WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF LAWYERS

Building a future together requires a vision of what is possible, perseverance, and hope. We find all this and more in the pages of Dismantling Mass Incarceration: A Handbook for Change from Premal Dharia, James Forman Jr., and Maria Hawilo. Join us for a fireside chat with Premal Dharia, author and Executive Director of the Institute to End Mass Incarceration at Harvard Law School. We will continue what the book starts, creating a forum to discuss - and disagree - on the best ways to confront the harms of mass incarceration. The conversation will highlight some of the many stories included from activists, lawyers, judges, scholars, people who were formerly incarcerated, and more that help to create understanding around such a large and nuanced topic. If you feel passionately about prison reform and are unsure of what to do next, this conversation is your next step! Join us whether you've read the book already or have it on your TBR! The conversation will expand your understanding of the topic beyond what you'll find in the book! You can be a part of the conversation on social media using #RJSHandbooktoChange

Each year, we recognize outstanding lawyers who make exceptional contributions to the pro bono and public-interest community and celebrate the hundreds of public-interest and pro bono professionals who dedicate time, expertise, finances, and compassion to helping their neighbors. Join us at our 2024 Justice Impact Awards to come together, recharge our collective batteries, celebrate our accomplishments, commiserate on our challenges, and be inspired. Our annual pro bono and public interest celebration is always unique, fun, and inspiring. Presidents Award for Public Service Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby D.C. Court of Appeals Legal Services Amy Nelson Whitman-Walker Health Government Christine Ennis U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division Law Firm Jessica Hough Skadden Corporate Legal Department Kathi Westcott Pew Charitable Trusts Legacy Award Nancy Lopez Join us for a celebratory evening of delicious food & drink, inspiring community connections, and the chance to celebrate our local pro bono and public-interest advocates who work tirelessly to increase access to justice! You can also become a member at special rates when you purchase your tickets. VIRTUAL AUCTION! You can also support our mission of ensuring our justice system treats everyone fairly, regardless of money, position, or power through our virtual auction. Bidding is now open and closes on December 6th.  Treat your loved ones (or yourself) with fabulous items sure to make their day while supporting access to justice for all. We hope you will bid early and often! You can also honor this year's award recipients by sponsoring the Justice Impact Awards. For more information, please contact our Executive Director, Christina Jackson, at cjackson@wclawyers.org or 202-451-8129. Share the news on social media using #JusticeImpactAwards24!

Join us for a special summer presentation to learn about the impactful work of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance. While not a law firm or legal services organization, LFAA is committed to leveraging the resources of the private bar in partnership with legal services organizations to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism, particularly anti-Black racism, to better use the law as a vehicle for change that benefits communities of color and to promote racial equity in the law. LFAA’s goal is simple:  racial equity.  Facilitating pro bono work is the primary mechanism by which we pursue this goal. Our panelists include: Kathleen Wach, Pro Bono Counsel for Miller & Chevalier Ted Howard, Pro Bono Partner at Wiley Rein Guerby Noel, Operations Manager for the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance Paul Lee, Pro Bono Partner at Steptoe LLP and Washington Council of Lawyers Board Member will moderate the conversation. Spread the word on social media using #RacialJustice.  

