WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF LAWYERS

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. 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 Lisa Dewey, Pro Bono Partner, DLA Piper 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. Early Bird Pricing is available until May 15! The cost for the in-person keynote'/virtual panel option is $65 for WCL Members; $75 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. The all-virtual option is just $45 for WCL Members; $55 for Government & Public-Interest Lawyers, Interns, and Individual Law Students; and $85 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 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.

Hosted by ACC NCR & Washington Council of Lawyers Please join the Association of Corporate Counsel National Capital Region and Washington Council of Lawyers for our 5th Virtual Pro Bono Fair. Attendees will be introduced to a variety of legal service organizations discussing ongoing needs and volunteer opportunities. The Pro Bono Fair will be held virtually again in 2024, and participants will have the opportunity to select breakout rooms to learn more, ask questions, and better understand the mission of the organizations. Thank you to the following organizations that have signed on to participate. More to be added! Ayuda CAIR Coalition Children's Law Center DC Bar Pro Bono Center DC Volunteer Lawyers Project Legal Services of Northern Virginia Maryland Legal Aid National Veterans Legal Services Program Neighborhood Legal Services Program Tzedek DC Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless Whitman Walker Health Legal Services

The theory of a case is the story of what occurred in your case and includes the legal theory (circumstances/causes of action or affirmative defenses) and the factual theory (the explanation of how the particular course of events happened). It puts the law of your case in a narrative rather than an analytical posture and helps the factfinder understand what outcome your client seeks. Case theory is the blueprint from which you draft your opening and closing statements, determine direct and cross-examination, plan a settlement agreement, or construct your mediation statement. It is the first step in any case. While that sounds great in "theory" it can be difficult to construct in practice. That's why we're starting at the beginning with this vital litigation skill. At Litigation Skills Series: Case Theory we will dive into gathering information about your case, building an outline that works for you, and how to best follow up for information you may have missed! A robust case theory can help ensure you've got everything you need well before mediation or trial. Diandra Bosch, current Trial Attorney in the DC Office of the Attorney General and former legal services supervisory attorney will break down the steps, give you concrete tips, and help you see the big picture even before you have all the pieces. And we've left plenty of time to answer all your questions. This training is a great way to get prepared for the Litigation Skills Series: Trial Advocacy training in May! Although not required, if you want a refresher on building a cohesive case theory before practicing opening, direct, cross, and closing, you'll want to attend this training! This training is appropriate for lawyers in all sectors (public-interest, law firm, government, and corporate legal departments) and law students, especially those taking a clinic or participating in an externship or mock trial. The cost is only $45 for Washington Council of Lawyers members and $80 for non-members. Scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of the D.C. Bar Foundation. To apply for a scholarship, please complete this online scholarship form. 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 Government Pro Bono Roundtable is the perfect opportunity to learn about doing pro bono work as a government lawyer. Pro bono work can be a rewarding part of a government career; you just need to be familiar with the resources, policies, and strategies that allow you to do the work effectively. At this lively discussion, you'll learn about established pro bono programs for government lawyers. Our pro bono experts will share why pro bono work is meaningful to them, tips for managing your schedule and finding the support you need, and info about the many different types of pro bono work available to government lawyers. Our panel will be moderated by Jen Miller, Government Attorney. Our panel includes: Chris Jennison, Federal Government Attorney Juan Romero-Sanchez, Federal Government Attorney Elaine Block, DC Government Attorney The government lawyer panelists will share their experiences from their personal perspectives in their individual capacities, and will not be speaking on behalf of their agencies. Join us to find out how you can dive into pro bono work as a government lawyer!

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!

Every lawyer needs to write well. And, every lawyer can improve their writing skills. Don't miss this opportunity to set yourself up for writing success. Unleash your writing power! Join Litigation Skills Series: Legal Writing with Andrew George, Partner at Baker Botts, and master the art of concise, clear, and powerful communication! Andrew is a highly acclaimed, first-chair trial attorney equally known for his zealous advocacy in the courtroom and for his strategic, quiet advocacy outside of court to resolve his clients’ most sensitive legal problems. An investigator at heart, Andrew painstakingly analyzes every detail of a case and develops intricate legal defenses that are compelling and authentic. He is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. This training is $35 for Washington Council  of Lawyers members and $50 for non-members. Join today for the discounted rate! There are also scholarships available thanks to the generosity of the DC Bar Foundation. Please fill out this scholarship request form. This training is so popular, it's sold out twice. Save your spot today!

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.

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.

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.

Hosted by the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program In celebration of Pro Bono Week, The Veterans Consortium (TVC) is partnering with local volunteers and DC area law students to hold two, one-day pop-up legal clinics to serve the needs of veterans. Two clinics will be held via a virtual platform and one clinic is in-person. Clinics: Advice & Referral Clinic for Women Veterans Tuesday, October 24 10:00 am - 4:30 pm ET Virtual Clinic Legal Advice & Referral Clinic for All Veterans Tuesday, October 24 10:00 am - 2:30 pm Virtual Clinic Friday, October 27 10:00 am - 2:30 pm ET DC VA Medical Center (50 Irving St NW) Lawyer volunteers - email Chesley Roberts at chesley.roberts@vetsprobono.org. Only female attorneys are allowed to volunteer for the women’s clinic. Student volunteers sign up here - https://www5.apptoto.com/b/fridayvetsclinic/#form. There is only 1 student left for the Tuesday, October 24th clinic. Spread the word on Twitter (X), Instagram, and Facebook using #DCPBW23!

Sponsored by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center The Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic gives business and transactional attorneys the opportunity to donate their expertise to small businesses.  The Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinics allow current and aspiring small business owners to speak with an attorney about their legal problems or questions that affect their businesses.  Small businesses serve as the cornerstone for economic development in disadvantaged areas, but many cannot afford legal fees for advice that may determine whether they sink or swim. While only brief advice is given, entrepreneurs are able to engage in one-on-one consultations with an attorney.  Matters that arise include business formation, real estate, employment, intellectual property and joint ventures, and partnership agreements. One to two trainings are held each year for interested volunteers, but it is not required to volunteer. New volunteers often shadow veteran volunteers during their first few consultations. For the volunteer manual, click here.