Washington Council of Lawyers is powered by our (all-volunteer) Board of Directors. Our working board plans and executes a range of advocacy efforts, education and training programs, social and fundraising events, and communication initiatives. We'd love for you to join us! We're now accepting applications to join our board. Please submit your application by 5:00 pm on Monday, June 8, 2026.
Organized by the Council for Court Excellence Join us for these important conversations on public safety and justice in D.C. D.C. Mayor: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, University of the District of Columbia, Student Center Ballroom, 4200 Connecticut Ave, NW. Metro accessible (Van Ness, Red line) and parking available with parking entrance on Van Ness Street. D.C. Delegate to U.S. Congress: Thursday, April 30, 2026 THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave, SE. Metro accessible (Southern Avenue, Green line), and free parking on grounds and additional street parking. Approximate schedule for both forums: Doors Open: 6 p.m. Forum: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Reception/Meet-and-Greet with Candidates: 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Thank you for your interest in attending either or both of our forums, which will focus on issues affecting the systems that District residents rely on for safety and justice. On behalf of all co-sponsoring organizations, we strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including those with disabilities, to engage fully. The event spaces are ADA accessible, and we will have sign language interpretation. To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, please refrain from wearing strong fragrances. In all situations, a good-faith effort will be made (up until the time of the event) to provide needed accommodations. Event sponsors: Bar Association of the District of Columbia - Building Bridges Across The River - Bread for the City - BreakFree Education - Center for Innovations in Community Safety (Georgetown Law) - Children's Law Center - CCE - Critical Exposure - DC Access to Justice Commission - DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice - DC Bar’s DC Affairs Steering Committee - DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence - DC Consortium of Legal Services Providers - DC Fiscal Policy Institute - DC Justice Lab - Disability Rights DC - Festival Center - Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop - Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia - More Than Our Crimes - Open City Advocates - Peace For DC - Reentry Action Network - School Justice Project (SJP) - Second Look Project - Thrive Under 25 Coalition - Trial Lawyers Association of DC - Tzedek DC - University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law - Voices for a Second Chance - Volare - Washington Bar Association, Inc. - Washington Council of Lawyers - Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs
Our 2026 Summer Forum features keynote speaker Liz Oyer, former U.S. Pardon Attorney and current educator and legal contributor. From April 2022 to March 2025, Liz served as United States Pardon Attorney, the senior career official in the Department of Justice responsible for advising the President on the exercise of his constitutional clemency power. Liz’s service spanned two presidential administrations before she was abruptly fired in March 2025, as reported by the New York Times. After leaving the Justice Department, Liz created Lawyer Oyer LLC, an independent media company producing multimedia content to educate the public about threats to the rule of law, focusing on issues related to the courts, the criminal justice system, and presidential power. The Lawyer Oyer platform includes Substack, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more, with over a million followers. Liz is a regular contributing guest on MSNBC, CNN, and other programs and podcasts, and a frequently quoted expert in national news publications. Liz was recently featured on 60 Minutes and in The New York Times Magazine. Liz has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the Washington Post, and other publications. Read more about Liz Oyer here. After the keynote remarks, we’ll offer a tasty lunch and a selection of breakout sessions where you can learn more about pro bono and public-interest work in DC and across the country. In session one, you can choose from Non-Litigation Pro Bono, Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, or Poverty Law. Session two includes Criminal Law & Death Penalty or Immigration & Human Rights. The Summer Forum is open to Washington Council of Lawyers members (join), participants in summer associate and summer intern programs, and others interested in learning more about practicing law to benefit those in need. This event is a tradition for many summer programs because it highlights the value of incorporating pro bono or public-interest work into future legal careers. Early-bird pricing is available until June 16. There are also discounts for Washington Council of Lawyers members. Join before registering to take advantage of member pricing. Finally, 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); email our Executive Director, Christina Jackson (cjackson@wclawyers.org) if you need assistance or need bulk registration. As we're fully back in-person only, we expect this event to sell out. Get your tickets early! Note: Registering for this event does not automatically make you a member. If you want to join Washington Council of Lawyers, you can do so here. If you want to take advantage of member pricing, you must join first.