Our Summer Pro Bono & Public Interest Forum is an annual tradition that brings together lawyers, summer associates, summer interns, and others interested in using their law degrees to help those in need. It’s also a great way to highlight the importance of pro bono and public-interest work throughout one’s legal career. You may register to attend the Summer Forum anytime before Thursday, June 27. If you missed previous sessions, we will send you links to the recordings of those earlier events.  We kicked off the forum with an in-person and live-streamed keynote conversation with Fatima Goss Graves, President & CEO of the National Women's Law Center. Ms. Goss Graves is a nationally recognized leader in the fight for gender justice and an expert in law, policy, and culture change. We enjoyed discussing her work across a broad set of issues central to the lives of women and girls – including income security and COVID relief, equal pay, ending sexual harassment and violence, health and reproductive rights, education access, and workplace justice – with a particular focus on outcomes for women and girls of color. A recording of our discussion is available to all registrants. We now dive deeper into six substantive practice areas through virtual panel discussions where you will learn more about pro bono and public-interest work in DC and across the country. Each panel focuses on a different practice area, featuring presentations by national and local experts in that legal specialty. All discussions will take place from 12:00-1:30 pm ET. The panel topics will include: June 26 – Non-Litigation Pro Bono June 26 – Environmental Justice June 26 – Criminal Law & Death Penalty June 27 – Poverty Law June 27 – Civil Rights & Civil Liberties June 27 – Immigration & Human Rights The Summer Forum is open to Washington Council of Lawyers members (join), participants in summer associate and summer intern programs, lawyers in law firms, government and public-interest organizations, law students, and others interested in learning more about incorporating public-interest law into their practice. You can attend from anywhere! A single registration provides access to all three days of Summer Forum sessions, and recordings of each session will be sent to all registered attendees. The cost is just $45 for WCL Members; $65 for Government & Public-Interest Lawyers, Interns, and Individual Law Students; and $105 for Law Firm Lawyers, Summer Associates, Corporate Law Department Lawyers, Law Department Interns, and the General Public. Bulk registrations are available. Please email Christina Jackson (at cjackson@wclawyers.org) if you need any assistance. Look for updates and join the conversation about the Summer Forum using #SumFo24 on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn!

Student loan debt is a reality for most lawyers. Lawyers at law firms, non-profits, and the government all juggle student loans, so lawyers employed (or aspiring to be employed!) in all legal sectors need a smart and thorough plan for managing their student loan debt. Take control of your student debt obligations. Join Aoife Delargy Lowe, Vice President of Law School Engagement & Advocacy at Equal Justice Works for an in-depth discussion of Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Loan Repayment Assistance Programs, payment options, and student loan management. We will discuss repayment program terms and conditions and provide tips on consolidation where required. Find out the latest developments in student loan management techniques and how to maximize your repayment options. This program is ideal for law students, recent graduates, and lawyers in private and public practice. Thank you to the D. C. Consortium of Legal Services Providers for co-sponsoring!

Join the Council for Court Excellence for "Meet the Next Chief Judge"! At this candidate forum, interested members of the public will hear from the judges who have applied to succeed the Hon. Anita Josey-Herring as the Chief Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Come hear about Judge Marisa Demeo and Milton Lee, Jr.’s goals and plans as they seek to be the Superior Court’s next leader. This will be an invaluable opportunity for members of the bar and community at large to learn about the priorities and approaches of the Chief Judge applicants prior to the June 20 deadline for submitting public comments to the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission.  A welcome reception will take place from 5:15-6:00 pm and the Candidate Forum will be 6:00-7:30 pm. Thank you to UDC David A. Clarke School of Law for hosting the forum. We are pleased to co-sponsor this important event with: ACLU of DC Asian Pacific American Bar Association for the Greater Washington, DC Area Bar Association of the District of Columbia DC Access to Justice Commission DC Appleseed Center for Law & Justice Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia Washington Bar Association Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia

Post-graduate fellowships are a unique way to realize your ideal public interest job. Fellowships allow new lawyers to gain hands-on experience, develop project management skills, and pursue their passions for promoting justice. But the application process is complicated and the programs are competitive. We're here to help you make sense of the process. Our expert panel will walk you through all the steps of the application procedures for the various programs and give you concrete tips for maximizing your chances of landing the fellowship of your dreams. Then, we will discuss PSJD and other online resources for finding fellowships. Finally, there will be plenty of time for individualized questions. Our panel includes: Moderator: Jennie Netburn, Fellowships Counselor, Georgetown University Law Center Kathleen Rubenstein, Executive Director, Skadden Jessica Ryckman, Director of Fellowships, Equal Justice Works Zakiya Lewis, Skadden Fellow, Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law Lee Tremblay, Justice Catalyst Fellow, Legal Voice This event is for law students at every stage of their career as well as judicial clerks and LLM students. For 3L students we will discuss the current fellowship application cycle. For 1L and 2L students, we will discuss the best ways to position yourself to receive a post graduate fellowship. We will also discuss law clerks and LLM students' eligibility for fellowship positions. Fellowships 101 is free for Washington Council of Lawyers members (join) and law students of Public Interest Jobs Clearinghouse (PIJC) subscriber law schools; the cost is just $10 for non-members. Not sure if you attend a law school that subscribes to the PIJC? Contact your law school career development office to find out. Join the conversation on social media #Fellowships101.

