partnerships, and campaigns globally. Her current role as the first-ever head of the Everlaw for Good program brings her passion for using the power of markets to address one of the world’s biggest... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm PDT
Plaza Room A

Sessions