We are thrilled to welcome Liz Oyer as our 2026 Summer Pro Bono & Public Interest Forum keynote speaker. Ms. Oyer served as the U.S. Pardon Attorney through two administrations until she was abruptly fired in March 2025. She spent most of her career in public service and now educates the public about threats to the rule of law, focusing on issues related to the courts, the criminal justice system, and presidential power through her Lawyer Oyer platform and guest contributions to network programming, podcasts, and national news publications.
Washington Council of Lawyers endorses these 2026 candidates, listed alphabetically, and not in order of preference. Please be sure to vote! Then share our endorsements widely with your networks!
Thank you for joining us for a wonderful evening of inspiration and fellowship. A special thanks to our award recipients for all you do for our community! Enjoy these special memories.
For more than twenty-three years, the name Laura Klein has been synonymous with government pro bono. No one has had a greater or more sustained impact on the ability of federal attorneys to provide volunteer legal services. Throughout her long career, Laura has exemplified the ideal of serving “for the public good.” Laura first received the Government Pro Bono Award from the Washington Council of Lawyers in 2004. It is fitting that at the conclusion of her distinguished federal career, she receives our 2025 Presidents’ Award, honoring her exceptional leadership, profound impact, and the generous spirit that has inspired—and continues to inspire—so many in the pursuit of justice.
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. We are thrilled to honor our 2025 Justice Impact Awards recipients! Read on to find out more.
Annually, Washington Council of Lawyers is thrilled to celebrate us! – the hundreds of public-interest and pro bono professionals who dedicate time, expertise, finances, and compassion to helping their neighbors. Our Justice Impact Awards is a time for us to come together, recharge our collective batteries, celebrate our accomplishments, commiserate on our challenges, and be inspired. Read on to find out how to nominate a pro bono champion.
With so many federal government employees struggling during the shutdown, we've collected links to and summaries of resources available to federal employees who are furloughed. From free food to free CLE programs, many groups are trying to support those affected by the shutdown.
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 2025 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. Congratulations to our 2025 Awards recipients! Presidents Award Laura Klein Lawyers for Good Government (Formerly U.S. Department of Justice) Legal Services Kaitlin Banner Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Government Acacia Bellamy U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Affairs Law Firm Kate St. Romain Fried Frank Corporate Justin Loffredo Medtronic Thank you to our 2025 Justice Impact Awards sponsors! Champion Arnold & Porter Sidley Austin Trailblazer Latham & Watkins Benefactor Morgan Lewis Defender Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Covington & Burling DLA Piper Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Hogan Lovells Steptoe LLP Wiley Pioneer AlixPartners ArentFox Schiff Cleary Gottlieb Crowell & Moring Nancy Lopez In Memory of Charles M. McDowell James J. Sandman and Elizabeth D. Mullin Lawrence A. Schneider 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 become a member at special rates when you purchase your tickets. You can also honor this year's award recipients by donating in their name or 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 #JusticeImpactAwards25!
We are thrilled to welcome these dedicated, knowledgeable, and compassionate advocates to our Board of Directors! Read on to learn more.