This Best Practices conversation will define and explain what we mean by Artificial Intelligence or “AI.” Building on that shared understanding, we will discuss how AI has been, is being, and will be used in legal services generally, and to facilitate access to justice and pro bono in particular. We will explore the benefits, use cases, and opportunities for innovation, and the potential risks of this emerging technology. The panel will touch on practical considerations, ethical implications, equity, access, and opportunities for collaboration among large law firms, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and courts as using AI rapidly shifts from optional to obligatory. Our discussion will be led by: Panelists Tiana Russell, Pro Bono Counsel, Crowell & Moring Michael Lukens, Executive Director, CAIR Coalition  Adrián Palma, Pro Bono Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation Jim Sandman, Vice-Chair of the ABA Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence, Law Professor, President Emeritus of the Legal Services Corporation, Past President of the D.C. Bar (and so, so much more!) Bring your lunch and your questions. We'll provide the cookies and the answers. Pro bono coordinators from law firms, corporations, legal services providers, nonprofits, and government agencies are welcome to join the conversation!

The District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC) screens, selects, and recommends to the President of the United States candidates for appointment to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and appoints the chief judges for both courts. Join members of the JNC for a unique opportunity to learn about the JNC and our local judicial selection process, obtain advice on applying to become a judge in the District of Columbia, and the pitfalls to avoid during the application process. Panelists include: Honorable Marie C. Johns, CEO, PPC-Leftwich; Chair, JNC Benjamin F. Wilson, Retired Chairman, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.; Vice-Chair, JNC Tracy B. Nutall, Executive Director, JNC Don't forget to add this event to your calendar when you register! Click the "Add to My Calendar" button at the top right-hand corner of the registration page.

Our Summer Pro Bono & Public Interest Forum is an annual tradition that brings together lawyers, summer associates, summer interns, and others interested in making pro bono or public-interest work a part of their legal careers and provides an introduction to several different types of public-interest practice. We’ll kick off the forum with an in-person and live-streamed keynote conversation with Fatima Goss Graves, President & CEO of the National Women's Law Center on Thursday, June 20 from 5:30-7:30 pm ET. Following the keynote, we will dive deeper into six substantive practice areas through virtual panel discussions where you can learn more about pro bono and public-interest work in DC and across the country. Each panel will focus on a different practice area, featuring presentations by national and local experts in that legal specialty. All discussions will take place from 12:00-1:30 pm ET. The panel topics will include: June 26 – Non-Litigation Pro Bono June 26 – Environmental Justice June 26 – Criminal Law & Death Penalty June 27 – Poverty Law June 27 – Civil Rights & Civil Liberties June 27 – Immigration & Human Rights The Summer Forum is open to Washington Council of Lawyers members (join), participants in summer associate and summer intern programs, lawyers in law firms, government and public-interest organizations, law students, and others interested in learning more about incorporating public-interest law into their practice. You can attend from anywhere! A single registration provides access to all three days of Summer Forum sessions, and recordings of each session will be sent to all registered attendees. You can choose to attend the in-person keynote and reception or participate in the live stream. All the panels are virtual. The cost for the in-person keynote'/virtual panel option is $65 for WCL Members; $85 for Government & Public-Interest Lawyers, Interns, and Individual Law Students; and $115 for Law Firm Lawyers, Summer Associates, Corporate Law Department Lawyers, Law Department Interns, and the General Public. The all-virtual option is just $45 for WCL Members; $65 for Government & Public-Interest Lawyers, Interns, and Individual Law Students; and $105 for Law Firm Lawyers, Summer Associates, Corporate Law Department Lawyers, Law Department Interns, and General Public. Summer Program Coordinators: If you’d like your summer associates or interns to attend, but don’t yet know their names, you can register them as guests (First Name: Guest 1, Last Name: Organization Name). Bulk registrations are available. Please email Christina Jackson (at cjackson@wclawyers.org) if you need any assistance. Look for updates and join the conversation about the Summer Forum using #SumFo24 on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn!

