Racial Justice Series: Ending the School to Prison Pipeline: Changing Outcomes and Creating Paths for Success
Black and brown students, particularly with disabilities, are still often more likely than their peers to be suspended or expelled and funneled out of public schools into the juvenile and criminal legal systems. Our panelists discuss how their organizations are promoting systemic reforms to end disparate discipline practices and policies and foster success for students of color. We will also explore what public interest and pro bono lawyers with or without education law experience can do to sever the pipeline. Our discussion will be led by: Kaitlin Banner, Deputy Legal Director, Washington Council of Lawyers for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Akela Crawford, Director, Legal Services, Advocates for Justice and Education Seema Gajwani, Special Counsel for Juvenile Justice Reform; Founder & Chief, Restorative Justice Program, DC Office of the Attorney General Henry Floyd, General Counsel at the Daniel Initiative and Washington Council of Lawyers Board Vice-President will moderate the conversation. Thank you to the Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (“GWAC”) and the Washington Bar Association for co-sponsoring this program. Spread the word on social media using #RacialJustice.
DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Ken Knight and David Horniak
We the Action Summit 2023
We The Action is excited to host their first Summit for lawyers who want to make a difference! Plan to join them at the Eaton Hotel in Washington, DC, for a day of interactive sessions with your fellow pro bono lawyers from across the country, inspiring fireside chats from legal leaders, live pro bono opportunities, and panels about the most pressing issues facing the nation. They are so excited to bring this community together in person for the first time in October. Check out more about their event below! Three Impactful, In-Person Pro Bono Opportunities! We’re excited to announce that the We The Action Summit will feature three opportunities to collaborate with your peers and make a difference: Volunteer with the Nobel Prize-nominated Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to help people with previous felony convictions restore their right to vote Help the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights assess barriers to voting and the effects of voting rights laws to ensure everyone can cast their ballot in November and beyond Support VECINA as they provide hands on assistance to immigrants seeking protection in the United States Join Us for a Democracy & Voting Rights Panel! The We The Action Summit 2023 will feature a timely panel with leading voting rights organizations! Learn more about the ongoing fight for voting rights, the state of current voting rights litigation, and how lawyers can help defend the right to vote. The panel will feature representatives from: Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Black Voters Matter Hear from Leading Voices in Reproductive Justice! We’ve heard from lawyers like you that you’re concerned about the ongoing attacks on reproductive freedom nationwide. That’s why we’re excited to announce that the We The Action Summit will feature a panel from organizations on the front lines of the fight for reproductive justice about how lawyers can make a difference! The panel will feature representatives from: If/When/How Baltimore Abortion Fund Partners in Abortion Care
DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Shirin Zamani
Burke Pro Bono Luncheon
Hosted by Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Join the Washington Lawyers' Committee to meet their new Legal Director, Ryan Downer, hear about our work from our clients, co-counsel, and staff, and find out how to get involved in civil rights pro bono opportunities. Panel topics will include: The Fight for Decarceration and Bringing People Home Workers' Rights Victory for Virginia Tech Students Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCPBW23.
DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Latham & Watkins Pro Bono Team
DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Megan Daily
DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Alfredo Vasquez
Pathways to the Federal Bench: Judicial Nominations 101
Hosted by Alliance for Justice's Building the Bench Initiative As the Biden administration has committed to prioritizing experiential diversity on the bench, we want to ensure the broadest possible pool of attorneys has a comprehensive understanding of the federal nominations process and is as prepared as possible to position themselves as candidates for judgeships. As you know, judges with a background in criminal legal reform are quite underrepresented in our courts, which is why we are organizing this information session for criminal justice-focused attorneys who may be interested in pursuing a federal judgeship. This will be a confidential, off the record conversation to demystify the process, answer questions, and encourage folks to consider a future on the bench. Please join us on Wednesday, October 18 at 3:00 PM EDT over Zoom to hear from speakers Judge Richard F. Boulware, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, and Judge Jamal Whitehead, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Panelists will give their insights on how judges get nominated, including commissions, timelines, and the ABA process, as well as discuss how judicial candidates should work with the White House, Senate (or in some cases House) offices, Department of Justice, and outside organizations. We are excited to cohost this event along with the Washington Bar Association, the DC Bar, and the Hispanic Bar Association of DC. Please reach out to Mike Salamon at mike.salamon@afj.org if you have any questions.