Supreme Court: View from the Press Gallery Recap
On Tuesday, July 11th, we welcomed lawyers, interns, and law students to our 35th annual “Supreme Court: View from the Press Gallery” event. This event peels back the curtain on the recently concluded Supreme Court term through the eyes of the journalists who have covered the Court for decades. We were excited to welcome everyone back in person for the first time since 2019!
2023 Summer Forum: Opportunities and Challenges Facing Immigrant Communities
22 June 2023 Blog
Our Summer Forum concluded with our Immigration and Human Rights Panel on the afternoon of June 22, 2023! Thank you to everyone that joined us this summer for this incredible event! This panel focused on how someone can get involved in immigration work as a career path or as a volunteer. The ways immigration work has changed or remained the same in recent years and what contributed to those circumstances. Finally, the ways immigration and human rights intersect with other important considerations such as racism and systemic injustice.
2023 Summer Forum: Protecting Our Rights and Liberties in the New Legal Landscape
22 June 2023 Blog
The final day of the Summer Forum began with an eventful conversation from our Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Panel! They covered the breadth of their work, urgent and emerging issues in the field, and how to navigate some of the tricky situations arising from our legal system right now.
2023 Summer Forum: Where Zealous Representation is Life Saving.
22 June 2023 Blog
Following the Poverty Law Panel we welcomed our experts on the Criminal Law and Death Penalty Panel. The conversation highlighted the many ways lawyers can make an impact in the criminal legal system on both a systemic and individual level, the practical impact of past and recent Supreme Court decisions, and ways to center self-care when providing zealous representation in tough situations.
2023 Summer Forum: Assisting Individuals and Communities in Need
22 June 2023 Blog
Our Summer Forum substantive panels continued on Thursday, June 15 with the Poverty Law Panel. This conversation focused on career paths in poverty law, the intersection of poverty law and racial justice as well as access to justice and concluded with tips for how to get involved wherever you are!
2023 Summer Forum: NEW! Ways to Protect Our World!
22 June 2023 Blog
On June 8, 2023, we hosted our first-ever Environmental Justice panel during our Summer Public Interest and Pro Bono Forum. The lively discussion covered the work our panelists do and how they find opportunities to include environmental justice (EJ) in that work every day. Then panelists dove into what EJ means to them, including what EJ work is at its very core. The panelists provided tips for creating an EJ practice and getting involved with pro bono work that helps the environment! Our conversation also highlighted the importance of community-based advocacy and how EJ intersects with racism in the world and the law. Finally, our panelists concluded with practical tips on how to do EJ while working for the government and how to lobby for EJ issues.
2023 Summer Forum: Making a Big Impact on the Non-Litigation Path
22 June 2023 Blog
When considering pro bono opportunities, you may instinctively think of navigating the court system with a client. What you may not think of are the wide and varying opportunities to engage in non-litigation pro bono work. Our Non-litigation Pro Bono panel provided an informational discussion on how to get involved with non-litigation pro bono opportunities during our Summer Forum panel on June 8, 2023.
2023 Keynote Conversation with Nicole Austin-Hillery
Washington Council of Lawyers’ Annual Summer Forum began on June 7 with an inspiring and enlightening discussion by keynote speaker Nicole Austin-Hillery. Nicole is the President & CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., and a former Washington Council of Lawyers President and Board Member. Nicole was joined in conversation by current Washington Council of Lawyers President Debbie Cuevas Hill, Supervising Attorney at Legal Aid DC. During her opening remarks, Nicole covered her journey, as a way to inspire everyone to follow a purposeful path on their own personal and professional journeys. Nicole shared her “Nikki-isms”, guiding principles that have helped her on her journey, you can find the complete list below.
2023 Summer Forum Preview: Human Rights & Immigration Law Panel
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free….” Such reads the inscription on the Statute of Liberty, the sight that many of the early immigrants of the United States first saw. Our country is a beautiful mixing bowl of different cultures, beliefs, and nationalities, thanks in large part to centuries of immigrants coming to the United States hoping to make a better life for themselves and their families. That dream of a better life still rings true in the hearts of those seeking to immigrate here today. However, for those new to the United States, navigating a foreign legal system can be a treacherous undertaking. That’s where immigration lawyers become essential. This panel will give you insight into what the field of immigration law looks like today and opportunities in which you can provide assistance.