Personnel actions can be some of the hardest situations to navigate for any leader. In the public sector, we often see less formal evaluation processes or evaluation processes that are supposed to be one-size-fits-all. There may not be clear guidance about what to do if a team member is underperforming. As a supervisor, there may be no mechanism for feedback on your performance. You may have no idea how to provide feedback or might not be sure how to solicit feedback. We will cover all these issues and more with government supervisor Alessandro Terenzoni at the last session of our Leadership Institute. This session is from 12:00-1:30 pm ET. The cost is just $40 per session for members and $60 per session for non-members. Scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of the DC Bar Foundation. Please fill out this online scholarship request form. These sessions are designed specifically for public interest lawyers. We will address the specific challenges and rewards that come with early career leadership responsibilities, offer concrete tips and strategies for supporting your team, and explore how self-care must be a part of your professional competencies. Our Leadership Institute is appropriate for lawyers who are currently team leaders, first or second-line supervisors, those who hope to move into a leadership role in the next 12 months, and anyone who could use a primer on effective leadership. Don't forget to add this event to your calendar when you register! Click the "Add to My Calendar" button at the top right hand corner of the registration page.

Leadership in the public interest presents unique challenges. You often find yourself being offered leadership roles very early in your career. It can be overwhelming to navigate all the obstacles. That is why wellness and self-care have to be part of your professional competencies. Additionally, public-sector lawyers face secondary trauma and other factors that affect their personal lives. This session of our Leadership Institute will help all of us navigate the landscape of leadership while supporting our teams and effectively caring for ourselves. This session will be led by Daniela de la Piedra, former lawyer, and Founder & Principal of Everyday Daniela Professional Coaching Services. Then, we will take a deeper dive into the core competencies of leadership in the last session.. Personnel Actions on Tuesday, June 25 All the sessions are from 12:00-1:30 pm ET. The cost is just $40 per session for members and $60 per session for non-members. There is also a discounted package rate for the 2 remaining sessions. Scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of the DC Bar Foundation. Please fill out this online scholarship request form. These sessions are designed specifically for public interest lawyers. We will address the specific challenges and rewards that come with early career leadership responsibilities, offer concrete tips and strategies for supporting your team, and explore how self-care must be a part of your professional competencies. Our Leadership Institute is appropriate for lawyers who are currently team leaders, first or second-line supervisors, those who hope to move into a leadership role in the next 12 months, and anyone who could use a primer on effective leadership. Don't forget to add this event to your calendar when you register! Click the "Add to My Calendar" button at the top right hand corner of the registration page.

The public sector presents many unique challenges as you progress through your career. Unlike the private sector, you will have sole client responsibility right away and you may find yourself moving into a leadership role 3-5 years into your first position. In session 2, we will discuss managing vs supervising. Our conversation will be led by Michael Lukens, Associate Director of the CAIR Coalition. Then, we will take a deeper dive into the core competencies of leadership in the following two sessions. Wellness & Managing Secondary Trauma: Why It's Important to Professional Competency on Tuesday, May 21 Personnel Actions on Tuesday, June 25 All the sessions are from 12:00-1:30 pm ET. The cost is just $40 per session for members and $60 per session for non-members. There is also a discounted package rate for the 3 remaining sessions. Scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of the DC Bar Foundation. Please fill out this online scholarship request form. These sessions are designed specifically for public interest lawyers. We will address the specific challenges and rewards that come with early career leadership responsibilities, offer concrete tips and strategies for supporting your team, and explore how self-care must be a part of your professional competencies. Our Leadership Institute is appropriate for lawyers who are currently team leaders, first or second-line supervisors, those who hope to move into a leadership role in the next 12 months, and anyone who could use a primer on effective leadership. Don't forget to add this event to your calendar when you register! Click the "Add to My Calendar" button at the top right hand corner of the registration page.

Ever worked with a client who couldn’t concentrate on their legal issue because they were worried about something else? This conversation will be about the role and experience of pro bono attorneys working with clients who have multiple, overlapping needs, including non-legal needs. We will hear from panelists who work at organizations with interdisciplinary services combining legal and non-legal services, such as medical-legal partnerships, to learn how those models impact their pro bono program. We will also hear from pro bono facilitators about challenges and opportunities when non-legal needs arise while representing clients. We’ll explore what is working well, the gaps, and ways that legal services staff and pro bono attorneys can maintain defined roles while working together to holistically support clients. Bring your lunch and your questions. We'll provide the cookies and the answers. Pro bono coordinators from law firms, corporations, legal services providers, nonprofits, and government agencies are welcome to join the conversation!