This Supreme Court term saw numerous issues with implications for public interest practitioners, including several concerning the scope of executive branch power. The Court’s formal decisions will be on the front pages, but what are the implications? Our panel of distinguished practitioners, each of whom had cases the Supreme Court ruled on this term, will take a behind-the-headlines look at the major executive power cases before the Court this term and a look ahead at what we might anticipate in the years to come. Our panelists include: Kelsi Corkran, Supreme Court Director at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy & Protection and a Senior Lecturer at the Georgetown University Law Center (argued CASA v. Trump in May) Deepak Gupta, Founding Principal of Gupta Wessler LLP Adam Unikowsky, Partner at Jenner & Block Michael Perloff, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of DC, will moderate the discussion. We will discuss the implications of the executive power cases decided this term, how the decisions might determine strategy for potential impact litigation moving forward, and what it’s like to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. This program is appropriate for practitioners, summer associates and interns, Supreme Court enthusiasts, and anyone interested in defending the rule of law. The cost of this program is $40 for Washington Council of Lawyers members, $45 for public interest and government lawyers, interns, and law students, and $70 for law firm lawyers, summer associates, and the general public. (Join here to receive the discounted member price.) Lunch is provided, and the program offers open seating; please arrive early. We look forward to having you join us for lunch and a fascinating discussion of the recently concluded Supreme Court term! Finally, if you’d like your summer associates or interns to attend and require assistance with group registration, please email our Executive Director, Christina Jackson, at cjackson@wclawyers.org. Join and follow the conversation at #SCOTUSreview!
We are excited to welcome Jamie Raskin, Representative of Maryland’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Summer Forum. Rep. Raskin has embarked on a life of national public service centering the progress of all people. His advocacy efforts have prioritized promoting constitutional understanding and strong democratic values in the American legal and political system.
Join ACC NCR and Washington Council of Lawyers for a virtual program demystifying the path from public service to in-house roles. Whether you are in early exploration or actively planning a transition, this session will provide insights to help guide your career move. Our panel of in-house counsel who have also worked in public service will share key differences, finding the right in-house role, marketing and positioning yourself to appeal to the private sector, and practical tips for success. Panelists: Chad Breckinridge, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Lumos Fiber Phillip Brooks, Vice President & Associate General Counsel -- Environmental Compliance at 3M Marsha Dixon-Herbert, Associate Vice President / Principal Associate General Counsel at Nasdaq Maria Votsch, Chief Counsel, Business and Finance Law at United States Postal Service By registering for this ACC NCR event, you acknowledge that you have read ACC NCR’s Code of Conduct for Events and agree to comply with its terms.
Join us to discuss the current state of pro bono. What does pro bono look like right now? What has actually changed? What assumptions do we need to check? Our shared commitment to access to justice continues, and we do our best work together. Let’s connect in person to hear what has and hasn’t changed across pro bono and public interest partners. Panelists will discuss their office’s current pro bono work, share ways to continue serving local pro bono needs, and discuss tips for channeling coordinator and volunteer energy into productive pro bono opportunities. This session will be moderated by Jen Masi, Pro Bono Director at Children’s Law Center. Panelists include: Kate Barry, Pro Bono Counsel, Kirkland & Ellis LLP Paul Lee, Pro Bono Partner, Steptoe Jacob Lichtenbaum, Immigration & Pro Bono Staff Attorney, Ayuda Sylvia Soltis, Pro Bono Program Director, Legal Aid DC Gwendolyn M. Washington, Pro Bono Counsel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP This session will not be recorded or offered virtually. Bring your lunch and your questions! Thanks to the generosity of Fried Frank, cookies/brownies and drinks will be provided. We welcome pro bono coordinators from law firms, corporations, legal services providers, nonprofits, and government agencies from DC and across the country.
Our 2025 Summer Forum features keynote speaker Jamie Raskin, who represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Raskin was sworn into his fourth Term at the start of the 118th Congress on January 6, 2023. Rep. Raskin was chosen by the Democratic Caucus to be the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability in the 118th Congress. This is his fourth term serving on the Oversight Committee. Congressman Raskin will discuss his public-interest career, the importance of the rule of law, and the vital role pro bono volunteers and public-interest lawyers play in equitable access to justice. After the keynote remarks, we’ll offer a tasty lunch and a selection of breakout sessions where you can learn more about pro bono and public-interest work in DC and across the country. In session one, you can choose from Civil Rights & Civil Liberties or Poverty Law. Session two includes Criminal Law & Death Penalty or Immigration & Human Rights. We're also offering two virtual panels on Tuesday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 22 at noon. Separate registration for those panels will be available soon. Registrants for the Summer Forum can attend these sessions for free. The Summer Forum is open to Washington Council of Lawyers members (join), participants in summer-associate and summer-intern programs, and others interested in learning more about practicing law to benefit those in need. This event is a tradition for many summer programs because it highlights the value of incorporating pro bono or public-interest work into future legal careers. Early-bird pricing is available until June 4. There are also discounts for Washington Council of Lawyers members (join) to take advantage of member pricing. Finally, 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); email our Executive Director, Christina Jackson (cjackson@wclawyers.org) if you need assistance or need bulk registration. As we're fully back in person only, we expect this event to sell out. Get your tickets early!
