National Legal Aid & Defender Association

NLADA is joining the legal and client advocacy communities to honor the life of Ms. Rosita Stanley, who passed away earlier this June. A fierce, lifelong advocate for equity and justice, she encouraged everybody to hold on to their values no matter what the challenge. “Rosita Stanley was a cherished member of our community, who had enormous impact on the NLADA and the people we serve. Her passionate, tireless advocacy made us better by centering the voice of low income and vulnerable communities." - NLADA President and CEO April Frazier Camara Read the full press statement on our website: https://lnkd.in/ewTqredc

🌟 Introducing Our 2025 NLADA Kutak-Dodds Award Winner for Civil Legal Aid, Michael G. Figgins🌟 As executive director of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Michael has grown the organization from a program with a staff of 80 attorneys and a budget of $6 million to a program with an attorney staff of almost 300 and a budget that now exceeds $40 million. He uses his decades of expertise to help countless people in need of low-income legal support, remaining dedicated to the fight for equal justice. We are beyond excited to celebrate Michael this year’s Exemplar Gala, taking place at the Showroom in Washington, DC on Wednesday, September 24. You can buy tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eySKkwDh To read the full press release, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/ewNbyh3Y

🌟 Introducing Our 2025 NLADA Kutak-Dodds Award Winner for Public Defenders, Natalie P. Epps🌟 As Deputy Chief of the Parole Division for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, Natalie leads with a commitment to transforming parole advocacy, challenging systemic inequities, and promoting community-based alternatives to incarceration. Beyond her work, she has dedicated herself to developing the next generation of defenders, training and mentoring countless attorneys, law students, and investigators. We are beyond excited to celebrate Natalie this year’s Exemplar Gala, taking place at the Showroom in Washington, DC on Wednesday, September 24. You can buy tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eSpXbfQB To read the full press release, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eXDVisnJ

📣 UPDATE: RFP Deadline Extended to August 11th! 📣 This year, NLADA's Annual Conference will host breakout sessions geared toward better supporting strategic collaboration, thought leadership and collective advocacy. The three priority areas for Annual Conference are: ⚖️ Rule of Law & Due Process: How laws ensure fairness and protect civil rights 🏛️ Government Programs & Funding: How the federal, state and local government does (and does not) work for people 📚 Expanding the Narrative: Recognizing, reclaiming and respecting different voices If you would like to present a breakout session at this year's conference, taking place in Washington, DC from October 29 to November 1, please visit our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eeV9d7G5.

Early registration for Annual Conference is now open! Join us in Washington, DC from October 29 to November 1 to join top legal professionals in our client, civil, and defender communities as we discuss how to better support strategic collaboration, thought leadership, and collective advocacy in these changing times. Register today: https://lnkd.in/eryyMdFw

To allow for correction of an error, the NLADA Governance Elections are re-opening, starting today! We’re now accepting nominations for open positions on NLADA’s Board of Directors and Councils. This is your opportunity to help shape the future of equal justice! View our Virtual Nominations Booklet for details on available positions and how to nominate yourself or a colleague. https://lnkd.in/eAB5qDqC All are welcome to participate — your voice matters!

🌟 Introducing Our 2025 NLADA Exemplar Award Winner, Ben Weinberg 🌟 As Dentons’ pro bono partner, Ben develops and supports partnerships with legal aid providers, clients, nonprofits and NGOs. Ben’s most prominent success has been his development and leadership of the Domestic Violence Appeals Project, operated with Legal Aid Chicago. Since 2013, the project has won 19 of 21 appeals, including four published opinions, and has improved access to justice for domestic violence survivors throughout Illinois. We are beyond excited to celebrate Ben at this year’s Exemplar Gala, taking place at the Showroom in Washington, DC on Wednesday, September 24. To read the full press release, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/ec_hDUU3

Federal funding cuts could severely impact state and local budgets—and the aid available to those in need. Join our webinar tomorrow at 4 pm ET to hear how top practitioners anticipate adapting their work as funding shifts. Panelists include: Salena Copeland, Executive Director, Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) Ken Days, City of Atlanta Office of the Public Defender Lillian Patil, Senior Analyst, State & Local Budgets, Fines and Fees Justice Center Michael Mitchell, Lead Researcher, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

📣 We're officially accepting RFPs for our 2025 NLADA Annual Conference! 📣 This year, NLADA's Annual Conference will host breakout sessions geared toward better supporting strategic collaboration, thought leadership and collective advocacy. The three priority areas for Annual Conference are: ⚖️ Rule of Law & Due Process: How laws ensure fairness and protect civil rights 🏛️ Government Programs & Funding: How the federal, state and local government does (and does not) work for people 📚 Expanding the Narrative: Recognizing, reclaiming and respecting different voices If you would like to present a breakout session at this year's conference, please visit our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/d6hDKeZT. Proposals are due on August 8th, so don't wait!

This Friday at 3 pm ET, we're hosting True Progress Lab for our monthly Community Drop-In Discussion! This workshop, "Building Calm and Control Under Pressure," will help professionals who face pressure, fast decisions, and high-stakes moments — and want to stay sharp, confident, and composed when it counts. You'll walk away with a practical framework for managing pressure in real time, the mental tools to recover faster from stress and setbacks, and protocols for communicating clearly under fire. Register via our website: https://lnkd.in/egnwMXTe.