The leadership of the D.C. Bar sets the priorities for the largest unified bar association in the country. The D.C. Bar President, Treasurer, and Board of Governors review and approve D.C. Bar policies, approve the annual budget for the Bar and the Bar Pro Bono Center, decide which committee and task force recommendations to pursue, set governance for the Bar, and much more. Washington Council of Lawyers believes effective Bar leadership will have experience in service to the legal community, have leadership experience with the D.C. Bar, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, or voluntary bars and be able to provide strategic guidance to contribute to the Bar’s future.
The District of Columbia's Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 simplifies the process for record sealing, expands eligibility, and introduces automatic record-sealing to promote successful reintegration into the community of formerly incarcerated individuals. Although passed in 2022, the Act never received the necessary funding and did not take full effect until recently. The law’s provisions will take effect over time, with the changes to eligibility and simplifications already effective on March 1, 2025. The District has until October 2027 to enact the automatic record-sealing process. The benefits of the Act are far-reaching. This provision will enable thousands of DC residents to apply for employment, housing, education, and other benefits previously closed to them. Expanded eligibility means thousands more DC residents can seek sealing or expungement of their records. The sealed or expunged records are also not searchable by the public. Join our esteemed panelists for a discussion of the impact of the Act, how it works, and how you can use it to benefit your clients. Jacob Lemon-Strauss, Director, Expungement and Respondent Representation Programs at Rising for Justice Patrice Sulton, Executive Director of the DC Justice Lab Gwen Washington, Pro Bono Attorney for Cleary Gottlieb, will moderate our discussion. This discussion is free to attend, but pre-registration is required.
As the pro bono and public-interest bar association of Washington, DC, the Washington Council of Lawyers’ core tenet is that the legal system should treat everyone fairly regardless of money, position, or power. We continue to fight against the challenges to this core principle from the administration, elected officials, and other actors.
Hosted by the D.C. Bar Association Join us and the other voluntary bar associations in DC for the first-ever Voluntary Bar Fair and Networking Event. This is a unique opportunity to connect with the diverse legal professionals and organizations that shape D.C.'s vibrant legal community. From early career attorneys to established lawyers, all are welcome to attend! Join area voluntary bar associations to learn more about membership, programs, and upcoming events. Enter a raffle to win prizes and network with fellow practitioners. Light hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Check out the full list of bar associations attending. Don't miss this unique opportunity to build your network, explore leadership roles, and access exclusive resources! This will be your chance to make invaluable professional connections with D.C.’s top legal professionals, attorneys from diverse practice areas, and local law students. Light refreshments will be provided. Pre-registration is requested, but onsite registration is available.
New administrations bring new policies, rules, laws, perspectives, and practices significantly impacting clients and communities seeking access to justice. When significant and rapid changes garner national attention, how do we continue to focus on providing services to local community members in DC, so that we can meet their needs, while balancing volunteer interests and limited resources? As the entire legal community digests changes to many areas of practice, how do we keep pro bono at the forefront, adapting to new needs without overlooking ongoing cases or burning out. This panel will bring together law firm and legal services perspectives to discuss navigating the changing landscape together. Our discussion will be led by: Mary Gately, DLA Piper Lauren Birzon Harriman, DC Affordable Law Firm Jennifer Grishkin, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights The conversation will be moderated by Andrea Mangones, Director, Legal Training at KIND. Bring your lunch and your questions! Thanks to the generosity of Fried Frank cookies/brownies and drinks will be provided. We welcome pro bono coordinators from law firms, corporations, legal services providers, nonprofits, and government agencies from DC and across the country.
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 and Jonathan Smith, Chief, Assistant Attorney General for the Maryland Attorney General. 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
Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby joined the DC Court of Appeals in 2006 and has served as chief judge since 2017. Prior to her tenure at the DC Court of Appeals, Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby served on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for more than ten years as an associate judge and magistrate judge. During her distinguished career, Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby has been honored for her legal, judicial, and community service. Moreover, she has led the Courts’ access to justice and racial equity work, steadfastly supported pro bono volunteers, and spearheaded innovative improvements to court operations. Further, Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby has been instrumental in the creation of the Court’s Access to Justice Unit. As the public-interest bar association of the District of Columbia, we are delighted to highlight this aspect of her work with the 2024 Justice Impact Awards Presidents Award.
Brilliant, dedicated, collaborator, mentor, leader. These are the words most used to describe Nancy Lopez, retired Executive Director of Washington Council of Lawyers. In her tenure, Nancy formed and shaped Washington Council of Lawyers into what we are today. Her insight, wisdom, experience, flexibility, and skill are just some of the reasons we are thrilled to recognize her with our Justice Impact Awards Legacy Award. Rarely given (it's only been awarded twice before), it is reserved for those individuals who don't just go above and beyond, but make a substantial and exemplar impact on access to justice in DC and pro bono and public interest in our community. Nancy was a stalwart leader of Washington Council of Lawyers with a passion for our mission and an unwavering commitment to access to justice work. We were fortunate to have her hand at the helm through unprecedented growth and once-in-a-lifetime challenges. She continues to support our work as a volunteer, and her vision lives on in the work we do every day. Join us in celebrating Nancy Lopez as our Legacy Award recipient.
Christine Ennis is a trial attorney in the Environmental and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) who has demonstrated a laudable commitment to performing and empowering others to engage in pro bono service. From the major efforts and achievements to the smaller tasks that ensure she and her colleagues can continue to provide innovative pro bono service to her neighbors, Christine has made a tremendous positive impact on her community. For these and many more reasons, we're excited to celebrate Christine Ennis as the 2024 Justice Impact Award Government recipient.
Amy Nelson, Director of Legal Services for Whitman-Walker Health, has spent her career working for justice and improving the lives of low-income people and those impacted by structural barriers. Amy deeply cares about people – her clients, her team, all relationships. She leads with humanity and enthusiasm. She centers everyone’s unique needs and feelings as she works to lead, support her team, reduce structural barriers, and improve access by truly seeing the person. Colleagues use words like kind, brilliant, and persistent. Amy is a deeply respected leader in our community who always seeks ways to increase access to justice for marginalized individuals. She is a mentor, supporter, collaborator and innovator. Most importantly she is tireless in pursuing justice for her clients and building networks to multiply her impact. For these reasons and more, we are pleased to honor Amy Nelson with the 2024 Justice Impact Awards Legal Services award.
Kathi has worked tirelessly to expand opportunities in the legal profession to all, through her active leadership of the Chapter’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and many other initiatives. Kathi is a visionary leader who has shown a remarkable commitment to justice in our legal community. She is a force multiplier, not only providing legal services directly to clients, but encouraging and inspiring others to do so as well. We are thrilled to recognize Kathi Westcott with our 2024 Justice Impact Awards Corporate Legal Department award.
Jessica Hough, Skadden partner and global head of the firm's regulatory practices, is a champion of pro bono work at Skadden, in the DC community, and beyond — leading by example and continually ensuring that pro bono is an integral part of the DC office’s culture. We are thrilled to recognize Jessica Hough as the 2024 Justice Impact Award Law Firm recipient for her unwavering dedication and as a shining example of the vital role volunteers need to play in non-litigation pro bono.
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!
